In the passenger-only area of an airport, beyond security, passport and immigration, and customs controls.
When I was airside, I browsed the duty-free shops.
You can relax, or catch up with work, safe in the knowledge that it’s just a few yards to the gate, assuming the lounge is “airside” (not “landside”).2006 October 15, Roger Collis, “Airport Lounge Programs: How to Get In (and How Much They Cost)”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 13 Sep 2024:
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The airside terminal building will be extended into the landside building, making one large structure, getting rid of the people mover and remodeling the gate areas. It should be completed in 2023.2018 December 6, Matt Falcus, “16 new airports and terminals we can’t wait to fly into”, in CNN, archived from the original on 25 Apr 2025:
airside
adv
Etymology From air + -side.
1
Into the passenger-only area of an airport, beyond security, passport and immigration, and customs controls.
You have to go through security to go airside.
All went well for the first twenty minutes – women stepped through the metal detector and she and Alison rubbed down passengers who set it off to make sure they were not carrying items of threat airside and onto aircraft.2019, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi, “Something Inside So Strong”, in Manchester Happened, Oneworld Publications (2020), page 106:
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Philadelphia International Airport will soon be allowing non-flyers to go airside.2023 October 21, Lilit Marcus, “The US airports where non-travelers can hang out”, in CNN, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2025:
airside
noun
Etymology From air + -side.
1
A passenger-only area of an airport, beyond security, passport and immigration, and customs controls.