DAILY NEWS


FROM REGIONAL RUNWAY TO NATIONAL CARGO POWERHOUSE


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n 1965, East Midlands Airport (EMA) opened its doors with a focus on passenger operations. Fast forward six decades, and the airport has grown into the UK’s leading express airfreight hub. This year, as EMA marks its 60th anniversary, head of aviation David Craig reflects on the defining milestones, pivotal shifts, and personal stories that


have helped shape the airport’s evolution—from its humble beginnings to its vital role in powering UK trade. While EMA’s origin story is rooted in regional passenger travel, it didn’t take


long for cargo to begin making its presence felt. “While the real focus in 1965 was getting passenger operations underway,”


Craig said, “cargo movements—which would later become such an important part of the airport’s operation—grew initially by accident.” It started with Cargo 1, a small building on the edge of the apron. But by 1968,


the airport’s freight volume had grown rapidly when British Midland launched its first all-cargo aircraft. “The cargo operation grew from just 358 tonnes in 1965,” he added, “increasing


a thousandfold by 2025.” This transition wasn’t purely organic. Strategic foresight in choosing the


airport’s location next to the not-yet-constructed M1 motorway set the stage for future success. “The airport’s location at the centre of the country, next to the M1 motorway


with easy access to the major road and motorway network, is a key driver of EMA’s cargo success,” Craig explained. What was once a decision driven by passenger convenience has become


critical infrastructure for UK supply chains. Chris Hope, COO of One Air, which moved operations from Heathrow to EMA in 2024, captured the sentiment well: “We can get goods offloaded and into our warehouse facility next to Heathrow airport quicker from East Midlands than we could when flying into Heathrow.”


Strategic ownership Looking back over 60 years, Craig identified one defining turning point: “Probably the changing of ownership from local authority to National Express Group. This ushered in an eight-year period of investment that dramatically changed the face


www.aircargoweek.com


of the airport.” During this time, EMA completed the second phase of the East Apron’s


development, extended the runway to 2,893 metres, and constructed a new ATC tower. The next game-changer came in 2001 when Manchester Airports Group (MAG)


took ownership. “Since it bought the airport in 2001, MAG has recognised the significance of the cargo operation to its ongoing success,” Craig stated. This recognition translated into major investment, including the development of the Central West Apron and new hubs from logistics giants UPS and DHL.


Building a cargo empire Key infrastructure enhancements over the years have supercharged EMA’s cargo- handling capabilities. “Royal Mail introducing night flights in 1979 helped to consolidate EMA’s growing cargo operations,” Craig recounted.


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