GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 16, 2026
Air Freight Station
Unlike an airport cargo terminal, an Air Freight Station (AFS) is a customs-bonded facility located off-airport that serves as an extended node in the air cargo network.
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Source: https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1761
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Definition & Explanation
Unlike an airport cargo terminal, an Air Freight Station (AFS) is a customs-bonded facility located off-airport that serves as an extended node in the air cargo network. Cargo is received, consolidated, sorted, and packed or unpacked there, then released under customs supervision for onward movement to the departure airport or final destination. Freight forwarders rely on AFS facilities primarily to build consolidated shipments before tendering them to airlines – a function analogous to LCL groupage in ocean freight. AFS sites are typically found in industrial zones near major airports, allowing forwarders to operate at lower cost than on airport premises. The key distinction from an air freight terminal is location: an AFS operates entirely outside the airport perimeter.
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