NAICS 488190 Quarterly Industry Report
Other Support Activities for Air Transportation
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 488190Sector: 48Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry report for NAICS 488190 draws on aviation support data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5], employment statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], and small business benchmarks from the Small Business Administration[7]. Fair Market Value compiles this NAICS 488190 profile to support valuation professionals assessing ground handling companies, aircraft fueling operations, and aviation service businesses. Our research team updates this content quarterly to reflect airline outsourcing trends and airport service developments.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the other support activities for air transportation industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Other Support Activities for Air Transportation (NAICS 488190) encompasses establishments providing support services for air transportation that are not classified under air traffic control or airport operations codes. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies aircraft ground handling, fueling services, baggage handling, aircraft de-icing, flight planning and dispatch, and other aviation support functions under this residual code.
Ground handling companies represent the largest segment, providing ramp services including aircraft marshaling, baggage and cargo loading, cabin cleaning, lavatory servicing, and pushback operations for airlines at commercial airports. Many airlines outsource these functions to specialized ground handling firms that serve multiple carriers at each station. Revenue comes from per-turn service contracts priced by aircraft type, with supplemental charges for de-icing, overnight parking, and special cargo handling. Aircraft fueling operations pump millions of gallons of jet fuel through into-plane delivery systems at major airports.
Workforce requirements center on ramp agents, fueling technicians, cabin cleaners, de-icing operators, and operations coordinators who manage tight turnaround schedules between flights. Safety training for ramp operations, hazardous materials handling for fueling, and security clearance for restricted area access impose significant onboarding costs. Equipment investments include ground support vehicles, belt loaders, tugs, de-icing trucks, and fueling rigs that must meet airline and airport specification standards. Seasonal peaks during holiday travel periods and weather events requiring extensive de-icing create staffing surge demands.
What's Included in This Industry
- Aircraft ground handling and ramp services
- Aircraft fueling and into-plane fuel delivery
- Baggage handling and sorting operations
- Aircraft cabin cleaning and turn services
- De-icing and anti-icing operations for winter flying
- Flight dispatch and operational control services
- Aircraft lavatory and water servicing
- Ground power unit and air start operations
- Cargo loading and freight handling at airports
- Aircraft towing and pushback services
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Support Activities for Transportation | 488 |
| Industry Group | Support Activities for Air Transportation | 4881 |
| NAICS Industry | Other Support Activities for Air Transportation | 48819 |
| National Industry | Other Support Activities for Air Transportation | 488190 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 488111 | Air Traffic Control | Air traffic control managing aircraft movement through controlled airspace, while 488190 handles ground-level aircraft servicing and support functions after landing |
| 488119 | Other Airport Operations | Airport facility management and operations providing the infrastructure platform where 488190 ground handling and fueling services are performed |
| 481111 | Scheduled Passenger Air Transportation | Scheduled passenger airlines that outsource ramp services, cabin cleaning, and fueling to the ground handling companies classified under 488190 |
| 481112 | Scheduled Freight Air Transportation | Scheduled freight airlines relying on cargo loading and aircraft servicing from ground handling providers when operating at airports without self-handling capability |
| 488510 | Freight Transportation Arrangement | Freight transportation arrangement coordinating air cargo logistics that depend on the ground handling and freight loading services provided by 488190 operations |
| 336411 | Aircraft Manufacturing | Aircraft manufacturing producing the airframes and engines that aviation ground support companies under 488190 service, fuel, and maintain between flights |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florida | 15.8% | 646 |
| 2 | Texas | 12.1% | 496 |
| 3 | California | 11.3% | 461 |
| 4 | Arizona | 3.6% | 148 |
| 5 | Georgia | 3.2% | 131 |
| 6 | Washington | 2.7% | 112 |
| 7 | North Carolina | 2.6% | 108 |
| 8 | Oklahoma | 2.4% | 100 |
| 9 | Illinois | 2.4% | 99 |
| 10 | New York | 2.4% | 98 |
% Of Establishments
0%
16%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
