| Rank | Airline | Pass 000 | Emp | Revenue US$ 000 | Net Result US$ 000 | Year end | Regional fleet details (In service + On order + On option) | Significant shareholders | Alliances | Rank |
| 1 | American Eagle | 12,118 | 10,100 | 1,016,000 | - | - | 46 ATR42, 38+3 ATR72, 0+25+25 CRJ700, 1+41+25 ERJ.145, 115 S340 | AMR 100% | AA, CP [2] | 1 |
| 2 | Mesa Airlines | 6,750 | 4,100 | 510,970 | (48,600) | Sep 97 | 118 Beech 1900, 18+23 CRJ, 12 Dash 8, 29 EMB.120 , 21 J31 | Quoted, Jonathan Ornstein 5.3% | HP, UA, US | 2 |
| 3 | US Airways Express | 6,122 | - | - | - | - | 87 Dash 8, 2 Dash 7, 27+0+15 Do328 | US Airways Group 100% | US | 3 |
| 4 | Comair | 5,360 | 2,500 | 563,800 | 75,400 | Mar 97 | 54+27+33 CRJ, 39 EMB.120 , 1 Saab 340 | Delta Air Lines 19.4% | DL, SN, SR, VS [3] | 4 |
| 5 | Continental Express | 4,892 | 2,300 | - | - | - | 25 B1900, 38+0+12 ATR42, 3 ATR72, 32 EMB.120, 20+30+150 ERJ.145 | Continental Airlines 100% | CO | 5 |
| 6 | Crossair | 4,700 | 2,287 | 568,000 | 29,780 | Dec 97 | 25+6 Saab 2000, 12+4 RJ100, 4 RJ85, 16 Saab 340 | Swissair 70.9% | AF, LH, NI, SN, SR | 6 |
| 7 | KLM UK | 4,100 | 2,000 | - | - | - | 5 ATR72, 10 BAe146, 15+2 F100, 9 F50 | KLM Royal Dutch Airlines 100% | KL, AZ, NW, EW [4] | 7 |
| 8 | Lufthansa CityLine | 3,883 | 1,533 | - | - | - | 31 CRJ, 18 RJ85 | Lufthansa 100% | LH, LG | 8 |
| 9 | Atlantic Southeast Airlines | 3,775 | 2,270 | 385,300 | 54,500 | Dec 97 | 12 ATR72, 6+24 CRJ, 63 EMB.120 | Quoted 73%, Delta Air Lines 27% | DL | 9 |
| 10 | Horizon Air | 3,690 | 2,900 | 303,600 | 6,300 | Dec 97 | 36+22+25 Dash 8, 15 F28, 11 Metro III | Alaska Air Group 100% | AS, NW | 10 |
| 11 | Air Canada Connector | 3,603 | 2,869 | - | - | - | 64 Dash 8, 10 BAe146, 5 Beech 1900 | Air Canada 100% | AC | 11 |
| 12 | Canadian Regional Airlines | 3,480 | 2,221 | 334,580 | - | Dec 97 | 10 ATR42, 24 Dash 8, 24 F28 | Canadian Airlines International 100% | AA, BA, CP | 12 |
| 13 | TAM | 3,340 | 2,570 | 505,890 | 28,310 | Dec 97 | 0+12 A319, 0+6 A320, 25+5 F100, 9 F50, 5 F27 | TAM Taxi Aereo Marilia 89.6%, Vasp 3.34% | AR | 13 |
| 14 | SkyWest Airlines | 2,900 | 2,553 | 283,310 | 10,110 | Mar 97 | 10 CRJ, 50+20+40 EMB.120 | Delta Air Lines 15% | CO, DL, YR | 14 |
| 15 | Mesaba Airlines | 2,890 | 1,700 | 250,370 | 17,140 | Dec 97 | 17 Dash 8, 8+4 RJ85, 49+46 Saab 340 | C Pohlad 10.7%, Northwest Airlines 32.7% | NW | 15 |
| 16 | Eurowings | 2,500 | 1,634 | - | - | - | 3+1+2 A319, 17 ATR42, 10 ATR72, 10 BAe146 | Dr A Knauff 93.66%, R Santner 6.25% | AF, KL, UK, NW [5] | 16 |
| 17 | Trans States Airlines | 2,386 | 934 | - | - | - | 6 ATR42, 3+0+3 ATR72, 1 EMB.120 , 0+9+18 ERJ.145, 35 J31, 25 J41 |
| AS, NW, TW, US | 17 |
