The term “airport economy” refers to a new type of economic pattern surrounding airports and their peripheral areas. In recent years，with the progress of economic development and production technology，the increased utilization of big data and the Internet，as well as the development of intelligent manufacturing，the rules governing industry competition and business enterprise location have been changing. A new competition system has emerged based on aviation，digital，and globalization，and time value has been forming quickly as well. In order to meet the demands for efficiency，flexibility and reliability，time sensitive industries have gradually gathered in airport economic zones in Beijing，Shanghai，Guangzhou and other places，and high-tech and IT companies have in turn emerged in airport perimeters. These factors have stimulated the further expansion of air cargo and air express，prompting airport economic development and leading to industrial and brand advantages. The ZAEZ is the representative of airport economic development in China，and has made remarkable achievements in the short span of four years. A central goal of this paper is to provide analysis of the basic features of the ZAEZ and to outline the related mechanisms which affect the ZAEZ’s regional economic growth. Additionally，this paper seeks to summarize China’s airport economy development by providing further analysis of the basic features of airport economy.