48811 Airport Operations

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) operating international, national, or civil airports or public flying fields or (2) supporting airport operations (except special food services contractors), such as rental of hangar space, air traffic control (except military) services, baggage handling services, and cargo handling services.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

• Establishments primarily engaged in providing factory conversion, overhaul, and rebuilding of aircraft are classified in Industry 33641, Aerospace Product and Parts Manufacturing.
• Establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling fuel at airports are classified in Industry 42472, Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals).
• Establishments primarily engaged in providing airport janitorial services are classified in Industry 56172, Janitorial Services.
• Establishments primarily engaged in providing food services at airports on a contractual arrangement (i.e., food service contractors) are classified in Industry 72231, Food Service Contractors.
• Establishments of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, primarily engaged in providing military air traffic control services are classified in Industry 92811, National Security.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Codes in 48811

• 488111Air Traffic Control
• 488119Other Airport Operations