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General Liability July 12, 2026

Where America's charter & air-taxi operators are: top states by count

By Dave Benson · Edited by Justin Marks · Reviewed by Jason Wootton, NPN 7694718 Verify NPN ↗

The U.S. has about 1,631 nonscheduled passenger-aviation (charter / air-taxi) establishments (2023 Census, NAICS 481211). Florida leads with 238, ahead of California (158) and Texas (156).

There are roughly 1,631 nonscheduled passenger air-transportation establishments in the U.S. (NAICS 481211, 2023 Census County Business Patterns) — the charter, air-taxi, and on-demand operators flown under FAA Part 135. Florida leads with 238 (tourism plus a dense private-aviation market), followed by California (158) and Texas (156). The standout is Alaska at 91 — far above its population, because bush flying is essential transport where roads don't reach. New York (82), Colorado (50), Illinois (46), and Pennsylvania (45) round out the top eight. These operators employ about 41,900 people.

Why it matters for insurance: charter operators carry specialty aviation liability — aircraft hull plus passenger liability — well beyond a standard commercial general-liability policy, and their passenger-carrying exposure and Part 135 compliance are the main premium drivers.

Charter / air-taxi (nonscheduled passenger aviation) establishments by state — top 8 (2023 Census CBP)
Charter / air-taxi (nonscheduled passenger aviation) establishments by state — top 8 (2023 Census CBP)Florida238California158Texas156Alaska91New York82Colorado50Illinois46Pennsylvania45
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 481211)

Full state breakdown

Every state with a reported count, ranked — U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns.

Rank State operatorspaid employees
1 Florida 2384,587
2 California 1585,293
3 Texas 1563,749
4 Alaska 91927
5 New York 821,168
6 Colorado 501,418
7 Illinois 46607
8 Pennsylvania 45599
9 Arizona 38683
10 Ohio 389,081
11 Michigan 37656
12 New Jersey 371,356
13 Georgia 34602
14 North Carolina 34550
15 Washington 34295
16 Louisiana 311,611
17 Indiana 26255
18 Massachusetts 26517
19 Virginia 26284
20 Nevada 25732
21 Minnesota 23288
22 Oklahoma 22916
23 Tennessee 22201
24 Missouri 21230
25 Oregon 19144
26 South Carolina 18116
27 Utah 18406
28 Arkansas 1784
29 Kentucky 17890
30 Idaho 1688
31 Alabama 1572
32 Montana 1578
33 Wisconsin 14275
34 Connecticut 13771
35 New Hampshire 13509
36 Delaware 1294
37 Kansas 11268
38 Hawaii 1055
39 Iowa 1087
40 Wyoming 10260
41 Maryland 991
42 Mississippi 919
43 South Dakota 937
44 Nebraska 8472
45 Maine 749
46 New Mexico 7339
47 North Dakota 661

Paid employees = total employment reported for the week of March 12, U.S. Census Bureau, 2023 County Business Patterns. "—" marks state cells the Census suppressed for disclosure.

Frequently asked questions

How many charter aviation operators are there in the U.S.?
About 1,631 nonscheduled passenger-aviation establishments (charter and air-taxi operators) operate nationwide, per the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns (NAICS 481211).
Which state has the most charter aviation operators?
Florida leads with 238, followed by California (158) and Texas (156) — 2023 Census CBP. Alaska is unusually high at 91 because bush aviation is essential transport there.
What insurance does a charter aviation operator need?
Charter operators carry specialty aviation coverage — aircraft hull and aviation liability, including passenger liability — which is a distinct market from standard commercial general liability. FAA Part 135 certification and passenger-carrying exposure are the primary rating factors.
Why does Alaska have so many charter operators?
Much of Alaska is unreachable by road, so on-demand and bush aviation function as everyday transport — giving the state 91 operators, far more than its population would suggest.

Methodology

Counts are establishments classified under NAICS 481211 (Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation) in the U.S. Census Bureau's 2023 County Business Patterns, the most recent CBP release. An establishment is a single physical location; figures count establishments, not aircraft. State rows exclude cells the Census suppressed for disclosure.

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