East Midlands Airport enjoyed a record year for cargo, handling almost £10 billion of goods from outside the European Union.
The value of non-EU goods was up four per cent compared to the previous year, coming in at £9.935 billion. The total amount of cargo passing through the airport was the highest ever, with 358,477 tonnes being imported and exported in the 12 months up to March 2018, an increase of 9.7 per cent.
Aviation Minister Baroness Sugg will visit East Midlands Airport on 5 July to meet business leaders and discuss how the airport could be better served with new international connections.
Speaking before the visit, she praised East Midlands’ cargo performance, saying that regional airports support the backbone of the UK’s economy and provide skilled local jobs and business export opportunities to open the UK up to the world.
She says: “That’s why the Government will promote sustainable growth through our aviation strategy and has pledged to support all UK airports to make best use of their existing runways, as long as they address crucial economic and environmental planning issues.”
Goods that pass through the airport fashion, Rolls Royce aero engines, smart phones and tablets, pharmaceuticals, exam papers, production line parts and medical equipment.
East Midlands is also the airport of choice for Formula 1 teams through which they ship their cars and equipment to and from races around the world.
Managing director Karen Smart says: “With more demand than ever for next day deliveries, we can only expect further growth especially in the e-commerce market. We need to ensure that we stay ahead of the game by improving our facilities so that more businesses can access international markets through EMA.”
The airport is home to big names in logistics including DHL, UPS, FedEx and Royal Mail.
DHL is doubling the size of its logistics facility, investing €184 million to cater for demand in e-commerce and next day deliveries, and UPS is investing £114 million in a facility that will open in late 2019.
