Industries in the Air Transportation subsector provide air transportation of passengers and/or cargo using aircraft, such as airplanes and helicopters. The subsector distinguishes scheduled from nonscheduled air transportation. Scheduled air carriers fly regular routes on regular schedules and operate even if flights are only partially loaded. Nonscheduled carriers often operate during nonpeak time slots at busy airports. These establishments have more flexibility with respect to choice of airport, hours of operation, load factors, and similar operational characteristics. Nonscheduled carriers provide chartered air transportation of passengers, cargo, or specialty flying services. Specialty flying services establishments use general-purpose aircraft to provide a variety of specialized flying services.
Scenic and sightseeing air transportation and air courier services are not included in this subsector but are included in Subsector 487, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation and in Subsector 492, Couriers and Messengers. Although these activities may use aircraft, they are different from the activities included in air transportation. Air sightseeing does not usually involve place-to-place transportation; the passenger's flight (e.g., balloon ride, aerial sightseeing) typically starts and ends at the same location. Courier services (individual package or cargo delivery) include more than air transportation; road transportation is usually required to deliver the cargo to the intended recipient.
4811 Scheduled Air Transportation
48111 Scheduled Air Transportation
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation of
passengers and/or cargo over regular routes and on regular schedules. Establishments in this
industry operate flights even if partially loaded. Establishments primarily engaged in
providing scheduled air transportation of mail on a contract basis are included in this
industry.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing air courier services - classified in Industry 492110, Couriers;
- Providing air transportation of passengers, cargo, or specialty flying services with no regular routes and regular schedules - classified in Industry 48121, Nonscheduled Air Transportation; and
- Providing helicopter rides for scenic and sightseeing transportation - classified in Industry 487990, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other.
481111 Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation
of passengers or passengers and freight over regular routes and on regular schedules.
Establishments in this industry operate flights even if partially loaded. Scheduled air
passenger carriers including commuter and helicopter carriers (except scenic and sightseeing)
are included in this industry.
Illustrative Examples:
Air commuter carriers, scheduled; Scheduled air passenger carriers; Scheduled air cargo
carriers (except air couriers); Scheduled helicopter passenger carriers.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing air transportation of passengers or passengers and cargo with no regular routes and regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481211, Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation;
- Providing helicopter rides for scenic and sightseeing transportation - classified in Industry 487990, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other; and
- Providing air transportation of cargo (without transporting passengers) over regular routes and on regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481112, Scheduled Freight Air Transportation.
481112 Scheduled Freight Air Transportation
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation
of cargo without transporting passengers over regular routes and on regular schedules.
Establishments in this industry operate flights even if partially loaded. Establishments
primarily engaged in providing scheduled air transportation of mail on a contract basis are
included in this industry.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing air courier services - classified in Industry 492110, Couriers;
- Providing air transportation of cargo with no regular routes and regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481212, Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation; and
- Providing air transportation of passengers or passengers and cargo over regular routes and on regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481111, Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation.
4812 Nonscheduled Air Transportation
48121 Nonscheduled Air Transportation
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) providing air transportation of
passengers and/or cargo with no regular routes and regular schedules or (2) providing specialty
flying services with no regular routes and regular schedules using general purpose aircraft.
These establishments have more flexibility with respect to choice of airports, hours of
operation, load factors, and similar operational characteristics.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Crop dusting using specialized aircraft - classified in Industry 11511, Support Activities for Crop Production;
- Fighting forest fires using specialized water bombers - classified in Industry 115310, Support Activities for Forestry;
- Providing air transportation of passengers and/or cargo over regular routes and on regular schedules - classified in Industry 48111, Scheduled Air Transportation;
- Providing specialized air sightseeing services - classified in Industry 487990, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other;
- Aerial gathering of geophysical data - classified in Industry 541360, Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services;
- Providing aerial and/or other surveying and mapping services - classified in Industry 541370, Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services;
- Providing air ambulance services using specialized equipment - classified in Industry 621910, Ambulance Services;
- Operating specialized flying schools, including all training for commercial pilots - classified in Industry 61151, Technical and Trade Schools;
- Operating recreation aviation clubs - classified in Industry 713990, All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries;
- Operating advocacy aviation clubs - classified in U.S. Industry 81331, Social Advocacy Organizations; and
- Providing air courier services - classified in Industry 49211, Couriers.
481211 Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation
of passengers or passengers and cargo with no regular routes and regular schedules.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing specialty air transportation or flying services with no regular routes and regular schedules using general purpose aircraft - classified in U.S. Industry 481219, Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation;
- Providing specialized air sightseeing services - classified in Industry 487990, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other;
- Providing air transportation of passengers or passengers and cargo over regular routes and on regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481111, Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation; and
- Providing air transportation of cargo (without transporting passengers) with no regular routes and schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481212, Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation.
481212 Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation
of cargo without transporting passengers with no regular routes and regular schedules.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing specialty air transportation or flying services with no regular routes and regular schedules using general purpose aircraft - classified in U.S. Industry 481219, Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation;
- Providing air courier services - classified in Industry 492110, Couriers;
- Providing air transportation of cargo without transporting passengers over regular routes and on regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481112, Scheduled Freight Air Transportation; and
- Providing air transportation of cargo and passengers with no regular routes and schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481211, Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation.
481219 Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation
with no regular routes and regular schedules (except nonscheduled chartered passenger and/or
cargo air transportation). These establishments provide a variety of specialty air
transportation or flying services based on individual customer needs using general purpose
aircraft.
Cross-References. Establishments primarily engaged in
- Providing air transportation of passengers or passengers and cargo with no regular routes and regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481211, Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation;
- Providing air transportation of cargo without transporting passengers with no regular routes and regular schedules - classified in U.S. Industry 481212, Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation;
- Crop dusting using specialized aircraft - classified in U.S. Industry 115112, Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating;
- Fighting forest fires using specialized water bombers - classified in Industry 115310, Support Activities for Forestry;
- Providing specialized air sightseeing services - classified in Industry 487990, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other;
- Operating specialized flying schools, including all training for commercial pilots - classified in U.S. Industry 611512, Flight Training;
- Providing specialized air ambulance services using specialized equipment - classified in U.S. Industry 621999, All Other Miscellaneous Ambulatory Health Care Services;
- Operating recreation aviation clubs - classified in Industry 713990, All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries;
- Operating advocacy aviation clubs - classified in U.S. Industry 813319, Other Social Advocacy Organizations;
- Aerial gathering of geophysical data for surveying and mapping - classified in Industry 541360, Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services; and
- Providing aerial and/or other surveying and mapping services - classified in Industry 541370, Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services.
Information courtesy of the U.S. Census Bureau.
