Cargo flights have seen a big rise at East Midlands Airport as passenger numbers have been devastated by the covid pandemic.
The Castle Donington airport is a dedicated express freight hub for operators such as DHL, UPS, FedEx and the Royal Mail.
And while passenger flights have taken a huge 90 per cent hit during the pandemic, expansion of cargo operations at the airport has been coupled with the growth of Sergro’s nearby vast East Midlands Gateway distribution park and the new Maritime Rail Freight Interchange linking the park to the rail network.
East Midlands Gateway is next to junction 24 of the M1 and is already home to major names like Amazon, XPO logistics, which is working for Nestlé, Shop Direct, Kuehne & Nagel and Games Workshop.
And now chocolate, chewing gum and pet food giant Mars UK has announced an agreement with DHL for a huge new warehouse at the £700 million-plus site.
Management at East Midlands Airport said that many of the goods ordered online by people across the UK prior to Christmas arrived either via the runway or distribution park, before being transported to homes around the country.
John Bailey, Maritime managing director, said: “Six months ago, our terminal was full of stock that retailers didn’t want and there was little activity throughout the day.
“To see the operation now processing up to 400 vehicles every 24 hours, keeping customer goods flowing around the UK and rest of the world is deeply satisfying.”
Andrew Pilsworth, SEGRO national logistics managing director, said: “We have continued to see the demand for well located, modern industrial warehousing rise over the year.
“The vital role that logistics has played during the ongoing pandemic is clear – be it delivering goods to consumers, continuing to provide employment opportunities or contributing to the UK economy.”
Clare James, East Midlands Airport’s managing director, said: “This year has demonstrated the critical importance of the EMA air cargo operation, not just for the movement of consumer items, but for businesses that need to get parts or finished products to market quickly and for the rapid movement of critical medical supplies and equipment throughout the pandemic.
“While our passengers are temporarily unable to leave home to catch holiday flights, the contribution of the airport to the UK and the region during the last year has been more important than ever.”
She said the airport had its busiest peak season for air cargo in December, handling 46,320 tonnes of goods, and up on the previous record set in November.
Maritime, meanwhile, said its freight interchange there saw an average of 1,500 containers a week to and from Felixstowe, London Gateway, Liverpool and Southampton, in the second half of 2020.
It comes as a bid for an inland freeport at East Midlands Airport is prepared for submission on February 5.
Chris Hobson, director of policy and external affairs at East Midlands Chamber of Commerce, said: “If a bid for freeport status is successful, it will bind some of the key sites that are instrumental to our ability to make and move goods.”
Recent Comments