By Maria Kalamatas — August 22, 2025

DERBYSHIRE — August 22, 2025. At night, when passenger jets fall silent across much of the UK, East Midlands Airport comes alive. Convoys of trucks arrive, cargo handlers move at speed, and freighters queue on the tarmac. It is here, far from the crowded terminals of London, that Britain’s cargo boom is happening.

Latest figures show that East Midlands recorded close to 20% growth in freight volumes over the past year, leaving Heathrow trailing at just 2.7%. For an airport often overlooked by the general public, the numbers are nothing short of remarkable.

“We’ve stopped comparing ourselves with Heathrow,” said James Glover, Head of Cargo Operations at EMA, leaning against a forklift during a media tour. “We’re not competing for passengers. We exist to move goods, and that clarity makes all the difference.”

Geography as destiny

East Midlands sits in the heart of England’s logistics belt, within a few hours’ drive of Manchester, Birmingham, and London. That location, combined with 24-hour cargo operations, has drawn DHL, UPS, and FedEx to build their European hubs on site. Unlike Heathrow, where freighters often play second fiddle to passenger aircraft, EMA’s runways are reserved for cargo first.

The China connection

Growth this year has been fueled by new long-haul services linking EMA directly to Shenzhen and Guangzhou. For shippers moving electronics, car parts, and pharmaceuticals, those direct flights mean fewer delays and faster turnaround.

“China–UK traffic is no longer the preserve of Heathrow,” explained Clare Middleton, senior analyst at Transport Intelligence. “Secondary airports like East Midlands are carving out their own lanes, and shippers are rewarding reliability over prestige.”

Freeport ambitions

Another factor tipping the balance is the government-backed East Midlands Freeport. With tax incentives and simplified customs procedures, it has begun to attract distribution centers from e-commerce giants. Amazon recently expanded its warehouse space nearby, while DHL has committed to a new investment to strengthen its express network.

A reshaped air freight map

If current growth continues, analysts expect East Midlands could cross 500,000 tonnes of freight annually by 2027. That would put it in direct competition with long-established continental hubs and give UK shippers a credible alternative to London.

For now, Heathrow remains the better-known name. But on the ground in Derbyshire, there is little doubt that the quiet workhorse of UK aviation is enjoying its moment.

As one local forwarder put it: “Heathrow gets the headlines. East Midlands gets the freight.”

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