FAR 47.401—Definitions.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 47.401 provides the definitions used in Subpart 47.4, which governs transportation by air and related travel/transportation concepts in federal contracting. This section defines key terms such as air freight forwarder, gateway airport abroad, gateway airport in the United States, international air transportation, United States, and U.S.-flag air carrier. These definitions matter because they determine how agencies and contractors identify the correct mode of transportation, apply domestic preference and routing rules, and evaluate whether a carrier or itinerary meets regulatory requirements. In practice, the definitions control how travel and shipment decisions are made, especially for international travel and air cargo arrangements where the point of embarkation, debarkation, and carrier status can affect compliance, cost, and eligibility. The section is foundational: it does not impose a standalone procurement procedure, but it supplies the terminology needed to apply the rest of the subpart correctly.
Key Rules
Air freight forwarder definition
An air freight forwarder is an indirect air carrier that arranges transportation of property from origin to destination and may use a direct air carrier, its agent, or another air freight forwarder for all or part of the movement. This definition matters when determining who is actually arranging the shipment and what regulatory treatment applies to the transportation chain.
Gateway airport abroad
The gateway airport abroad is the foreign airport where the traveler last boards for travel to the United States, or the first foreign airport where the traveler debarks when traveling from the United States. This term is used to identify the relevant foreign point for applying air travel rules and documenting the route.
Gateway airport in the United States
The gateway airport in the United States is the last U.S. airport from which the traveler departs or the first U.S. airport at which the traveler arrives. This definition helps determine the domestic gateway point for international travel and is important for routing and compliance analysis.
International air transportation
International air transportation means air transportation between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States, or between two places outside the United States. This definition establishes when travel or shipment is treated as international rather than purely domestic.
United States definition
For this subpart, the United States includes the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and the outlying areas of the United States. This definition is broader than just the continental states and must be used when determining whether a route or location is domestic or international under the subpart.
U.S.-flag air carrier definition
A U.S.-flag air carrier is an entity authorized to provide air transportation under a certificate of public convenience and necessity under 49 U.S.C. 41102. This definition is central when rules require or prefer U.S.-flag service, because carrier status affects whether the transportation satisfies federal requirements.
Responsibilities
Contracting Officer
Apply these definitions when drafting solicitations, evaluating transportation arrangements, and determining whether a proposed air carrier, route, or itinerary fits the applicable FAR requirements. The contracting officer must use the correct geographic and carrier-status definitions when assessing compliance and approving travel or shipment methods.
Agency Travel/Transportation Officials
Use the definitions to classify travel as domestic or international, identify gateway airports, and verify whether a carrier qualifies as a U.S.-flag air carrier. They must ensure routing and booking decisions align with the subpart’s terminology and any related policy requirements.
Contractor
Understand and follow the definitions when arranging air travel or air freight under a federal contract, especially when selecting carriers, planning routes, or documenting transportation costs. Contractors must avoid assuming that any air carrier or airport location automatically qualifies under the FAR definitions.
Air Freight Forwarder
When acting as an indirect air carrier, accurately represent its role in the transportation chain and coordinate with direct air carriers or other forwarders as applicable. It must ensure its services are described consistently with the FAR definition when used in federal transportation arrangements.
Traveler or Shipping Coordinator
Identify the correct gateway airports and route segments so that travel records and transportation requests reflect the proper international or domestic classification. They must provide accurate itinerary information to support compliance and reimbursement decisions.
Practical Implications
These definitions drive whether a trip or shipment is treated as international air transportation, which can affect routing, documentation, and compliance with federal travel and transportation rules.
A common pitfall is misidentifying the gateway airport, especially on multi-leg itineraries; the relevant airport is the last U.S. departure point or first U.S. arrival point, not necessarily the traveler’s home airport.
Another frequent mistake is assuming a carrier is a U.S.-flag air carrier because it operates in the United States; the FAR definition depends on the statutory certificate authority under 49 U.S.C. 41102.
For air cargo, it is important to distinguish an air freight forwarder from a direct air carrier, because the forwarder is an indirect carrier that may use other carriers to complete the movement.
Because the definition of United States includes outlying areas, agencies and contractors should not limit their analysis to the 50 States and the District of Columbia when applying this subpart.
Official Regulatory Text
As used in this subpart- Air freight forwarder means an indirect air carrier that is responsible for the transportation of property from the point of receipt to the point of destination, and utilizes for the whole or any part of such transportation the services of a direct air carrier or its agent, or of another air freight forwarder. Gateway airport abroad means the airport from which the traveler last embarks en route to the United States or at which the traveler first debarks incident to travel from the United States. Gateway airport in the United States means the last U.S. airport from which the traveler’s flight departs or the first U.S. airport at which the traveler’s flight arrives. International air transportation means transportation by air between a place in the United States and a place outside the United States or between two places both of which are outside the United States. United States means the 50 States, the District of Columbia, and outlying areas of the United States. U.S.-flag air carrier means an entity granted authority to provide air transportation in the form of a certificate of public convenience and necessity under ( 49 U.S.C. 41102 ).