Analysis
NAICS 481212 is the 2022 national industry for nonscheduled chartered freight air transportation, part of 48121 (Nonscheduled Air Transportation). Census lists 9 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 27% and employment rose 289%. 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.
County Business Patterns counts 260 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 23,321 people at an average annual payroll of $132,298 per employee (94th percentile of national industries). 47% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 3rd of the 3 codes at this level within Nonscheduled Air Transportation, with 10.4% of them.
Census lists 5 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 481219, 492110, 481112 and 481211. 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 cargo carriers (except air couriers), nonscheduled, charter air freight services, freight charter services, air and freight transportation, air, charter services, among 9 in all.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation of cargo without transporting passengers 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 air courier services | 492110 Couriers and Express Delivery Services |
| Providing air transportation of cargo without transporting passengers over regular routes and on regular schedules | 481112 Scheduled Freight Air Transportation |
| Providing air transportation of cargo and passengers with no regular routes and schedules | 481211 Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation |
| Independent air pilot services (except owner-operators) | 488190 Other Support Activities for Air Transportation |
Index entries (9)
- Air cargo carriers (except air couriers), nonscheduled
- Charter air freight services
- Freight charter services, air
- Freight transportation, air, charter services
- Freight transportation, air, nonscheduled
- Helicopter carriers, freight, nonscheduled
- Nonscheduled air freight transportation
- Space transportation, freight, nonscheduled
- Transportation by spacecraft, freight