Company contacted southern aircraft (6)

I believe the answer is:

comets

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'company contacted southern aircraft' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.

'company contacted southern' is the wordplay.
'company' becomes 'co' (abbreviation).
'contacted' becomes 'met'.
'southern' becomes 's' (abbreviation).
'co'+'met'+'s'='COMETS'

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(Other definitions for comets that I've seen before include "Small extraterrestrial bodies" , "Space travellers" , "Heavenly bodies with tails" .)

I've seen this clue in The Irish News.

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