East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport Template:Airport codes is an international airport in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England. The airport is situated between Loughborough (Template:Convert), Derby (Template:Convert) and Nottingham (Template:Convert); Leicester is Template:Convert to the south and Lincoln Template:Convert northeast. It serves the majority of the East Midlands region consisting of the counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Rutland and Derbyshire. The airfield was originally built as a Royal Air Force station known as RAF Castle Donington in 1943, before being redeveloped as a civilian airport in 1965.

East Midlands Airport has established itself as a hub for low-fare airlines such as Jet2.com and Ryanair and tour operators like TUI Airways, which serve a range of domestic and European short-haul destinations. In 2022, the airport was the 14th-busiest airport in the UK by passenger traffic. A central air cargo hub, it was the second-busiest UK airport for freight traffic in 2016, after London Heathrow.<ref name="stats" />

The airport is owned by the Manchester Airports Group (MAG), the largest British-owned airport operator, which is controlled by the ten metropolitan borough councils of Greater Manchester, with Manchester City Council retaining the controlling stake.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

History

RAF Castle Donington

RAF Castle Donington was opened as a Royal Air Force station in 1943, during the Second World War. The airfield was equipped with three concrete runways, together with two hangars, and was a satellite airfield to RAF Wymeswold, situated some Template:Convert to the southeast. Initially, the airfield was used by the 28 Operational Training Unit, training RAF Bomber Command crews on the Vickers Wellington, and subsequently by the 108 Operational Training Unit, later renamed 1382 Transport Conversion Unit, training RAF Transport Command crews on the Douglas Dakota. The airfield closed and the air force station was decommissioned in 1946.<ref name="pscape">Template:PastScape</ref><ref name="emoh">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

(Nottingham) East Midlands Airport

A group of local government agencies bought the former RAF station site in 1964, at which point a sizeable construction and runway investment programme was launched. The airfield was renamed East Midlands Airport to reflect the area it served, and it opened for passengers in April 1965, replacing the redundant Derby Airport.<ref name=pscape/><ref name=emoh/>

Until 1982, when the head office moved to Donington Hall,<ref>"the eighties Template:Webarchive." British Midland International. Retrieved on 28 December 2011.</ref> British Midland had its head office on the airport property.<ref>"World Airline Directory." Flight International. 26 July 1980. 295 Template:Webarchive. "Head Office: East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby, Great Britain. 37172."</ref> BMI also had its maintenance base at the airport.

In 1993, National Express purchased the airport from the local councils.<ref>History of East Midlands Airport East Midlands Airport</ref> With Bournemouth Airport, it was sold to Manchester Airports Group in February 2001.<ref>Manchester Airports Group Annual Report 31 March 2001 Template:Dead link Manchester Airport Group</ref><ref>Manchester Airport spreads its wings BBC News 19 February 2001</ref> In 2004 the airport was controversially renamed Nottingham East Midlands Airport.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The change, however, did not last long, and on 8 December 2006, the airport's name was reverted to East Midlands Airport.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

EasyJet ceased operating from the airport on 5 January 2010.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, it was announced on 13 April 2011 that Bmibaby would close its Manchester and Cardiff bases, moving an additional service to East Midlands Airport with increased frequencies and new routes for summer 2012. It was announced only just over a year later, on 3 May 2012, that Bmibaby would close down and cease all operations in September 2012, with a number of services being dropped from June. The parent company, International Airlines Group, cited heavy losses and the failure to find a suitable buyer as the reasons for the decision.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In light of the announcement, Flybe and Monarch Airlines announced they would establish a base at the airport, and low-cost airline Jet2.com confirmed they would also expand their operations from the airport, with new routes and an additional aircraft from the summer of 2013. In 2015, the airport announced jet2.com would base a seventh aircraft at East Midlands Airport in the summer period. Ryanair expanded its East Midlands base with a series of new routes and frequency increases on existing routes. Ryanair became the largest airline at the airport, accounting for about 50% of passenger traffic, with East Midlands now being Ryanair's third-largest UK airport, after London Stansted and Manchester, both now also owned by MAG.

