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Size of the US Air Transportation industry

NAICS 481, Air Transportation. Every figure on this page was published by a federal statistical agency and carries its source and period. Palanor does not estimate: a period the agency didn’t publish shows as missing, and a figure it withheld shows as withheld.

Key figures

Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)
$277 billion
2022 · Economic Census
All establishments, current dollars
Value added (GDP by industry)
$185 billion
2025 · GDP by Industry
Current dollars
Revenue, not seasonally adjusted
$87.1 billion
2026-Q2 · Quarterly Services Survey
Employer firms, current dollars
Employment
572,939
2026-Q1 · Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter
Establishments
8,008
2026-Q1 · Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages
Private ownership
Firms
2,447
2022 · Economic Census

Over time

How it has changed

Revenue, seasonally adjusted · Quarterly Services SurveyLatest $82.7 billion · 2026-Q2
2010-Q1: $35.1 billion2010-Q2: $36.3 billion2010-Q3: $37.6 billion2010-Q4: $39.3 billion2011-Q1: $41.3 billion2011-Q2: $43.2 billion2011-Q3: $44.5 billion2011-Q4: $44.5 billion2012-Q1: $45.7 billion2012-Q2: $45.6 billion2012-Q3: $44.9 billion2012-Q4: $44.9 billion2013-Q1: $45.6 billion2013-Q2: $46.7 billion2013-Q3: $48.0 billion2013-Q4: $48.4 billion2014-Q1: $48.6 billion2014-Q2: $49.6 billion2014-Q3: $50.2 billion2014-Q4: $50.1 billion2015-Q1: $49.8 billion2015-Q2: $49.8 billion2015-Q3: $50.4 billion2015-Q4: $49.7 billion2016-Q1: $49.5 billion2016-Q2: $49.4 billion2016-Q3: $49.9 billion2016-Q4: $50.0 billion2017-Q1: $50.6 billion2017-Q2: $51.1 billion2017-Q3: $54.0 billion2017-Q4: $52.8 billion2018-Q1: $54.7 billion2018-Q2: $56.7 billion2018-Q3: $56.0 billion2018-Q4: $57.1 billion2019-Q1: $58.2 billion2019-Q2: $58.5 billion2019-Q3: $59.0 billion2019-Q4: $60.7 billion2020-Q1: $54.1 billion2020-Q2: $13.9 billion2020-Q3: $21.2 billion2020-Q4: $25.8 billion2021-Q1: $28.2 billion2021-Q2: $39.1 billion2021-Q3: $47.7 billion2021-Q4: $50.7 billion2022-Q1: $53.7 billion2022-Q2: $65.5 billion2022-Q3: $67.8 billion2022-Q4: $66.3 billion2023-Q1: $65.2 billion2023-Q2: $67.3 billion2023-Q3: $68.0 billion2023-Q4: $68.5 billion2024-Q1: $69.5 billion2024-Q2: $71.0 billion2024-Q3: $70.9 billion2024-Q4: $74.2 billion2025-Q1: $73.7 billion2025-Q2: $71.3 billion2025-Q3: $72.7 billion2025-Q4: $74.3 billion2026-Q1: $78.6 billion2026-Q2: $82.7 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-Q2$82.7 billion
2026-Q1$78.6 billion
2025-Q4$74.3 billion
2025-Q3$72.7 billion
2025-Q2$71.3 billion
2025-Q1$73.7 billion
2024-Q4$74.2 billion
2024-Q3$70.9 billion
2024-Q2$71.0 billion
2024-Q1$69.5 billion
2023-Q4$68.5 billion
2023-Q3$68.0 billion
2023-Q2$67.3 billion
2023-Q1$65.2 billion
2022-Q4$66.3 billion
2022-Q3$67.8 billion
2022-Q2$65.5 billion
2022-Q1$53.7 billion
2021-Q4$50.7 billion
2021-Q3$47.7 billion
2021-Q2$39.1 billion
2021-Q1$28.2 billion
2020-Q4$25.8 billion
2020-Q3$21.2 billion
2020-Q2$13.9 billion
2020-Q1$54.1 billion
2019-Q4$60.7 billion
2019-Q3$59.0 billion
2019-Q2$58.5 billion
2019-Q1$58.2 billion
2018-Q4$57.1 billion
2018-Q3$56.0 billion
2018-Q2$56.7 billion
2018-Q1$54.7 billion
2017-Q4$52.8 billion
2017-Q3$54.0 billion
2017-Q2$51.1 billion
2017-Q1$50.6 billion
2016-Q4$50.0 billion
2016-Q3$49.9 billion
2016-Q2$49.4 billion
2016-Q1$49.5 billion
2015-Q4$49.7 billion
2015-Q3$50.4 billion
2015-Q2$49.8 billion
2015-Q1$49.8 billion
2014-Q4$50.1 billion
2014-Q3$50.2 billion
2014-Q2$49.6 billion
2014-Q1$48.6 billion
2013-Q4$48.4 billion
2013-Q3$48.0 billion
2013-Q2$46.7 billion
2013-Q1$45.6 billion
2012-Q4$44.9 billion
2012-Q3$44.9 billion
2012-Q2$45.6 billion
2012-Q1$45.7 billion
2011-Q4$44.5 billion
2011-Q3$44.5 billion
2011-Q2$43.2 billion
2011-Q1$41.3 billion
2010-Q4$39.3 billion
2010-Q3$37.6 billion
2010-Q2$36.3 billion
2010-Q1$35.1 billion

