2022 NAICS industry in sector 48-49 Transportation and Warehousing
48121 Nonscheduled Air Transportation
NAICS 48121 is the US industry code for nonscheduled air transportation. It covers 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.
Official definition
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.
Examples Census gives
- Air taxi services
- Nonscheduled air freight transportation services
- Aircraft charter services
- Nonscheduled air passenger transportation services
When to use a different code
Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:
- Crop dusting using specialized aircraft are classified in Industry 11511, Support Activities for Crop Production.
- Fighting forest fires using specialized water bombers are classified in Industry 11531, Support Activities for Forestry.
- Providing air transportation of passengers and/or cargo over regular routes and on regular schedules are classified in Industry 48111, Scheduled Air Transportation.
- Providing specialized air sightseeing services are classified in Industry 48799, Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other.
- Aerial gathering of geophysical data are classified in Industry 54136, Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services.
- Providing aerial and/or other surveying and mapping services are classified in Industry 54137, Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services.
- Providing air ambulance services using specialized equipment are classified in Industry 62191, Ambulance Services.
- Operating specialized flying schools, including all training for commercial pilots are classified in Industry 61151, Technical and Trade Schools.
- Operating recreational aviation clubs are classified in Industry 71399, All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries.
- Operating advocacy aviation clubs are classified in Industry 81331, Social Advocacy Organizations.
- Providing air courier services are classified in Industry 49211, Couriers and Express Delivery Services.
- Independent air pilot services (except owner-operators) are classified in Industry 48819, Other Support Activities for Air Transportation.
- Renting or leasing aircraft without an operator are classified in Industry 53241, Construction, Transportation, Mining, and Forestry Machinery and Equipment Rental and Leasing.
Codes in 48121
Data last changed November 14, 2026. How this page is built.