E-commerce shipments drive further growth at East Midlands Airport

The UK’s East Midlands Airport handled 6.3% more cargo last month than it did in the same month last year.

And, over the year to date January to September period, at 210,807 tonnes cargo volumes were up by 10,000 tonnes or 5% year on year.

East Midlands Airport positions itself as the UK’s foremost express air cargo hub and the gateway’s busiest period of the year is yet to come – the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas as goods are ordered from all

over the globe to create significant spikes in ecommerce traffic.

This year’s strong cargo volumes build on last year’s performance, when the airport handled over 400,000 tonnes for the first time since the pandemic.

East Midlands Airport’s commercial director, Adam Andrews, remarked: “Achieving year-on-year growth on top of a record-breaking year for our cargo operation demonstrates how well placed we are to serve the UK’s air cargo needs.

“The way our twin operations for passengers and freight operate in parallel, not in conflict with each other, puts us in a unique position to continue to grow our cargo capabilities.

“It’s great to see these figures growing ahead of what is traditionally our busiest period.”

The airport’s e-commerce operations are built primarily around logistics giants DHL, UPS and FedEx, whose freighters connect to a network of 185 major cities around the world.

“This offers unrivalled next-day delivery when coupled with the airport’s strategic central location in the UK,” East Midlands noted.

Attracting strong e-commerce volumes perhaps bucks a more Europe-wide trend. Thus, for example, air cargo e-commerce shipment volume growth flatlined in July as the European Union’s (EU) new small package import charge took effect.

East Midlands Airport volumes up as more cargo flights expected…Read more by Rebecca Jeffrey