What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 481111?

The SBA size standard for NAICS 481111 (Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation) is 1,500 employees in average employee headcount, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.

Is NAICS 481111 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?

Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. Major air carriers dominate. Small-business set-asides are rare due to scale and certification requirements.

Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 481111?

For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 481111 were General Services Administration, Department of Defense, U.S. Transportation Command, Department of State, Department of Veterans Affairs. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.

What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 481111 contracts?

Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.247-63 (Preference for U.S.-Flag Air Carriers); FAR 52.222-50 (Combating Trafficking in Persons); FAR 52.232-25 (Prompt Payment); FAR 52.212-4 (Contract Terms and Conditions — Commercial Products and Commercial Services). Each contract instrument will incorporate clauses by reference under FAR 52.252-2; this list reflects the high-frequency set for this NAICS, not an exhaustive flowdown.

Transportation & Warehousing

NAICS 481111 — Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation

Scheduled passenger air transportation under City Pair Program and other government travel contracts. Federal use is dominated by GSA City Pair and DoD passenger movement.

Quick facts

SBA size standard: 1,500 employees; Average employee headcount · 13 C.F.R. § 121.201
FY2024 federal obligations: $2B–$5B; See live USAspending.gov data →

Top federal customers

Federal agencies that obligate the most spending under NAICS 481111 (FY2024 reporting period). Order tracks federal-obligation volume on USAspending.gov.

1.General Services Administration
2.Department of Defense
3.U.S. Transportation Command
4.Department of State
5.Department of Veterans Affairs

Set-aside fit

Whether NAICS 481111 commonly carries set-aside designations on federal awards. Eligibility for any specific solicitation is set by the contracting officer; this table reflects the FY2024 award pattern, not a guarantee of set-aside status.

SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business)
8(a) Business Development Program
HUBZone Small Business
WOSB / EDWOSB
VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business)

Major air carriers dominate. Small-business set-asides are rare due to scale and certification requirements.

Frequent prime contractors

Companies that most frequently appear as prime awardees under NAICS 481111 for FY2024. Drawn from USAspending.gov public award records — verify currency at the live link below.

United Airlines
Delta Air Lines
American Airlines
Southwest Airlines
Alaska Airlines
JetBlue Airways
Hawaiian Airlines
Frontier Airlines
Sun Country
Spirit Airlines

See live award data on USAspending.gov →

Common FAR / DFARS clauses

Frequently flowed-down clauses on contracts in this NAICS. The clause text on acquisition.gov is authoritative; this list captures the practical pattern, not an exhaustive flowdown.

FAR 52.247-63Preference for U.S.-Flag Air Carriers
Fly America Act applies to all federal air travel.
FAR 52.222-50Combating Trafficking in Persons
Standard services flowdown.
FAR 52.232-25Prompt Payment
Standard prompt-payment clause for commercial services.
FAR 52.212-4Contract Terms and Conditions — Commercial Products and Commercial Services
City Pair operates under FAR Part 12 commercial-item rules.

Indirect rate considerations

Commercial-item rules dominate. Most City Pair pricing is fixed-price commercial; FAR Part 31 indirect-rate accounting does not flow down for commercial-item awards. Cost-reimbursable charter exceptions follow standard FAR Part 31.

See FieldLedger's Indirect Rate Engine for pool definition and rate tracking, or read the FieldLedger methodology for the underlying FAR Part 31 framework.

How FieldLedger fits NAICS 481111

Limited fit for commercial-item passenger air. Useful for charter operators where FAR Part 31 applies.

DCAA compliance →Indirect Rate Engine →DCAA readiness check →

Frequently asked

What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 481111?: The SBA size standard for NAICS 481111 (Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation) is 1,500 employees in average employee headcount, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.
Is NAICS 481111 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?: Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. Major air carriers dominate. Small-business set-asides are rare due to scale and certification requirements.
Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 481111?: For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 481111 were General Services Administration, Department of Defense, U.S. Transportation Command, Department of State, Department of Veterans Affairs. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.
What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 481111 contracts?: Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.247-63 (Preference for U.S.-Flag Air Carriers); FAR 52.222-50 (Combating Trafficking in Persons); FAR 52.232-25 (Prompt Payment); FAR 52.212-4 (Contract Terms and Conditions — Commercial Products and Commercial Services). Each contract instrument will incorporate clauses by reference under FAR 52.252-2; this list reflects the high-frequency set for this NAICS, not an exhaustive flowdown.
What indirect-rate structure works for a federal contractor in NAICS 481111?: Commercial-item rules dominate. Most City Pair pricing is fixed-price commercial; FAR Part 31 indirect-rate accounting does not flow down for commercial-item awards. Cost-reimbursable charter exceptions follow standard FAR Part 31.
How does FieldLedger help small federal contractors in NAICS 481111?: Limited fit for commercial-item passenger air. Useful for charter operators where FAR Part 31 applies.

Sources

U.S. Census NAICS manual — census.gov/naics
SBA size-standards table — 13 C.F.R. § 121.201 (eCFR)
Federal obligations + prime awardees — USAspending.gov NAICS 481111
FAR / DFARS clause text — acquisition.gov

Snapshot date: 2026-05-08 (FY2024 reporting period). Federal-obligation bands and prime-contractor lists reflect the data as of the snapshot — refresh against USAspending.gov for current figures.