What are the revenue classifications of the U.S. based for-hire air carriers? Define and describe at least two of these classifications with examples. Solution of Airline Certification U.S. scheduled airlines are classified by the government on the basis of the amount of revenue generated from operations. These classifications are major, national and regional. All airlines hold two certificates from the federal government: a fitness certificate and an operating certificate. The Department of Transportation (DOT) issues fitness certificates - called certificates of public convenience and necessity - under it\'s statutory authority. Basically, the certificate establishes that the carrier has the financing and the management in place to provide scheduled service. The certificate typically authorizes both passenger and cargo service. Some airlines, however, obtain only cargo-service authority. Commuter airlines that use aircraft with a seating capacity of 60 or fewer seats or a maximum payload capacity of no more than 18,000 pounds can operate under the alternative authority of Part 298 of DOT\'s economic regulations. Operating certificates, on the other hand, are issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Part 121 of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs), which spell out numerous requirements for operating aircraft with 10 or more seats. The requirements cover such things as the training of flight crews and aircraft maintenance programs. All majors, nationals and regional\'s operate with a Part 121 certificate. Majors Major airlines generate operating revenues of more than $1 billion annually. Previously called trunk carriers, they generally provide nationwide, and in some cases, worldwide service. There are many major U.S. passenger airlines such as: Alaska, American, American Eagle, Continental, Delta, Northwest, Southwest, United and US Airways. In addition, some cargo airlines are classified as majors like: FedEx and United Parcel Service. Nationals National carriers are scheduled airlines with annual operating revenues between $100 million and $1 billion. Many of the airlines in this category serve particular regions of the country, although some provide long-haul and even international service. Among the nationals are some of the former local service lines that, prior to deregulation, were licensed by the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB) to operate between major cities and smaller communities surrounding them. Also in this category are some of the former supplemental carriers, previously licensed by the CAB to operate unscheduled charter service, which supplemented the capacity of the trunk carriers. Like the majors, nationals operate mostly medium- and large-sized jets. They are subject to DOT fitness requirements, as well as the FAA Part 121 operating requirements. Some of the nationals you may have heard of in the past include companies like Aloha, Atlas Air, Emery Worldwide, Evergreen, Hawaiian, Midwest Express and Polar .