Fresh from celebrating its 60th anniversary in style, East Midlands Airport is gearing up for the year’s first major getaway, with a host of upgrades designed to enhance the passenger experience.
Last week, as part of its anniversary celebrations, the airport unveiled Alembic, a brand-new restaurant serving Mediterranean-inspired light bites and premium locally sourced spirits. Meanwhile, the revamped Escape Lounge has reopened with a fresh new look, offering travellers a more relaxed start to their holidays.
Passengers flying this Easter will benefit from a brighter, modernised security hall, where five of the eight lanes now feature next-generation scanners—speeding up an already efficient process. Currently, 99% of passengers clear security in under 15 minutes.
Other key upgrades include:
- A refurbished Meet & Greet office
- A reorganised rapid drop-off zone (soon to transition to a barrierless, cashless payment system from next month)
- Upgraded terminal toilets, additional seating, and a new multi-faith prayer room
- Fully electric vehicles for the airport’s award-winning Assisted Travel service
These improvements form part of a £120 million investment programme, which last year saw Castle Rock’s Bar and Kitchen refurbished, the opening of The Yard bar, and an expanded JD Sports outletin the departure lounge.
Popular holiday destinations this season include Alicante, Tenerife, Mallorca, Malaga, Lanzarote, Corfu, Paphos, Antalya, and Kefalonia. For city breaks, travellers can choose from Rome, Dubrovnik, Pisa, Verona, Paris, Berlin, Budapest, Krakow, or closer-to-home options like Belfast, Dublin, Jersey, and Guernsey.
Mike Grimes, Customer Services and Planning Director at East Midlands Airport, said:
“We’re excited to welcome passengers this Easter as we launch our summer season. With major upgrades—from faster security to expanded dining and retail options—we’re delivering an even smoother start to their journeys. As we mark our 60th anniversary, these enhancements reflect our commitment to an improved airport experience.”