| 18 | UNI Airways | 2,230 | 1,100 | - | - | - | 5 BAe146 | EVA Air 51% | BR | 18 |
| 19 | Formosa Airlines | 2,140 | 690 | 72,700 | - | Dec 97 | 3 Do228, 2 F100, 5 F50, 7 Saab 340 | ADI Group 42%, China Airlines 42%, employees/quoted 14% | CI | 19 |
| 20 | Aces Colombia | 2,100 | 1,850 | 157,220 | 3,120 | Dec 97 | 6 ATR42, 9 DHC.6 | Grancol. Marit. Fleet 44.16%, Nat Coffee Growers Ass 53.87% | AF, CO | 20 |
| 21 | Rio-Sul | 2,035 | 1,757 | 351,100 | 23,600 | Dec 97 | 12+2 EMB.120 , 4+8+5 ERJ.145, 7 F50 | Varig 96.79% | JH, PU, RG | 21 |
| 22 | Iran Asseman Airlines | 2,000 | - | - | - | - | 5 Do228, 1 ATR42, 4 ATR72, 1 F27, 6 F28 | Government 100% | IR | 22 |
| 23 | KLM Cityhopper | 2,000 | 650 | 225,000 | - | Mar 97 | 13 F50, 12 F70, 5 Saab 340 | KLM 100% | KL | 23 |
| 24 | Air Wisconsin | 1,943 | - | - | - | - | 18 BAe146, 0+6 Do328 | Six individuals 100% | UA | 24 |
| 25 | Great China Airlines | 1,790 | 800 | - | - | - | 18 Dash 8 | EVA Air 24% | BR | 25 |
| 26 | Delta Air Transport | 1,700 | 608 | 102,950 | 780 | Dec 97 | 6 BAe146, 14 RJ85, 2+7 RJ100 | Sabena 99.9% | SN | 26 |
| 27 | Express Airlines I | 1,670 | 1,500 | - | - | - | 0+0+10 Saab 2000, 21 J31, 33 Saab 340 | M J Brady & family 100% | NW | 27 |
| 28 | Atlantic Coast Airlines | 1,665 | 1,350 | - | - | - | 6+23+25 CRJ, 30 J32, 25+11 J41 | Quoted 100% | LH, UA | 28 |
| 29 | British Regional Airlines | 1,600 | 585 | - | - | - | 6 S360, 12 ATP, 1 BAe146, 1 DHC.6 , 5+10+5 ERJ.145, 13 J41 | BBW Partnership 100% | BA | 29 |
| 30 | Tyrolean Airways | 1,570 | 910 | 283,000 | - | Dec 97 | 8+2 CRJ, 17+7+5 Dash 8, 4 F70 | Austrian Airlines 85.7%, Leipnik-Lunedenburg Inv. 14.3% | OS, EW, KL, SN, SR | 30 |
| 31 | Jersey European Airways | 1,550 | 866 | 156,210 | 5,580 | Mar 97 | 3 Shorts 360, 1 BAC 111, 12 BAe146, 5 F27 | Rosedale Aviation Holdings 99.3% | AF | 31 |
| 32 | CityFlyer Express | 1,500 | 620 | - | - | - | 5 ATR42, 5 ATR72, 3+2 RJ100 | Management, four financial institutions | BA | 32 |
| 33 | Business Express | 1,326 | - | - | - | - | 0+20+40 ERJ.135, 39 Saab 340 | Dimeling, Schreiber & Park 100% | AA, DL, NW, XJ | 33 |
| 34 | Widerøe | 1,300 | 700 | - | - | - | 21 Dash 8, 1 DHC.6 | Fred Olsen companies 62.9% [see note 1] | SK | 34 |
| 35 | SAM Colombia | 1,144 | 430 | 115,460 | 1,470 | Dec 97 | 4 DHC.6 , 9 RJ100 | Avianca 94% | AV | 35 |
| 36 | Arkia | 1,040 | 600 | - | - | - | 12 Dash 7 | Employees 25% | - | 36 |
| 37 | National Jet Systems | 1,000 | 956 | - | - | - | 2 RJ70, 17 BAe146, 9 Dash 8, 1 J41 | Jet Systems 50%, Aedion Investments 50% | ND, QF | 37 |
| 38 | Kendell Airlines | 894 | 430 | - | - | - | 16 Saab 340, 7 Metro 23 | Air New Zealand 50%, News Corporation 50% | AN | 38 |
