East Midlands Airport cargo volumes rise 6.3% in September
East Midlands Airport handled 210,807 tonnes of freight so far this year, up 5% on the same point last year, as cargo volumes continued to grow ahead of the airport’s busiest period.
September freight was 6.3% higher than a year earlier, an increase of 36,000 tonnes. The airport expects its busiest cargo period in the run-up to Black Friday and Christmas, when goods are ordered from across the globe.
The airport’s cargo operation is anchored by logistics companies DHL, UPS and FedEx. Cargo-only aircraft connect East Midlands to a network of 185 major cities around the world, supporting next-day delivery alongside the airport’s central UK location.
The latest growth follows a record year in which the airport handled more than 400,000 tonnes for the first time since the pandemic. Increased yields represented more than a third of all cargo growth in the UK.
The airport’s cargo operation has driven a £6.2bn economic boost in 2025, supporting 52,000 jobs throughout the UK, 42% of them in the Midlands.
Adam Andrews, East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director, said: “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.”