In 2016, Heathrow handled 1.54 million tonnes of freight and mail, compared with 300,100 tonnes in East Midlands.<ref name="stats" /> DHL Aviation has a large purpose-built facility at EMA, and courier companies UPS and PostNL use the airport as a base to import and export freight.Template:Needs update

Development since 2020

On 4 March 2020, Flybe entered administration,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with EMA announcing that all flights were cancelled with immediate effect, the following day.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In the summer of 2020, Aer Lingus announced they would commence flights to Belfast, operated by Stobart Air, taking over the route which was once operated by Flybe,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> until their collapse in early 2020. In June 2021, Stobart Air collapsed, ceasing the route. Later in the month, EasyJet announced they would take over the Belfast route, operating frequent flights to Belfast International Airport.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This was the first easyJet route announced from East Midlands since they stopped services from the airport in January 2010.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

Template:No footnotes The following airlines operate regular scheduled passenger flights to and from East Midlands:<ref>eastmidlandsairport.com - Flight Timetables Template:Webarchive retrieved 5 October 2016</ref>

Cargo

East Midlands Airport (EMA) is the UK’s number one express air freight hub. Its strategic central location in England and close proximity to major road and rail networks, coupled with a 24-hour operation and a focus on dedicated freighter aircraft, all combine to offer cargo operators the best UK air cargo hub providing a seamless link for UK trade with the rest of the world.

The three logistics giants, DHL Aviation,<ref name="dhlhub" /> UPS Airlines<ref name="upshub" /> and FedEx, have chosen EMA as their main UK hub, forming part of their US-UK-Europe network, providing one-stop connections with 185 of the world’s most important economic powerhouses.

The airport saw a 10% increase (17,500 tonnes) in cargo volumes for the first half of 2025 compared to the first half of 2024. In early 2025, EMA attracted new cargo airlines primarily operating China-UK routes in response to a growth in e-commerce, supporting growth at the airport for ground handlers Swissport and FedEx.

The airport is the primary port of the East Midlands Freeport, which aims to increase inward investment, business growth and job creation in the region. The East Midlands Gateway rail-served inland port lies immediately to the north of the airport.

EMA has Freeport tax sites on its airfield and south of the airport, which have been earmarked for development as part of EMA’s cargo growth plan. This aims to meet a forecast 54% rise in cargo volumes to 2043 with the development of up to 122,000m2 of warehousing and associated apron space.

Statistics

A Britannia Airways Boeing 737-200 at East Midlands Airport in 1982.

The air traffic control tower at East Midlands airport, located at the south of the airfield, next to the terminal.

The check-in hall at the airport.

Busiest routes to and from East Midlands (2022)<ref name="routestats">Template:Cite web</ref>

Rank	Airport	Total passengers	Airline(s)	Change 2021—22
1	Alicante	309,549	Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI	Template:Increase 289.6%
2	Tenerife–South	274,514	Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI	Template:Increase 277.2%
3	Palma de Mallorca	257,701	Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI	Template:Increase 280.5%
4	Málaga	245,052	Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI	Template:Increase 315.5%
5	Faro	221,169	Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI	Template:Increase 322.3%
6	Lanzarote	173,831	Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI	Template:Increase 275.7%
7	Dublin	136,552	Ryanair	Template:Increase 401.2%
8	Barcelona	71,950	Ryanair	Template:Increase 321.7%
9	Dalaman	63,947	Jet2.com, TUI	Template:Increase 1,235.3%
10	Fuerteventura	60,722	Jet2.com, Ryanair	Template:Increase 239.3%

Other facilities

Pegasus Business Park, an office complex, is on the airport grounds. The now-defunct airline flybmi formerly had its head office at Pegasus Business Park.<ref>"Contact Us." Flybmi. 12 July 2017. retrieved on 18 February 2019. "Head Office bmi regional Pegasus Business Park Herald Way East Midlands Airport Castle Donington DE74 2TU"</ref>

Ground transport

Motorway

East Midlands Parkway railway station.

The airport has excellent connections to the motorway network, as it is near the intersection of the M1, A42 and A50 at Donington Park, bringing the airfield within easy reach of the major population centres of the Midlands. The A46 is also within reach for journeys to the rest of the East Midlands.

Drop-off fees

The airport introduced a charge to drop car passengers near the departure lounge in 2010.

