Section XVII · Vehicles, aircraft, vessels and associated transport equipment

Chapter 88: Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof

Chapter 88 of the Harmonized System has 6 four-digit headings, from 88.01 to 88.07. Each heading is split further into six-digit subheadings, then into national 8- and 10-digit commodity codes.

Headings in chapter 88

HeadingDescription
88.01Balloons and dirigibles; gliders, hang gliders and other non-powered aircraft
88.02Other aircraft (for example, helicopters, aeroplanes), except unmanned aircraft of heading 8806; spacecraft (including satellites) and suborbital and spacecraft launch vehicles
88.04Parachutes (including dirigible parachutes and paragliders) and rotochutes; parts thereof and accessories thereto
88.05Aircraft launching gear; deck-arrestor or similar gear; ground flying trainers; parts of the foregoing articles
88.06Unmanned aircraft
88.07Parts of goods of heading 8801, 8802 or 8806

Classifying goods in chapter 88

Start with the chapter and section notes: they are legally binding and often decide what is included or excluded. Then choose the heading whose wording best describes your product (GRI 1), and work down to the six-digit subheading before choosing the national commodity code.

The six-digit code is shared internationally. The UK and EU add digits for their own tariffs and statistics, and the US uses its own 10-digit HTS lines, so always confirm the final code in the tariff of the country you are importing into.

Official sources

Check chapter 88 in the UK Trade Tariff, the EU TARIC and the US HTS.