"Company"

In listening to LiveATC, I notice the controllers say "follow company Airbus/Boeing". What exactly does that refer to?

Ive thought it meant to follow your OWN company's plane. meaning, AA, follow the other AA plane.

I might be wrong but thats what I had thought.

When ATC says "company", they are referring to a plane from the same airline as the plane they are talking to.

That is correct-company refers to another aircraft of the same airline or marking--sometimes they use the term to refer to express/mainline as well-for example Comair with DL markings will be considered "company" to a DL mainline flight in some cases.

there are a few other uses for the term. all the above are correct, but ATC may also instruct a crew to "call company", usually to see if they can refile a clearance or assist in other way. we in ops, on the other hand will say "we've spoken to company'' but that will mean we've spoken to that carrier's dispatchers. remember, i handle about 6 airlines flying for US Air Express. :wink: