In 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 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.

DHL, then ELAN, opened its operation in 1984 and has since built its largest UK hub here, bolstered by a £90 million expansion. UPS followed suit with a £138 million hub in 2021.

The airport’s ability to operate 24/7—unhindered by passenger traffic—has been vital. Swissport’s recent tripling of its handling capacity through the use of under-utilised facilities exemplifies EMA’s adaptive mindset.

“Having the correct shed capacity is also key,” Craig added, as the airport gears up to support a projected 54 percent growth in cargo over the next two decades.

Legacy of versatility 

EMA’s cargo infrastructure has evolved to support a growing variety of aircraft, from British Midland DC-3s to modern freighters and even massive Antonov An-124s.

Craig underscored the importance of this flexibility: “Ground handlers’ ability to handle aircraft of all sizes is critical to the EMA cargo success. DHL self-handle, so have it all in-house. Having the correct shed capacity is also key to this.”

The airport is advancing plans to scale its cargo operations to meet rising demands, predicted to grow by 54 percent by 2043.

Competitive in a changing landscape

The UK’s regional airport sector has undergone dramatic change since 1965, yet EMA has remained relevant by leaning into its dual identity.

“By embracing cargo and passenger, EMA is not so vulnerable to the increasing competitiveness of the UK passenger market,” Craig said.

Investments in passenger experience—from lounge refurbishments and improved security to new bars and restaurants—have ensured EMA remains attractive.

“Eight million people live within one hour of the airport,” he noted, and the airport’s reputation for effortless travel draws people from even further afield.

But for cargo, it’s all about geography and efficiency. With 85 percent of the UK population within a four-hour truck drive, EMA is part of the global hub-and-spoke networks of major integrators.

“The lack of night restrictions and ease of operation allowing goods to get from plane to truck within two hours puts it in a strong position,” Craig explained.

Powering the UK’s ambitions

 EMA plays a pivotal role in enabling trade, especially for time-sensitive sectors like manufacturing, automotive, and e-commerce. Its location in the East Midlands’ advanced logistics cluster—the so-called Golden Triangle—makes it integral to UK supply chains.

“Air cargo services from EMA provide the international and long-distance domestic connectivity within the region’s overall logistics network,” Craig highlighted.

And the value of what moves through EMA is extraordinary. “On average, an export tonne of goods passing through EMA is worth around £335,000,” Craig pointed out.

That’s over twice the average for other UK airports, and 168 times higher than for ports. This pattern reflects the nature of the cargo going through EMA, which is predominantly from sectors including advanced manufacturing and aerospace.

Strength in numbers

As part of MAG, EMA benefits from group-wide investment and strategic alignment. “Being part of the UK’s largest airport group provides access to investment funding—with a five-year, £120 million investment programme currently underway,” Craig expressed.

Beyond capital, it also gives EMA a stronger political voice and enhanced purchasing power. “It also enables EMA to have a greater political impact—granting it a bigger voice among decision-makers and enabling greater collaboration to amplify messages around the importance of aviation to the UK economy.”

The road to net zero

EMA has been a UK pioneer in sustainability. “The airport’s ground operations have been certified as carbon neutral since 2012,” Craig noted.

Renewable electricity, electric vehicles, and carbon offsetting are all part of the strategy. With its parent group MAG, EMA is taking action to support the transition to zero-carbon aviation, including new electric airfield ground vehicles and infrastructure.

DHL has recently invested £16 million in electric ground service vehicles and infrastructure at its EMA base.

The airport, which boasts the UK’s first commercial-grade wind turbines on site, also uses 100 percent renewable electricity and has joined East Midlands Hydrogen, the UK’s largest hydrogen cluster.

“EMA estimates it could see a demand for around 700,000 litres of liquid hydrogen a day by 2050,” Craig added.

Looking to the future

The next decade holds bold ambitions for East Midlands Airport. With air cargo volumes projected to increase by more than 50 percent by 2043, EMA is investing in scalable infrastructure to support this growth.

The economic impact is expected to be immense: “Between £1.8 billion and £3.9 billion in additional GVA, and between 5,600 and 21,300 additional jobs by 2043,” Craig declared.

“Moderate growth in passenger operations is anticipated by focusing on working with the incumbent operators to enhance their operations, as well as identifying routes that are under-served from this region but that don’t dilute operations at neighbouring airports.

The airport is working with airlines with a greater focus on inbound flights from Europe,” he continued.