FAR 47.402—Policy.
Plain-English Summary
FAR 47.402 states the basic Fly America Act policy for government-financed international air travel and shipment of personal effects or property. It covers who is subject to the rule—federal employees and their dependents, consultants, contractors, grantees, and other travelers or shippers acting with U.S. Government financing—and what they must use: U.S.-flag air carriers when available. It also reaches transportation of personal effects and property, not just passenger travel, so the rule applies to both travel and freight-like movement tied to official government funding. The purpose is to direct federally funded international air transportation to U.S.-flag carriers when possible, consistent with 49 U.S.C. 40118. In practice, this section is the policy foundation for compliance reviews, travel approvals, contract administration, and reimbursement decisions involving international air travel paid for by the Government.
Key Rules
Use U.S.-flag carriers
When air travel is financed by the U.S. Government, the traveler or shipper must use a U.S.-flag air carrier if one is available. The rule is mandatory, not discretionary, and applies to international air transportation funded by the Government.
Applies to many categories
The policy is not limited to federal employees. It also applies to their dependents, consultants, contractors, grantees, and others who travel or ship property using government funds.
Covers property and effects
The requirement extends beyond passenger travel to the transportation of personal effects or property. If the movement is government-financed international air transportation, the U.S.-flag carrier requirement still applies.
Availability is the trigger
The obligation is to use a U.S.-flag carrier if available. If no U.S.-flag carrier is available for the needed transportation, the policy does not require the impossible, but the availability determination must be supportable.
Based on Fly America Act
This policy implements 49 U.S.C. 40118, commonly known as the Fly America Act. That statutory basis is important because it drives compliance expectations, reimbursement rules, and any required exceptions or supporting documentation elsewhere in the FAR and agency travel rules.
Responsibilities
Federal employees
Use U.S.-flag air carriers for government-financed international air travel and for transportation of personal effects or property when a U.S.-flag carrier is available.
Dependents of federal employees
Follow the same U.S.-flag carrier requirement when their international air transportation or shipment is financed by the Government.
Consultants
When traveling or shipping property under government financing, use U.S.-flag air carriers if available and maintain compliance with any agency or contract travel requirements.
Contractors
Ensure government-financed international air travel and transportation of personal effects or property uses U.S.-flag carriers when available, and document compliance for billing or reimbursement purposes.
Grantees
Use U.S.-flag air carriers for federally financed international air travel and property transportation when available, consistent with award terms and applicable travel rules.
Other government-financed travelers or shippers
Comply with the U.S.-flag carrier requirement whenever the Government is financing international air transportation, unless a valid exception or unavailability determination applies under other governing rules.
Agencies
Apply and enforce the Fly America policy in travel approvals, award terms, contract administration, and reimbursement reviews, and determine whether a U.S.-flag carrier was available.
Practical Implications
This rule is a default compliance requirement for any international air travel paid for by the Government, so travelers should check carrier status before booking.
A common pitfall is assuming the rule applies only to federal employees; it also reaches contractors, grantees, consultants, dependents, and shipments of property.
Another frequent issue is poor documentation of why a U.S.-flag carrier was not used; agencies often need evidence of unavailability or a valid exception.
Contractors and grantees should align travel policies, booking tools, and expense review procedures with Fly America requirements to avoid disallowed costs.
For contracting officers and program staff, the key day-to-day task is ensuring award or contract terms, approvals, and reimbursement reviews reflect the U.S.-flag carrier requirement.
Official Regulatory Text
Federal employees and their dependents, consultants, contractors, grantees, and others must use U.S.-flag air carriers for U.S. Government-financed international air travel and transportation of their personal effects or property, if available ( 49 U.S.C. 40118 , Government-financed air transportation, commonly referred to as the Fly America Act).