| 39 | Air Nostrum | 875 | - | - | - | - | 4 ATR72, 5+3 F50, 0+5+5 CRJ | Nefinsa SA 100% | IB | 39 |
| 40 | Liat | 800 | - | - | - | - | 12 DHC.8, 3 DHC.6 | BWIA, Caribbean governments, financial institutions | BW | 40 |
| 41 | Corse Mediterranée | 788 | 403 | 85,490 | - | Dec 97 | 5 ATR72, 3 F100 | Corsica govt 60.3%, Air France 11.95%, Crédit Agricole 7.55% | AF | 41 |
| 42 | CCAIR | 779 | 599 | - | - | - | 9 Shorts 360, 4 Dash 8, 14 J31, 20 J32 | Quoted 88.4%, Barlow Partners 7% | US | 42 |
| 43 | Aerolitoral | 751 | 297 | 80,000 | - | Dec 97 | 13 Metro 23, 14 Metro III, 6 Saab 340 | Cintra 100% | AM, MX | 43 |
| 44 | Chautauqua Airlines | 705 | 565 | 74,100 | - | Dec 97 | 0+20+20 ERJ.145, 4 Metro III, 12 Saab 340 | Wexford Management 100% | US | 44 |
| 45 | Aero Asia International | 681 | 1,198 | - | - | - | 15 BAC 111 | Tabani family 100% | - | 45 |
| 46 | Great Lakes Aviation | 675 | - | - | - | - | 38 Beech 1900, 12 EMB.120 | D G Voss 62% | JI, UA | 46 |
| 47 | Skyways | 670 | - | - | - | - | 8 F50, 11 Saab 340, 5 J31 | Salenia 100% | - | 47 |
| 48 | CommutAir | 664 | 347 | 77,800 | - | Dec 97 | 30 Beech 1900 | - | US | 48 |
| 49 | Cimber Air Denmark | 650 | 250 | - | - | - | 13 ATR42 | Nielsen Family 100% | LH, SK | 49 |
| 50 | Regional Airlines | 638 | 600 | 145,680 | 3,430 | Dec 97 | 10 Saab 2000, 3+5 EMB.120 , 6+4 ERJ.145, 9 J31, 7 Saab 340 | Groupe Dubreuil 80%, public 19%, employees 1% | IB, KL | 50 |
| 51 | Gulfstream Int'l Airlines | 600 | 480 | 44,000 | - | Dec 97 | 19+6 Beech 1900, 5 Shorts 360 | T L Cooper 100% | CO, UA | 51 |
| 52 | Manx Airlines | 600 | 562 | - | - | - | 3 ATP, 2 BAe146 | British Regional Airlines 100% | - | 52 |
| 53 | Bangkok Airways | 585 | 582 | 37,550 | 170 | Dec 97 | 1 ATR42, 6 ATR72 | Dr Prasert Prasarttong-Osoth 77.04% [see note 6] | - | 53 |
| 54 | Mount Cook Airline | 584 | 221 | - | - | - | 7 ATR72 | Air New Zealand 100% | NZ | 54 |
| 55 | Brymon Airways | 567 | 225 | 66,720 | - | Mar 97 | 2 Dash 7, 10 Dash 8 | British Airways 100% | BA | 55 |
| 56 | Maersk Air Ltd | 554 | 326 | 104,200 | 4,900 | Dec 97 | 3 BAC 111 , 0+5+10 CRJ, 1 J41 | Maersk Air (Denmark) 100% | BA | 56 |
| 57 | South African Express | 535 | 459 | - | - | - | 4+2 CRJ, 8+0+2 Dash 8 | Transnet 76%, Thebe Investments Corporation 24% | SA, 4Z | 57 |
| 58 | Eastern Australia Airlines | 525 | 325 | 55,880 | - | Dec 97 | 7 Dash 8, 5 J31 | Qantas 100% | QF | 58 |
| 59 | Air Tahiti | 520 | 629 | 70,770 | 4,540 | Dec 97 | 1 Do228, 4 ATR42, 3 ATR72 | Government 13.6%, Banque Socredo 13.4% [see note 7] | - | 59 |
| 60 | Gill Aviation | 500 | 335 | 46,610 | 1,010 | Oct 97 | 1 S330, 6 S360, 4 ATR42, 2 ATR72 | New Aviation Holdings Ltd 100% | AF, L8, EW, UK | 60 |
