Contractors and third-party service providers that need access to the customs security area of an international airport — aircraft cleaning crews, maintenance and ground-handling contractors, fuelers and concessionaires not employed by the air carriers themselves — must post an Activity Code 11 bond guaranteeing compliance with CBP security protocols within the secure zone.
The bond conditions are set out in Appendix A to 19 CFR Part 113 (airport customs security area bond).
Who must post it
- Aircraft cleaning and cabin-service contractors.
- Maintenance, repair and ground-handling companies.
- Fuel suppliers, caterers and concessionaires operating within the customs security area.
What the bond guarantees
- Compliance with CBP security regulations and the airport's customs security area rules.
- Proper identification, badging and control of employees admitted to the area.
- Payment of liquidated damages for security breaches.
How CBP sizes it
- Continuous only. Form 301 will not accept Activity Code 11 as a single transaction filing.
- Sized under CBP's bond-amount guide, typically at a fixed schedule amount per airport.
Practitioner notes
- Contractors serving multiple airports should confirm whether one bond covers all locations or whether the port director requires separate filings.
- Airport operators frequently require proof of this bond before issuing customs-area access credentials.
Frequently asked questions
Do airline employees need this bond?
No. It applies to third-party contractors and vendors, not to carrier employees.
Is a single transaction version available?
No. Continuous only.
Who enforces the bond?
CBP, through liquidated damages for breaches of security-area protocols.
Primary sources
