A passenger transportation permit may be issued to a qualifying airline corporation, and permit holders may sell, serve, and store alcoholic beverages under stated limits.
Sec. 48.03. PERMIT FOR AIRLINE. (a) A passenger transportation permit may be issued to any corporation operating a commercial airline in or through the state. (b) The holder of a passenger transportation permit issued under this section may: (1) sell or serve alcoholic beverages in or from any size container on a commercial passenger airplane operated in compliance with a valid license, permit, or certificate issued under the authority of the United States or of this state, even though the plane, in the course of its flight, may cross an area in which the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited; and (2) store alcoholic beverages in sealed containers of any size at any airport regularly served by the permittee or a location within five miles of any airport regularly served by the permittee in the same county as the airport, in accordance with rules and regulations promulgated by the commission. (c) Only the holder of a package store permit may sell liquor to the holder of a passenger transportation permit issued under this section. For the purposes of this code, a sale of liquor to a holder of a passenger transportation permit shall be considered as a sale at retail to a consumer. (d) The holder of a package store permit may sell liquor in any size container authorized by Section 101.46 to holders of a passenger transportation permit issued under this section, and may purchase liquor in any size container for resale from the holders of a wholesaler's permit. A holder of a wholesaler's permit may import, sell, offer for sale, or possess for resale to package store permittees to resell to holders of a passenger transportation permit liquor in any authorized size containers. (e) The preparation and service of alcoholic beverages by the holder of a passenger transportation permit issued under this section is exempt from a tax imposed by this code and from the tax imposed by Chapter 151, Tax Code. (f) Section 109.53 does not apply to a passenger transportation permit issued under this section. Added by Acts 1985, 69th Leg., ch. 540, Sec. 2, eff. June 12, 1985. Amended by Acts 1986, 69th Leg., 3rd C.S., ch. 1, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 24, 1986; Acts 1989, 71st Leg., ch. 1104, Sec. 3, eff. June 16, 1989; Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 165, Sec. 30.171, eff. Sept. 1, 1997. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 91 (S.B. 1303), Sec. 3.001, eff. September 1, 2011. Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1359 (H.B. 1545), Sec. 149, eff. September 1, 2021. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1099 (H.B. 4285), Sec. 1, eff. September 1, 2025.