| 61 | Southern Australia Airlines | 500 | 172 | - | - | - | 2 BAe146, 4 Dash 8 | Qantas 100% | QF | 61 |
| 62 | Sunstate Airlines | 483 | 240 | 48,190 | - | Jun 97 | 5 Shorts 360, 4 Dash 8, 4 DHC.6 | Qantas 100% | QF | 62 |
| 63 | Aeromar | 457 | 595 | 52,000 | - | Dec 97 | 9+2+4 ATR42 | - | AM, MX, UA | 63 |
| 64 | Eagle Airways | 450 | 233 | 26,000 | 800 | Jun 97 | 9 EMB.110, 6 Metro | Air New Zealand 100% | NZ | 64 |
| 65 | Era Aviation | 423 | 350 | - | - | - | 5 CV580, 2 Dash 8, 10 DHC.6 | Rowan Companies 100% | AS | 65 |
| 66 | Aloha Islandair | 422 | - | - | - | - | 3 DHC.6 | Aloha Airlines 100% | AQ | 66 |
| 67 | British World Airlines | 415 | 222 | 50,800 | 2,000 | Dec 97 | 2+2 ATP, 2 ATR72, 5 BAC 111 | NatWest Ventures 40%, R Bank of Scot 36%, mgt 24% | - | 67 |
| 68 | Air Dolomiti | 400 | 252 | 64,630 | - | Dec 97 | 10+2 ATR42 | Leali Group 75% | LH | 68 |
| 69 | Hazelton Airlines | 400 | 252 | 44,740 | 550 | Dec 97 | 4 Metro 23, 8 Saab 340 | Hazelton Air Services Hlgs 32.8%, Skippers Avn 19.87% | AN | 69 |
| 70 | Nordeste | 361 | 401 | 73,800 | 1,200 | Dec 97 | 6 EMB.120 , 2 F50 | Rio Sul 99% | SL, RG | 70 |
| 71 | SA Airlink | 360 | 346 | 35,000 | - | Dec 97 | 2 Do228, 11+1 J41 | Osprey Airline Inv 51%, B J Webb 24.5%, R A Foster 24.5% | SA, YB | 71 |
| 72 | Flight West Airlines | 350 | 340 | 54,920 | - | Dec 97 | 8 EMB.120 , 3 F28, 0+3+1 J32 | Buchanan family 100% | AN | 72 |
| 73 | Windward Island Airways Intl | 314 | 91 | 8,950 | - | Mar 97 | 3 DHC.6 | Neths Antiilles Govt 100% | LM | 73 |
| 74 | Augsburg Airways | 308 | 252 | - | - | - | 12 Dash 8 | Haindl Papier 100% | LH | 74 |
| 75 | Astral Aviation/Skyway | 305 | 238 | - | - | - | 15 Beech 1900 | Midwest Express 100% | YX | 75 |
| 76 | Sata Air Açores | 300 | 471 | 44,170 | 220 | Dec 97 | 1 Do228, 3 ATP | Azores regional govt 100% | - | 76 |
| 77 | Air Caledonie | 279 | 199 | 23,000 | 980 | Dec 97 | 4 ATR42, 1 Do228 | New Caledonia Government 93.6% | SB, IW, QF | 77 |
| 78 | AeroPerlas | 252 | 251 | - | - | - | 6 DHC.6, 7 Shorts 360 | GIA 74%, AMR Eagle 20% | - | 78 |
| 79 | Paradise Island Airlines | 244 | - | - | - | - | 4 Dash 7 |
| - | 79 |
| 80 | VLM | 195 | 105 | - | - | - | 6 F50 | Frevag 100% | UK, LH, SN | 80 |
| 81 | Pantanal | 191 | - | - | - | - | 3+3 ATR42, 1 EMB.120, 1 EMB.110 | - | - | 81 |
| 82 | Peninsula Airways | 176 | 350 | - | - | - | 6 Metro III, 2 Saab 340 | O & J Seybert 61% | AS | 82 |
| 83 | EuroLOT | 171 | 118 | 9,400 | - | Dec 97 | 0+5+3 ATR42, 8 ATR72 | LOT 100% | LO | 83 |
| 84 | Aspen Mountain Air | 166 | - | - | - | - | 4 Do328 | - | 2F | 84 |
