• Etihad Cargo will launch twice-weekly freighter flights between Abu Dhabi (Zayed International Airport) and East Midlands Airport (EMA) starting 27 October 2025.

• The move further cements EMA’s status as the UK’s leading express cargo hub, with strong road access and increasing capacity.

• Etihad joins a growing list of cargo operators adding EMA to their networks, including:

  • Central Airlines (first China-based carrier to EMA, via YunExpress)

  • Atlas Air, Ethiopian Cargo, and Saudia Cargo (operating China–UK routes)

  • One Air, which shifted from Heathrow to EMA and recently added a brand-new 777F to its fleet.

The growth of East Midlands Airport’s cargo operation has been given a further boost, with the announcement that Etihad Cargo will begin twice-weekly flights from next week.

The flights will operate between Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport and East Midlands Airport starting on Monday, 27 October.  

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Etihad Airways, the national carrier of the United Arab Emirates, operates six 777F aircraft. Its facility at Zayed International Airport is equipped to handle more than one million tonnes of cargo annually. Since its establishment in 2004, Etihad Cargo has grown rapidly to become one of the world’s leading air cargo carriers, offering customers a diverse portfolio of products and services through an extensive global network of chartered and scheduled operations. 

Etihad Cargo follows a glut of new cargo operators choosing East Midlands Airport as the best gateway to the UK. In May, Central Airlines became the first China-based operator flying into East Midlands, on behalf of Chinese logistics firm YunExpress. Since then, Atlas Air, Ethiopian Cargo and Saudia Cargo have all started running China-UK routes via East Midlands Airport.  

 This comes on top of British operator One Air shifting its operations from Heathrow to East Midlands last year, since when it has grown its fleet to four aircraft, including a brand new 777F which began operating new scheduled services last month, with another due to arrive before the end of the year to take the total to five.  

The airport saw a surge in cargo activity between May and July this year, with a 17.4 percent growth in volumes from the previous year. It has reconfigured its aprons to increase the number of stands available for cargo aircraft to help handle the extra demand. FedEx and ground handling firm Swissport have both recently announced improvements to their on-site facilities to increase capacity.

Meanwhile East Midlands Airport has also announced longer-term growth plans involving the development of four key sites next to the runway for cargo operations, to meet the projected 54 percent increase in demand over the next twenty years. The plan will be driven forward by the airport’s newly-appointed Commercial Director, Adam Andrews. 

He said: “I’m pleased that Etihad Cargo has announced regular flights to East Midlands Airport – our strategic central location and ease of operation make us a great choice for quick access to all parts of the UK. 

“This new operator is a further positive sign of East Midlands Airport’s success as the number one UK airport for express cargo, with the capacity and capability to grow.” 

Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer of Etihad Airways, added: “Introducing a new freighter service to East Midlands Airport is an important step for Etihad Cargo as we continue to expand our global footprint.  

“As the UK’s major hub for airfreight and cargo operations with direct access to key distribution networks for both domestic and European deliveries, this route allows for fast turnaround times and efficient customs handling. Above all, it empowers the people and businesses behind each shipment, helping them build connections that go beyond borders.”