NACE 52.2 – Support Activities for Transportation | Public Tenders

NACE 52.2: Transport services such as airport ground handling, port services and pilotage in public tenders. CPV codes and contracting authorities.

Definition: NACE 52.2 covers support services for transport, including airport ground handling services, port services, pilotage services and the operation of locks and traffic control systems. The group is closely linked to publicly operated transport infrastructure.

Legal basis: NACE Rev. 2 (Regulation (EC) No 1893/2006) · Last updated: January 2026

What does NACE 52.2 cover?

NACE 52.2 (Support activities for transportation) classifies undertakings that perform supporting activities for transport modes — without carrying out transport services themselves.

Group 52.2 within Section H (Transportation and storage) and Division 52 is broken down into the following classes:

Class	Title	Typical services
52.21	Service activities incidental to land transportation	Car park operation, toll collection, breakdown assistance, ferry operation
52.22	Service activities incidental to water transportation	Port operation, pilotage services, locks, tugs
52.23	Service activities incidental to air transportation	Ground handling, airport security, de-icing services
52.24	Cargo handling	Container handling, storage, loading
52.29	Other transportation support activities	Traffic control centres, freight forwarding logistics

Public contracting authorities under NACE 52.2 are airport companies, port authorities, waterways and shipping administrations, municipal transport operators and toll road operators.

Public Tenders: Activities under NACE 52.2

Transport services for public infrastructure are regularly tendered as services concessions, operating contracts and framework agreements.

Typical types of contract

Airport ground handling services: Ground handling, baggage transport, de-icing services, apron operations at public airports
Port services: Operation of municipal ferry ports, tug services in public ports, port security services
Pilotage services: District pilotage on federal waterways, lock operation and maintenance
Toll collection and traffic management: Operation of toll stations, traffic control centres, tunnel monitoring
Car park operation: Management of public car parks through concession awards

Thresholds and procedure types

Service contracts above the EU threshold of EUR 221,000 (2024/2025, utility sector contracting entities: EUR 443,000) must be published EU-wide on TED. Concession contracts above a threshold of EUR 5,538,000 are subject to the Concessions Directive (2014/23/EU).

Relevant CPV codes for NACE 52.2

CPV code	Title	Field of application
63700000	Support services for land, water and air transport	Cross-mode transport services
63721000	Port operation services and related services	Port operation, handling, tugs
63730000	Support services for air transport	Ground handling, airport operation
63731000	Airport-ground services	Baggage, apron, catering supply
63712200	Highway operation services	Operation of toll stations
63510000	Travel agency and similar services	Supplementary transport services

Current tenders can be found on TED (Tenders Electronic Daily) as well as on national procurement platforms.

For whom is NACE 52.2 relevant in public procurement?

Public contracting authorities

Typical contracting authorities are public airport companies (e.g. Flughafen Wien AG, Fraport AG), the German federal waterways and shipping administration (WSV), via donau in Austria and municipal port operators. These frequently act as utility sector contracting entities under §§ 100 et seq. GWB or §§ 167 et seq. BVergG 2018, and are subject to the special rules of utility sector procurement law.

Companies and bidders

For service providers in the NACE 52.2 area, the following eligibility requirements are typical:

Qualified staff: Evidence of trained specialist staff (e.g. pilot licences, airport security passes)
Technical equipment: Vehicle fleet, operating facilities, communications infrastructure
References: Comparable operating contracts or service contracts
Certifications: ISO 9001, sector-specific safety certificates (e.g. ISPS Code in the port area)

NACE 52.2 in context: Section H and Division 52

NACE H – Transportation and storage: Parent section covering all transport activities
NACE 52.1 – Warehousing and storage: Warehousing, cold stores, tank storage
NACE 53.1 – Postal activities under universal service obligation: Letter delivery, parcels
NACE 49.4 – Freight transport by road: Transport and logistics services

Frequently asked questions about NACE 52.2 and public tenders

Which companies fall under NACE 52.2?
Undertakings whose focus is on support services for transport modes — i.e. airport service providers, port operators, pilotage companies and traffic management operators. Pure transport undertakings (NACE 49–51) are not covered.

Are airport ground handling services at public airports always subject to mandatory tendering?
Yes, where public airport companies act as public or utility sector contracting entities. In addition, EU Directive 96/67/EC (Ground Handling Directive) requires non-discriminatory market access.

How are port services awarded?
Frequently as concessions (services concessions) with a long term, or as service contracts. The EU Port Services Regulation (EU) 2017/352 governs access to port services.

What should be considered for pilotage services on federal waterways?
In Germany, pilotage services on certain districts are organised as a sovereign task (compulsory pilotage under the Sea Pilots Act). Supplementary services are however provided on a market basis and may be tendered.

Last updated: January 2026
All information is provided without guarantee. For legally binding advice, please consult a law firm specialising in public procurement law.