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Quarterly Services Survey · Employer firms, current dollars · Agency label: Air Transportation

Value added, seasonally adjusted annual rate · GDP by IndustryLatest $197 billion · 2026-Q1
2005-Q1: $58.4 billion2005-Q2: $61.5 billion2005-Q3: $63.3 billion2005-Q4: $63.6 billion2006-Q1: $65.8 billion2006-Q2: $66.4 billion2006-Q3: $70.2 billion2006-Q4: $69.6 billion2007-Q1: $71.3 billion2007-Q2: $77.6 billion2007-Q3: $73.9 billion2007-Q4: $70.1 billion2008-Q1: $69.2 billion2008-Q2: $66.8 billion2008-Q3: $67.9 billion2008-Q4: $70.8 billion2009-Q1: $67.8 billion2009-Q2: $70.3 billion2009-Q3: $72.4 billion2009-Q4: $76.0 billion2010-Q1: $79.1 billion2010-Q2: $84.2 billion2010-Q3: $86.4 billion2010-Q4: $87.4 billion2011-Q1: $86.2 billion2011-Q2: $85.4 billion2011-Q3: $82.2 billion2011-Q4: $85.4 billion2012-Q1: $86.7 billion2012-Q2: $87.6 billion2012-Q3: $89.3 billion2012-Q4: $88.6 billion2013-Q1: $89.7 billion2013-Q2: $90.1 billion2013-Q3: $93.4 billion2013-Q4: $101 billion2014-Q1: $95.7 billion2014-Q2: $101 billion2014-Q3: $104 billion2014-Q4: $106 billion2015-Q1: $110 billion2015-Q2: $114 billion2015-Q3: $119 billion2015-Q4: $121 billion2016-Q1: $121 billion2016-Q2: $127 billion2016-Q3: $125 billion2016-Q4: $128 billion2017-Q1: $128 billion2017-Q2: $130 billion2017-Q3: $129 billion2017-Q4: $128 billion2018-Q1: $132 billion2018-Q2: $130 billion2018-Q3: $130 billion2018-Q4: $132 billion2019-Q1: $133 billion2019-Q2: $137 billion2019-Q3: $144 billion2019-Q4: $146 billion2020-Q1: $138 billion2020-Q2: $40.9 billion2020-Q3: $38.0 billion2020-Q4: $39.7 billion2021-Q1: $62.9 billion2021-Q2: $91.2 billion2021-Q3: $112 billion2021-Q4: $123 billion2022-Q1: $124 billion2022-Q2: $145 billion2022-Q3: $159 billion2022-Q4: $161 billion2023-Q1: $168 billion2023-Q2: $176 billion2023-Q3: $163 billion2023-Q4: $166 billion2024-Q1: $173 billion2024-Q2: $175 billion2024-Q3: $177 billion2024-Q4: $179 billion2025-Q1: $184 billion2025-Q2: $185 billion2025-Q3: $183 billion2025-Q4: $187 billion2026-Q1: $197 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2026-Q1$197 billion
2025-Q4$187 billion
2025-Q3$183 billion
2025-Q2$185 billion
2025-Q1$184 billion
2024-Q4$179 billion
2024-Q3$177 billion
2024-Q2$175 billion
2024-Q1$173 billion
2023-Q4$166 billion
2023-Q3$163 billion
2023-Q2$176 billion
2023-Q1$168 billion
2022-Q4$161 billion
2022-Q3$159 billion
2022-Q2$145 billion
2022-Q1$124 billion
2021-Q4$123 billion
2021-Q3$112 billion
2021-Q2$91.2 billion
2021-Q1$62.9 billion
2020-Q4$39.7 billion
2020-Q3$38.0 billion
2020-Q2$40.9 billion
2020-Q1$138 billion
2019-Q4$146 billion
