FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Airline names, what do some of them mean??

Oct 23, 2004 | 10:40 am

#2

gate_pourri

Join Date: Sep 2004

Location: ORD, CDG

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Posts: 133

Quote:

Originally Posted by olympicnut

So I was pondering this question last night as I was trying to fall asleep. There are some airlines that I just don't know what they mean and was wondering if anyone knew off the top of their heads what they meant. And by meaning I mean their translated meaning. Like I know QANTAS means Queensland and Northern Territories Aerial Service but what about:

Lufthansa
Varig
Aer Lingus (what the heck is a Lingus?)

And is Air Tran short for "Air Transportation"? If so, what an ODD name for an airline

Anyway, just being curious is all.

I was able to find this out online.

Lufthansa derives from Luft (the German word for "air") and Hansa (the Hanseatic trade organization that ruled large parts of Northern Europe during the medieval times).
VARIG - Viação Aérea Rio-Grandense SA
Aer Lingus - is an anglicanization of the the Irish form Aer Loingeas which means Air Fleet

Last edited by gate_pourri; Oct 23, 2004 at 10:42 am Reason: Spelling.

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