Railway

The airport has no direct access to the passenger rail network or the Nottingham Express Transit tram network.Template:Cn The nearest railway station is East Midlands Parkway, Template:Convert away, with regular services to Leicester, Derby, Sheffield, Lincoln, Nottingham and London St Pancras. The original shuttle bus service linking the station and the airport ceased not long after it was introduced,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but in 2015 an hourly minibus service was reintroduced by Elite Cars, restoring scheduled shuttle services to and from the airport.<ref name="emaraillink">Template:Cite web</ref> Connections to the airport via taxi are also available.

A dedicated railway station at the airport is proposed, which would be connected to the existing network via a spur from the Midland Main Line. If the project goes ahead, it is expected to be complete by 2040 and will offer direct services to nearby cities as well as the existing East Midlands Parkway railway station. A new line to the airport on the Nottingham Express Transit network is also proposed, planned to be open by 2045.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A 700-acre (280 ha) railfreight terminal, East Midlands Gateway, opened on the SEGRO Logistics Park to the north of the airport in 2020,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> so that the site is now served by air, road and rail cargo. As of December 2021, this was handling 10,000 shipping containers, with trains to ports including Felixstowe, London Gateway, Southampton and Liverpool.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Bus

Service	Destination	Operator	Frequency	Operating Hours
Skylink Derby<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Derby or Leicester	Kinchbus	every 15 mins	24/7
Skylink Nottingham <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Nottingham or Coalville	Trentbarton	every 20 mins	24/7
Skylink Express<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Nottingham	Trentbarton	every 30 mins	See timetable
My15<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Ilkeston	Trentbarton	every 30 mins	See timetable
Airway 9<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>	Burton upon Trent	Diamond East Midlands	every 60 mins	See timetable

There is also a 'Jet Parks'<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> shuttle bus service to connect the terminal to the car parks, which is presently run by FirstGroup.

Template:AnchorEast Midlands Aeropark

The Aeropark at East Midlands Airport

The East Midlands Aeropark to the north west corner of the airport has a large number of static aircraft on public display, the majority of which are from British manufacturers. The museum and its exhibits are managed and maintained by the Aeropark Volunteers Association (AVA). It also offers two viewing mounds for watching aircraft arriving and departing from the main runway. AVA Members are allowed free access to the Aeropark. Exhibits include an Aérospatiale Gazelle, a de Havilland Vampire and an English Electric Canberra amongst several others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Accidents and incidents

• On 20 February 1969, Vickers Viscount G-AODG of British Midland Airways was damaged beyond economic repair when it landed short of the runway. There were no casualties.<ref name="ASN200269">Template:Cite web</ref>
• On 31 January 1986, Aer Lingus Flight 328, a Short 360, en route from Dublin, struck power lines and crashed short of the runway. None of the 36 passengers and crew died but two passengers were injured in the accident.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On 18 January 1987, a British Midland Fokker F27 Friendship, on a training flight, crashed on approach to East Midlands Airport due to wing and tail surface icing. There were no fatalities.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• On 8 January 1989, British Midland Flight 92 crashed on approach to East Midlands Airport, killing 47 people. The Boeing 737 aircraft had developed a fan blade failure in one of the two engines while en route from London Heathrow to Belfast and a decision was made to divert to East Midlands. The crew mistakenly shut down the functioning engine, causing the aircraft to lose power and crash on the embankment of the M1 Motorway just short of the runway. No one on the ground was injured and no vehicles were damaged despite the aircraft crashing on the embankment of one of the busiest sections of motorway in the UK. The investigation into the Kegworth air disaster, as the incident became known, led to considerable improvements in aircraft safety and emergency instructions for passengers. The official report into the disaster made 31 safety recommendations.
• On 29 October 2010, in the 2010 cargo plane bomb plot, British police searched a UPS plane at East Midlands Airport but found nothing.<ref name="foxnews1">Template:Cite web</ref> Later that day, when a package was found on a plane in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, British officials searched again and found a bomb.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The two packages, found on two planes originating in Yemen, contained the powerful high explosive PETN. The UK and the US determined that the plan was to detonate them while in flight. Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula took responsibility.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

• Template:Official website
• East Midlands Aeropark – official museum website