Analysis
NAICS 481211 is the 2022 national industry for nonscheduled chartered passenger air transportation, part of 48121 (Nonscheduled Air Transportation). Census lists 9 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 1,631 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 41,913 people at an average annual payroll of $119,174 per employee (90th percentile of national industries). 58% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 3 codes at this level within Nonscheduled Air Transportation, with 64.9% of them.
Census lists 6 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 481219, 487990, 481111 and 481212. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include air passenger carriers, nonscheduled, air taxi services, aircraft charter services, passenger and charter air passenger services, among 9 in all.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 8% and employment rose 40%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Official definition
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.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing specialty air transportation or flying services with no regular routes and regular schedules using general purpose aircraft | 481219 Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation |
| Providing specialized air sightseeing services | 487990 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other |
| Providing air transportation of passengers or passengers and cargo over regular routes and on regular schedules | 481111 Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation |
| Providing air transportation of cargo (without transporting passengers) with no regular routes and schedules | 481212 Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation |
| Independent air pilot services (except owner-operators) | 488190 Other Support Activities for Air Transportation |
| Renting or leasing aircraft without an operator | 532411 Commercial Air, Rail, and Water Transportation Equipment Rental and Leasing |
Index entries (9)
- Air passenger carriers, nonscheduled
- Air taxi services
- Aircraft charter services, passenger
- Charter air passenger services
- Helicopter passenger carriers (except scenic, sightseeing), nonscheduled
- Nonscheduled air passenger transportation
- Passenger air transportation, nonscheduled
- Passenger carriers, air, nonscheduled
- Space transportation, passenger, nonscheduled