East Midlands Airport has been named as a finalist as Regional Cargo Hub Airport of the Year in the international Air Cargo Week Awards.
The shortlisting comes as the airport experiences a period of unprecedented growth in its cargo operations. Already the UK’s number one dedicated air freight hub, East Midlands has announced ambitious plans for growth and welcomed seven new cargo airlines since unveiling its proposals.
It is the best placed airport in the UK for cargo operations, centrally located next to the motorway and major road network, giving cargo businesses access to 85% of the population within four hours. It is also able to offer operators 24/7 direct access to the M1 supporting seamless movement of freight from aircraft to road.
Last year the airport handled almost 383,000 tonnes, an increase of 12% on the previous year – which accounted for a third of all air cargo growth in the UK as operators took advantage of the airport’s unrivalled location. This represents £37bn of trade, cementing the airport’s position as a major driver of the regional and national economy.
Its growth plans are designed to meet a projected 54% increase in demand for its air cargo services in the next two decades, with 55 hectares of development space identified near the runway for cargo facilities. It’s estimated the plans could boost regional GVA by £1.8bn ad support up to 21,000 new jobs. Medium-term measures have increased the airport’s capacity for wide-bodied cargo aircraft and seen larger facilities open for a growing number of cargo handling companies.
The Air Cargo Week Awards aim to honour the outstanding individuals and companies driving airfreight forward — from innovation and service excellence to sustainability and leadership. The ceremony, taking place in Shanghai in June, is seen as one of the air cargo industry’s most important global gatherings. East Midlands Airport is shortlisted in the Airport of the Year category for hubs handling under 1m tonnes of cargo a year.
East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director Adam Andrews said: “We’re delighted to be finalists in this category at the coveted Air Cargo Week Awards. We have a compelling and positive story to tell, building from a strong position as the UK’s foremost air cargo hub to attract new operators and bring forward exciting plans for the future.
“We hope that local businesses, especially those who benefit from the success of our cargo operations, will vote for us in the awards.”
People are encouraged to vote for East Midlands Airport by clicking on this link: https://worldaircargoawards.com/world-air-cargo-awards-2026/voting/?nm=qxmxzg3cofrhffegu25mw2gnwrdbqv
