GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026
Airport Free Zone
An airport free zone is a designated area at or adjacent to an airport where goods may be stored, processed, or transhipped without incurring customs duties or import taxes.
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Source: https://www.trade.gov/free-trade-zone
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An airport free zone is a designated area at or adjacent to an airport where goods may be stored, processed, or transhipped without incurring customs duties or import taxes. For customs purposes, goods within the zone are treated as not yet having entered the country's customs territory; duty liability arises only when they are released into free circulation on the domestic market. Freight forwarders and trading companies use these zones for temporary air cargo storage, pre-shipment inspection, value-added processing, or consolidation of transhipment flows – all without triggering full customs clearance at each handling step. Unlike a bonded warehouse, an airport free zone typically accommodates a broader range of commercial activities and is physically integrated with airside logistics infrastructure.
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