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Since You Asked: Medford airport has option of international flights Friday May 5, 2017 at 12:01 AM Why is the Medford airport called an international airport? — Marty, via email   The airport in Medford was called the Medford-Jackson County Airport until it earned its international title in 1995, according to old newspaper reports about the airport. In past years, dozens of private and corporate flights would fly back and forth from Mexico, Canada and other countries, including France and Italy. The Medford airport is a designated foreign trade zone, but it's rarely used these days, said Rogue Valley International-Medford Airport Director Bern Case. A foreign trade zone is a site within the United Sates where foreign and domestic merchandise is considered to be in the stream of international commerce. Foreign and domestic merchandise may enter this zone without a formal customs entry or the payment of customs duties and various government taxes. The foreign trade zone at the Medford airport didn't receive enough use, and county commissioners decided to stop subsidizing it, Case said. However, the zone still exists and can be used by businesses when needed. A few years ago, Erickson Inc. used the airport for an international flight to transport one of its helicopters in a large freight plane, Case said. — Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.