248
Total SBA Loans
$142.3M
Total Loan Volume
$574K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
10.14%
Average Interest Rate
3,184
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: The Small Business Administration[7] sets the size standard for NAICS 488190 at $40 million in average annual receipts, measured over the preceding five completed fiscal years. Regional ground handling companies and specialized aviation service firms often qualify as small businesses under this threshold. Eligible firms can access SBA 7(a) loans[8] for ground support equipment purchases, vehicle fleet replacement, and working capital. The SBA 504 loan program[9] supports fuel farm construction, equipment maintenance facilities, and cargo handling warehouse acquisition. Federal contracting opportunities exist through military aviation support and government aircraft servicing programs.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ocean Bank | 8 | $37.0M | $4.6M |
| 2 | Zions Bank, A Division of | 16 | $21.2M | $1.3M |
| 3 | Bank of America, National Association | 24 | $14.2M | $592K |
| 4 | CommunityAmerica Federal Credit Union | 16 | $11.4M | $710K |
| 5 | Broadway National Bank | 8 | $8.0M | $1.0M |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses fall under NAICS 488190?
This code covers ground handling companies providing ramp services at airports, aircraft fueling operators, baggage handling firms, cabin cleaning contractors, de-icing service providers, and flight dispatch companies. Both large multinational ground handlers and regional service providers fall under this classification. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] captures all aviation support services not classified as air traffic control or airport facility management.
How are aviation support activities different from airport operations?
Aviation support under 488190 involves directly servicing aircraft and handling baggage and cargo at the ramp level. Airport operations under 488119 manage the physical facility including terminals, runways, and parking. A ground handling company loading bags onto an aircraft works under 488190, while the airport authority maintaining the terminal building and taxiways operates under 488119.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 488190?
The Small Business Administration sets the size standard at $40 million in average annual receipts over five years. Regional ground handlers and specialized aviation service firms frequently qualify as small businesses. Details are in the SBA size standards table[10].
What NAICS codes are closely related to air transportation support?
Related codes include 488111 for air traffic control, 488119 for airport facility operations, 481111 for scheduled airlines, 488510 for freight transportation arrangement, and 493110 for warehousing. Ground handling companies interact with all of these operations as part of the airport service ecosystem.
What industries are connected to aviation ground support?
Connected industries include airlines outsourcing ground operations, airport authorities managing facility leases, cargo forwarders coordinating freight handling, ground support equipment manufacturers, and aviation fuel suppliers. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], air transportation support activities employ a substantial workforce in ramp operations and aircraft servicing roles.
What activities are included in NAICS 488190?
Included activities cover aircraft ground handling, fueling, baggage sorting and loading, cabin cleaning, de-icing, flight dispatch, lavatory servicing, ground power delivery, cargo handling, and aircraft towing. The U.S. Census Bureau[5] classifies all direct aircraft support services performed at airports that are separate from air traffic control and airport infrastructure management.
Can aviation ground handling companies get SBA loans?
Ground handling firms under the $40 million revenue threshold can access SBA financing for equipment and growth. The 7(a) program[8] supports ground support vehicle purchases, belt loaders, tugs, and de-icing equipment. Most 504 program[9] finances maintenance facilities, fuel farm infrastructure, and cargo warehouse space. These programs help regional handlers compete for airline service contracts.
Where are aviation ground support operations concentrated?
Ground handling operations concentrate at the busiest commercial airports. Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Denver, Chicago O'Hare, and Los Angeles International support the largest ground handling workforces due to their high flight volumes. Hub airports generate the most demand for turnaround services, de-icing operations, and cargo handling. Regional airports with airline service also require ground support, though often at smaller scale with fewer competing service providers.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]Small Business Administration sba.gov
- [8]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [9]SBA 504 loan program sba.gov
- [10]SBA size standards table sba.gov
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