2019-Q3$144 billion
2019-Q2$137 billion
2019-Q1$133 billion
2018-Q4$132 billion
2018-Q3$130 billion
2018-Q2$130 billion
2018-Q1$132 billion
2017-Q4$128 billion
2017-Q3$129 billion
2017-Q2$130 billion
2017-Q1$128 billion
2016-Q4$128 billion
2016-Q3$125 billion
2016-Q2$127 billion
2016-Q1$121 billion
2015-Q4$121 billion
2015-Q3$119 billion
2015-Q2$114 billion
2015-Q1$110 billion
2014-Q4$106 billion
2014-Q3$104 billion
2014-Q2$101 billion
2014-Q1$95.7 billion
2013-Q4$101 billion
2013-Q3$93.4 billion
2013-Q2$90.1 billion
2013-Q1$89.7 billion
2012-Q4$88.6 billion
2012-Q3$89.3 billion
2012-Q2$87.6 billion
2012-Q1$86.7 billion
2011-Q4$85.4 billion
2011-Q3$82.2 billion
2011-Q2$85.4 billion
2011-Q1$86.2 billion
2010-Q4$87.4 billion
2010-Q3$86.4 billion
2010-Q2$84.2 billion
2010-Q1$79.1 billion
2009-Q4$76.0 billion
2009-Q3$72.4 billion
2009-Q2$70.3 billion
2009-Q1$67.8 billion
2008-Q4$70.8 billion
2008-Q3$67.9 billion
2008-Q2$66.8 billion
2008-Q1$69.2 billion
2007-Q4$70.1 billion
2007-Q3$73.9 billion
2007-Q2$77.6 billion
2007-Q1$71.3 billion
2006-Q4$69.6 billion
2006-Q3$70.2 billion
2006-Q2$66.4 billion
2006-Q1$65.8 billion
2005-Q4$63.6 billion
2005-Q3$63.3 billion
2005-Q2$61.5 billion
2005-Q1$58.4 billion

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, GDP by Industry · Current dollars · Agency label: Air transportation

Employment · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 572,939 · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: 498,5402019-Q2: 506,9832019-Q3: 507,3712019-Q4: 510,8662020-Q1: 516,6352020-Q2: 437,8672020-Q3: 443,7732020-Q4: 429,4872021-Q1: 445,3122021-Q2: 453,4452021-Q3: 465,1352021-Q4: 481,4222022-Q1: 486,8752022-Q2: 506,4342022-Q3: 520,6112022-Q4: 529,4282023-Q1: 540,7132023-Q2: 553,3782023-Q3: 559,1462023-Q4: 560,2662024-Q1: 560,6672024-Q2: 567,9642024-Q3: 565,3732024-Q4: 563,4122025-Q1: 566,2442025-Q2: 572,5192025-Q3: 571,2822025-Q4: 573,9772026-Q1: 572,939NAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q1572,9392022
2025-Q4573,9772022
2025-Q3571,2822022
2025-Q2572,5192022
2025-Q1566,2442022
2024-Q4563,4122022
2024-Q3565,3732022
2024-Q2567,9642022
2024-Q1560,6672022
2023-Q4560,2662022
2023-Q3559,1462022
2023-Q2553,3782022
2023-Q1540,7132022
2022-Q4529,4282022
2022-Q3520,6112022
2022-Q2506,4342022
2022-Q1486,8752022
2021-Q4481,4222017
2021-Q3465,1352017
2021-Q2453,4452017
2021-Q1445,3122017
2020-Q4429,4872017
2020-Q3443,7732017
2020-Q2437,8672017
2020-Q1516,6352017
2019-Q4510,8662017
2019-Q3507,3712017
2019-Q2506,9832017
2019-Q1498,5402017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private-sector jobs in the third month of each quarter