| 85 | Air Ostrava | 160 | 160 | 13,800 | - | Dec 97 | 4 Saab 340 | Management 60%, Chemapol 40% | OK | 85 |
| 86 | Air Mandalay | 156 | 238 | - | - | - | 3 ATR72 | Air Mandalay Hlgs Singapore 51%, Myanma Airways 49% | - | 86 |
| 87 | Azzurra Air | 155 | - | - | - | - | 3 RJ85 | Air Malta 49% | AZ, 2G, SR | 87 |
| 88 | Pacific Island Aviation | 152 | 92 | - | - | - | 3 EMB.110, 4 Shorts 360 | R Christian 100% | - | 88 |
| 89 | Air Baltic | 151 | 208 | 34,650 | - | Dec 97 | 3 RJ70, 2 Saab 340 | Latvian govt 51.07%, SAS 28.51% [see note 8] | LH, SK | 89 |
| 90 | Flandre Air | 150 | 206 | 32,890 | (780) | Mar 97 | 11 Beech 1900, 7 EMB.120 , 0+12+8 ERJ.135 | Delesalle Family 100% | VD | 90 |
| 91 | Air Engiadina | 141 | 110 | - | - | - | 5 Do328 |
| - | 91 |
| 92 | Air Vegas | 136 | - | - | - | - | 9 Beech 99 |
| - | 92 |
| 93 | Air Malawi | 133 | 529 | 24,630 | 470 | Mar 97 | 1 Do228, 1 ATR42 | Malawi Government 100% | TC | 93 |
| 94 | Sun-Air of Scandinavia | 130 | 130 | - | 330 | Sep 97 | 2 ATP, 6 J31, 2+0+1 J41 | N Sunberg 100% | BA | 94 |
| 95 | Aerotransportes Casanare | 128 | 135 | - | - | - | 1 DHC.6, 1 FH.227D, 2 Saab 340 | Urdaneta Family | - | 95 |
| 96 | J-Air | 120 | 53 | - | - | - | 5 J31 | Japan Airlines 100% | JL | 96 |
| 97 | Eagle Canyon Airlines | 105 | 152 | 13,350 | 2,150 | Dec 97 | 5 F27 | G Yamagata 95%, C Evarts 5% | - | 97 |
| 98 | Rheintalflug | 101 | 90 | - | - | - | 3+2+2 Dash 8 | - | - | 98 |
| 99 | Air Botnia | 100 | - | - | - | - | 4 J31 | SAS 100% | SK | 99 |
| 100 | Colgan Air | 91 | - | - | - | - | 7 Beech 1900 | M J & C J Colgan | CO | 100 |
Notes:
| [1] Also Torghatten Trafikkelskap 14.3%, Fylkesbaatane i Sogn of Fjordane 11.5%, Nordlandsbanken ASA 4.9% |
| [2] Also Alaska Air, Hawaiian, LOT, Midwest Express, Reno Air, SAA |
| [3] Also Aer Lingus, Aeromexico, ANA, Austrian, Korean Air, SIA, SkyWest, TAP, Varig |
| [4] Also Braathens, Gill AW, Jet AW, Kenya AW, KLM Exel, MAS, Malmo, Martinair, Transavia, VLM |
| [5] Also Base Regional AL, Gill AW, Tyrolean |
| [6] Also Sahokol Estate Co 11.72%, Mrs Narumol Jainaknan 7.67% |
| [7] Also Caisse Française de Dévélopement 11.3%, Air France 7.5%, Employees 10.4% |
| [8] Also BI USA 8.02%, Swedfund Int'l 6.2%, IØ Denmark 6.2% |
| Airline codes: BR = EVA Air, EW = Eurowings, JH = Nordeste, JI = Midway, ND = Airlink, NI = Portugalia, PU = Pluna, XJ = Mesaba, YR = Scenic, IW = AOM, L8 = European Airways, LM = ALM, SB = Air Caledonia Int'l, SL = Rio-Sul, TC =- Air Tanzania, VD = Air Liberte, YB = SA Express, YX = Midwest Express, 2F = Frontier Flying Service, 2G = Debonair, 4Z = SA Airlink |
Compiled by Tim Welch (Air Transport Intelligence) and Richard Whitaker (Airline Business).
Source: Airline Business
