NACE 51 – Air Transport | Public Tenders
NACE 51 Air transport: public contracts for air transport, airport services and air transport. CPV codes, contracting authorities and tenders.
Definition: NACE 51 covers the transport of passengers and freight by air, as well as space activities. Public tenders concern air transport services, airport operation and air rescue services — a highly specialised procurement field.
Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026
What does NACE 51 cover?
NACE 51 (Air transport) classifies airlines, air freight services and space companies — relevant for the public sector for airline concessions, air rescue and state air transport services.
| Group | Title | Typical services |
|---|---|---|
| 51.1 | Passenger air transport | Scheduled air transport, charter flights, regional air transport |
| 51.2 | Freight air transport and space transport | Air freight, express airmail, space activities |
Public Tenders – Air transport
The public sector acts as a contracting authority in air transport in various roles:
- Public service obligations (PSO) for regional air connections to remote areas
- Air rescue services (helicopter rescue, ADAC air rescue — partly publicly tendered)
- Air transport services for public authorities (federal police air division, government flight service)
- Airport infrastructure services (ground handling, security services)
- Aerial surveillance services (Bundeswehr, air traffic control DFS)
- Drone-based surveillance services for public contracting authorities
Relevant CPV codes
| CPV code | Title | Field of application |
|---|---|---|
| 60400000 | Air transport services | Air transport in general |
| 60420000 | Non-scheduled air transport services | Charter flights, special flights |
| 60440000 | Aerial and related services | Special aviation (surveillance, surveying) |
| 75241100 | Police services | Aerial surveillance for authorities |
| 85143000 | Ambulance services | Air rescue and ambulance flights |
| 71351900 | Geological, geophysical and other scientific prospecting services | Aerial surveying and remote sensing |
Contracting authorities
- Federal and regional government (government flight service, federal police air division, Bundeswehr flight operations)
- Airport companies (some state-owned, e.g. Vienna airport, Fraport)
- Emergency control centres and emergency services (helicopter air ambulance service)
- European Commission (PSO procurement procedures for regional air routes)
- Aviation safety authorities (DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, Austro Control)
FAQ
What are public service obligations (PSO) in air transport? Public Service Obligations (PSO) under Regulation (EC) No 1008/2008 enable Member States to tender operating obligations on unprofitable routes to remote regions. The tender is published EU-wide in the Official Journal; the contract has a maximum term of four years.
Are airport services subject to public procurement law? Airport operators that are public contracting authorities or utility sector contracting entities must tender service contracts (e.g. ground handling, security services, cleaning) under public procurement law. Private airports operating on the basis of special or exclusive rights are subject to the utility sector rules.
- NACE H – Transportation and storage: Parent section
- NACE 49 – Land transport: Ground and rail transport
- NACE 52 – Warehousing and support activities for transportation: Airport services and logistics
Last updated: January 2026 All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.
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