§41713 — Title 49 Transportation | U.S. Code

§41713 Preemption of authority over prices, routes, and service

Title 49 › Subtitle SUBTITLE VII— - AVIATION PROGRAMS › Part PART A— - AIR COMMERCE AND SAFETY › Subpart subpart ii— - economic regulation › Chapter CHAPTER 417— - OPERATIONS OF CARRIERS › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER I— - REQUIREMENTS › § 41713

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

States, local governments, and authorities that cover two or more States may not make or enforce laws, rules, or regulations that try to control an airline’s prices, routes, or services for airlines that can operate under this part of federal law. That rule does not apply to flights that happen entirely inside Alaska, unless the flight is regular common-carrier service under a federal certificate (see section 41102). A State or local government that owns or runs an airport used by a certified airline can still act as the airport owner and use its normal owner powers. States also may not regulate prices, routes, or services when a certified airline or its closely related carrier moves property by plane or by truck. This does not stop States from enforcing motor-vehicle safety rules, highway route limits for size, weight, or hazardous cargo, or rules about minimum insurance or self-insurance for motor carriers, and it does not apply to household goods (see section 13102). State: means a State, the District of Columbia, and a U.S. territory or possession.

Title 49, §41713

Transportation — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)In this section, “State” means a State, the District of Columbia, and a territory or possession of the United States.

(b)(1)Except as provided in this subsection, a State, political subdivision of a State, or political authority of at least 2 States may not enact or enforce a law, regulation, or other provision having the force and effect of law related to a price, route, or service of an air carrier that may provide air transportation under this subpart.

(2)Paragraphs (1) and (4) of this subsection do not apply to air transportation provided entirely in Alaska unless the transportation is air transportation (except charter air transportation) provided under a certificate issued under section 41102 of this title.

(3)This subsection does not limit a State, political subdivision of a State, or political authority of at least 2 States that owns or operates an airport served by an air carrier holding a certificate issued by the Secretary of Transportation from carrying out its proprietary powers and rights.

(4)(A)Except as provided in subparagraph (B), a State, political subdivision of a State, or political authority of 2 or more States may not enact or enforce a law, regulation, or other provision having the force and effect of law related to a price, route, or service of an air carrier or carrier affiliated with a direct air carrier through common controlling ownership when such carrier is transporting property by aircraft or by motor vehicle (whether or not such property has had or will have a prior or subsequent air movement).

(B)Subparagraph (A)—

(i)shall not restrict the safety regulatory authority of a State with respect to motor vehicles, the authority of a State to impose highway route controls or limitations based on the size or weight of the motor vehicle or the hazardous nature of the cargo, or the authority of a State to regulate motor carriers with regard to minimum amounts of financial responsibility relating to insurance requirements and self-insurance authorization; and

(ii)does not apply to the transportation of household goods, as defined in section 13102 of this title.

(C)This paragraph shall not limit the applicability of paragraph (1).

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Pub. L. 103–272 Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 41713(a)49 App.:1305(c), (d) (related to (a), (b)(1), (c)).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 105(a)(2), (b)(1), (c), (d) (related to (a), (b)(1), (c)); added Oct. 24, 1978, Pub. L. 95–504, § 4(a), 92 Stat. 1708. 41713(b)(1)49 App.:1305(a)(1).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 105(a)(1); added Oct. 24, 1978, Pub. L. 95–504, § 4(a), 92 Stat. 1707; Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 9(u), 98 Stat. 1709. 41713(b)(2)49 App.:1305(a)(2). 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E).Aug. 23, 1958, Pub. L. 85–726, 72 Stat. 731, § 1601(b)(1)(E); added Oct. 4, 1984, Pub. L. 98–443, § 3(e), 98 Stat. 1704. 41713(b)(3)49 App.:1305(b)(1). 49 App.:1551(b)(1)(E). In subsection (a), the words “the term” are omitted as surplus. The words “the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and” are omitted as surplus because of the definition of “territory or possession of the United States” in section 40102(a) of the revised title, 48:734, and section 502 of the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America. The text of 49 App.:1305(c) is omitted as obsolete. In subsection (b)(1) and (3), the words “interstate agency or other” are omitted as surplus. The word “authority” is substituted for “agency” for consistency in the revised title and with other titles of the United States Code. In subsection (b)(1), the word “rule” is omitted as being synonymous with “regulation”. The words “standard” and “having authority” are omitted as surplus. In subsection (b)(2), the words “pursuant to a certificate issued by the Board”, “by air of persons, property, or mail”, and “the State of” are omitted as surplus. Pub. L. 105–102This amends 49:41713(b)(4)(B)(ii) to correct a cross-reference necessary because of the restatement of subtitle IV of title 49 by the ICC Termination Act (Public Law 104–88, 109 Stat. 803).

Editorial Notes

Amendments

1997—Subsec. (b)(4)(B)(ii). Pub. L. 105–102 substituted “13102” for “10102”. 1994—Subsec. (b)(2). Pub. L. 103–305, § 601(b)(2)(A), substituted “Paragraphs (1) and (4) of this subsection do” for “Paragraph (1) of this subsection does”. Subsec. (b)(4). Pub. L. 103–305, § 601(b)(1), added par. (4).

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1994 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 103–305 effective Jan. 1, 1995, see section 601(d) of Pub. L. 103–305, set out as a note under section 10521 of this title.