Since late 2021, Toncontín has no real duty free
International flights moved from Toncontín to Palmerola/Comayagua in late 2021, and with them went the classic airside Duty Free Shop. Anything called “Duty Free Shop” in older TGU reviews refers to that pre‑2021 setup, not something you can actually walk into today in Terminal 1. Current departures here are domestic, so you won’t see the usual liquor‑and‑fragrance corridor by the gates.
Because Toncontín now handles only domestic routes, there is no true duty‑free pricing tied to customs rules, and aviation writers point out that a proper Duty Free Shop no longer has a business case in this airport. You might spot small newsstands or snack counters landside and airside, but they sell standard‑tax Honduran goods, not duty‑free spirits or premium perfume lines at discount.
Regular Honduras flyers now plan their duty‑free runs through Palmerola/Comayagua, which took over TGU’s international role when airlines shifted operations there around December 2021. They buy liquor, perfume, and electronics at Comayagua’s duty‑free zone after clearing outbound immigration, then connect onward, skipping Toncontín entirely for international shopping.
Watch your expectations at Toncontín: if you’re flying a domestic tag like CM1234 or AV5678 into TGU, you’ll exit into a small terminal with basic kiosks and no dedicated Duty Free Shop. If duty‑free bottles or higher‑end cosmetics matter for this trip, route via Palmerola/Comayagua or plan a city‑center stop in Tegucigalpa instead.