Employment · County Business PatternsLatest 573,362 · 2023
2017: 470,3532018: 479,5692019: 501,3442020: 525,3632021: 465,4232022: 493,8882023: 573,362
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023573,362
2022493,888
2021465,423
2020525,363
2019501,344
2018479,569
2017470,353

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns · Paid employees in the pay period including March 12

Establishments · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest 8,008 · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: 5,9222019-Q2: 5,9752019-Q3: 5,9802019-Q4: 6,0442020-Q1: 5,9822020-Q2: 6,0262020-Q3: 6,0692020-Q4: 6,1272021-Q1: 6,1372021-Q2: 6,2112021-Q3: 6,3242021-Q4: 6,4882022-Q1: 6,5692022-Q2: 6,7122022-Q3: 6,8692022-Q4: 7,0172023-Q1: 7,1752023-Q2: 7,2662023-Q3: 7,3592023-Q4: 7,5042024-Q1: 7,6082024-Q2: 7,7382024-Q3: 7,7712024-Q4: 7,8122025-Q1: 7,7672025-Q2: 7,8072025-Q3: 7,8802025-Q4: 7,9802026-Q1: 8,008NAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q18,0082022
2025-Q47,9802022
2025-Q37,8802022
2025-Q27,8072022
2025-Q17,7672022
2024-Q47,8122022
2024-Q37,7712022
2024-Q27,7382022
2024-Q17,6082022
2023-Q47,5042022
2023-Q37,3592022
2023-Q27,2662022
2023-Q17,1752022
2022-Q47,0172022
2022-Q36,8692022
2022-Q26,7122022
2022-Q16,5692022
2021-Q46,4882017
2021-Q36,3242017
2021-Q26,2112017
2021-Q16,1372017
2020-Q46,1272017
2020-Q36,0692017
2020-Q26,0262017
2020-Q15,9822017
2019-Q46,0442017
2019-Q35,9802017
2019-Q25,9752017
2019-Q15,9222017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership

Establishments · County Business PatternsLatest 4,745 · 2023
2017: 4,4412018: 4,4142019: 4,4422020: 4,4642021: 4,5432022: 4,6452023: 4,745
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
20234,745
20224,645
20214,543
20204,464
20194,442
20184,414
20174,441

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns

Total wages in the quarter · Quarterly Census of Employment and WagesLatest $20.2 billion · 2026-Q1
2019-Q1: $13.1 billion2019-Q2: $10.7 billion2019-Q3: $11.0 billion2019-Q4: $10.8 billion2020-Q1: $13.9 billion2020-Q2: $9.2 billion2020-Q3: $9.7 billion2020-Q4: $9.6 billion2021-Q1: $10.1 billion2021-Q2: $9.7 billion2021-Q3: $11.0 billion2021-Q4: $11.9 billion2022-Q1: $12.6 billion2022-Q2: $11.6 billion2022-Q3: $12.7 billion2022-Q4: $12.9 billion2023-Q1: $15.2 billion2023-Q2: $14.2 billion2023-Q3: $13.6 billion2023-Q4: $16.5 billion2024-Q1: $18.7 billion2024-Q2: $16.1 billion2024-Q3: $15.7 billion2024-Q4: $16.7 billion2025-Q1: $19.2 billion2025-Q2: $16.8 billion2025-Q3: $16.7 billion2025-Q4: $17.6 billion2026-Q1: $20.2 billionNAICS 2022 from 2022-Q1
Show the numbers
PeriodValueNAICS
2026-Q1$20.2 billion2022
2025-Q4$17.6 billion2022
2025-Q3$16.7 billion2022
2025-Q2$16.8 billion2022
2025-Q1$19.2 billion2022
2024-Q4$16.7 billion2022
2024-Q3$15.7 billion2022
2024-Q2$16.1 billion2022
2024-Q1$18.7 billion2022
2023-Q4$16.5 billion2022
2023-Q3$13.6 billion2022
2023-Q2$14.2 billion2022
2023-Q1$15.2 billion2022
2022-Q4$12.9 billion2022
2022-Q3$12.7 billion2022
2022-Q2$11.6 billion2022
2022-Q1$12.6 billion2022
2021-Q4$11.9 billion2017
2021-Q3$11.0 billion2017
2021-Q2$9.7 billion2017
2021-Q1$10.1 billion2017
2020-Q4$9.6 billion2017
2020-Q3$9.7 billion2017
2020-Q2$9.2 billion2017
2020-Q1$13.9 billion2017
2019-Q4$10.8 billion2017
2019-Q3$11.0 billion2017
2019-Q2$10.7 billion2017
2019-Q1$13.1 billion2017

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages · Private ownership

Annual payroll · County Business PatternsLatest $59.8 billion · 2023
2017: $40.0 billion2018: $41.8 billion2019: $44.0 billion2020: $42.7 billion2021: $42.2 billion2022: $47.1 billion2023: $59.8 billion
Show the numbers
PeriodValue
2023$59.8 billion
2022$47.1 billion
2021$42.2 billion
2020$42.7 billion
2019$44.0 billion
2018$41.8 billion
2017$40.0 billion

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns

The ledger

Every published measure

MeasureSourceLatestPeriodHistory
Value added (GDP by industry)Current dollarsGDP by Industry$185 billion20251997–2025 · 29 published
Value added, seasonally adjusted annual rateCurrent dollarsGDP by Industry$197 billion2026-Q12005-Q1–2026-Q1 · 85 published
EmploymentPrivate-sector jobs in the third month of each quarterQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages572,9392026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
EstablishmentsPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages8,0082026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
Total wages in the quarterPrivate ownershipQuarterly Census of Employment and Wages$20.2 billion2026-Q12019-Q1–2026-Q1 · 29 published
Annual payrollCounty Business Patterns$59.8 billion20232017–2023 · 7 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12County Business Patterns573,36220232017–2023 · 7 published
EstablishmentsCounty Business Patterns4,74520232017–2023 · 7 published
Annual payrollEconomic Census$51.1 billion20222017–2022 · 2 published
EmploymentPaid employees in the pay period including March 12Economic Census538,00920222017–2022 · 2 published
EstablishmentsEconomic Census4,42320222017–2022 · 2 published
FirmsEconomic Census2,44720222017–2022 · 2 published
Receipts (sales, shipments or revenue)All establishments, current dollarsEconomic Census$277 billion20222017–2022 · 2 published
Revenue, not seasonally adjustedEmployer firms, current dollarsQuarterly Services Survey$87.1 billion2026-Q22010-Q1–2026-Q2 · 66 published
Revenue, seasonally adjustedEmployer firms, current dollarsQuarterly Services Survey$82.7 billion2026-Q22010-Q1–2026-Q2 · 66 published

Breakdown

Industries within Air Transportation

NAICSIndustrySizeEmployment
4811Scheduled Air Transportation$239 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census514,1312026-Q1 · QCEW
4812Nonscheduled Air Transportation$38.3 billionReceipts · 2022 · Economic Census58,8082026-Q1 · QCEW

Companies

Public companies in this industry

Companies Palanor tracks whose GICS classification maps to NAICS 481. The mapping is Palanor’s, one GICS sub-industry to one NAICS code; a company’s own mix of business can span several.

  • ALK Alaska Air Group
  • AAL American Airlines Group
  • DAL Delta Air Lines
  • LUV Southwest Airlines
  • UAL United Airlines Holdings

Sources

Where every number comes from

Figures are in current dollars and are the agencies’ own, revised when they revise. Each program defines its universe differently (employer firms, private ownership, all establishments), so figures from different sources are not meant to add up. This page is not endorsed by the Census Bureau, BEA or BLS. The same data is in the Palanor API (/v1/industries) and the MCP (palanor_get_industry). All industries.