East Midlands Airport Explained

East Midlands Airport
Image2-Width:250
Iata:EMA
Icao:EGNX
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:Manchester Airport Holdings
City-Served:East Midlands
Location:Castle Donington, Leicestershire, England, UK
Elevation-F:306
Coordinates:52.8333°N -21°W
Pushpin Map:Leicestershire#United Kingdom
Pushpin Label:EMA/EGNX
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Leicestershire
Metric-Rwy:Y
R1-Number:09/27
R1-Length-M:2,893
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:2022
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:3,186,367
Stat2-Header:Passenger change 21-22
Stat2-Data:283%
Stat3-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat3-Data:46,730
Stat4-Header:Movements change 21-22
Stat4-Data:32%
Footnotes:Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

East Midlands Airport is an international airport in the East Midlands of England, close to Castle Donington in northwestern Leicestershire, between Loughborough (10miles), Derby (12.5miles) and Nottingham (14miles); Leicester is (20miles) to the south and Lincoln (43miles) northeast. It serves the majority of the East Midlands region consisting of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, Southern 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.

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.[3]

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 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.[4] [5]

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 program 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.[4]

Until 1982, when the head office moved to Donington Hall,[6] British Midland had its head office on the airport property.[7] BMI also had its maintenance base at the airport.

In 1993, National Express purchased the airport from the local councils.[8] With Bournemouth Airport, it was sold to Manchester Airports Group in February 2001.[9] [10] In 2004 the airport was controversially renamed Nottingham East Midlands Airport.[11] The change, however, did not last long, and on 8 December 2006, the airport's name was reverted to East Midlands Airport.[12]

EasyJet ceased operating from the airport on 5 January 2010.[13] 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.[14] 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. DHL Aviation has a large purpose-built facility at EMA, and courier companies UPS and TNT use the airport as a base to import and export freight.

Development since 2020

On 4 March 2020, Flybe entered administration,[15] with EMA announcing that all flights were cancelled with immediate effect, the following day.[16]

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,[17] 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.[18] This was the first easyJet route announced from East Midlands since they stopped services from the airport in January 2010.

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

The following airlines operate regular scheduled passenger flights to and from East Midlands:[19]

Cargo

East Midlands Airport is a major hub for freight operations throughout Europe due to its central location within the United Kingdom. The East Midlands Gateway rail-served inland port lies immediately to the north of the airport. The airport serves as a hub for DHL Aviation and UPS Airlines and sees flights by several of their sub-contractors to domestic, European and intercontinental destinations.

Cargo operations at the airport increased significantly throughout the COVID-19 pandemic - cargo aircraft movements increasing by 10% in the first week following the implementation of social distancing measures on 16 March 2020[20] and overall annual freight and mail increasing by 13% from 2019 to 2020.[21] Further growth was seen throughout 2021 and 2022.[22]

The following airlines operate regular scheduled cargo flights to and from East Midlands:

Statistics

Busiest routes to and from East Midlands (2022)[23]
Rank Airport Total
passengers
Airline(s)Change
2021 / 22
1align='right'309,549Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI 289.6%
2align='right'274,514Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI 277.2%
3align='right'257,701Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI 280.5%
4align='right'245,052Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI 315.5%
5align='right'221,169Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI 322.3%
6align='right'173,831Jet2.com, Ryanair, TUI 275.7%
7align='right'136,552Ryanair 401.2%
8align='right'71,950Ryanair 321.7%
9align='right'63,947Jet2.com, TUI 1,235.3%
10align='right'60,722Jet2.com, Ryanair 239.3%

Ground transport

Motorway

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 of £1 to drop car passengers near the departure lounge in 2010. In May 2016, the charge was doubled to £2, with any stay in the area above ten minutes being charged at £1 per minute. Now for drop off it is £5 for the first 10 minutes and a £1 for every minute after. Drivers needing longer can stay free for one hour in the long-term carpark, a five-minute bus ride from the terminal. The short-term parking is closer but charges £3.50 for 30 minutes.[24] [25]

Railway

The airport has no direct access to the passenger rail network or the Nottingham Express Transit tram network.[26] The nearest railway station is East Midlands Parkway, 4miles 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,[27] but in 2015 an hourly minibus service was reintroduced by Elite Cars, restoring scheduled shuttle services to and from the airport.[28] 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 and the proposed East Midlands Hub at Toton, which lies on the High Speed Two route. A new line to the airport on the Nottingham Express Transit network is also proposed, planned to be open by 2045.[29]

A 700-acre (280 ha) railfreight terminal, East Midlands Gateway, opened on the SEGRO Logistics Park to the north of the airport in 2020, [30] 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. [31]

Bus

East Midlands Airport is served 24/7 by Skylink services which are operated by Kinchbus and trentbarton alongside My15 and Airline9 buses.[32]

As of May 2022 the airport is served by the services listed.

Service Operator Route
Skylink Leicester-DerbyKinchbusLeicester (Causeway Lane) - Birstall - Loughborough - Kegworth or Long Whatton/Diseworth - East Midlands Airport - Castle Donington - Shardlow - Alvaston - Derby[33]
Skylink NottinghamtrentbartonNottingham - Queens Medical Centre - Long Eaton- Castle Donington - East Midlands Airport1 journey an hour then continues to Coalville via Shepshed during the daytime
Skylink ExpressNottingham - Trent Bridge- Clifton - East Midlands Airport [34]
My15Ilkeston- Long Eaton- East Midlands Airport [35]
Airline9Diamond East MidlandsBurton-upon-Trent - Swadlincote - East Midlands Airport [36]
The airport also has a car park shuttle bus service, which is presently run by First Group.

East Midlands Aeropark

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:[37]

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.[38]

Accidents and incidents

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: East Midlands – EGNX . 8 November 2010 . Nats-uk.ead-it.com . 12 March 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120312060122/http://www.nats-uk.ead-it.com/public/index.php%3Foption%3Dcom_content%26task%3Dblogcategory%26id%3D60%26Itemid%3D109.html . dead .
  2. Web site: 21 March 2023 . Aircraft and passenger traffic data from UK airports . bot: unknown . https://web.archive.org/web/20211118121903/https://www.caa.co.uk/Data-and-analysis/UK-aviation-market/Airports/Datasets/ . 18 November 2021 . 23 March 2023 . .
  3. News: 15 February 2012 . AGMA to consider Manchester Airport restructure in takeover bid . Manchester Evening News . live . 12 April 2012 . https://archive.today/20130420230150/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/business/s/1485606_manchester-airport-owners-agree-restructure-to-fund-stansted-acquisition . 20 April 2013.
  4. Web site: Our History . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402175705/http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/emaweb.nsf/Content/OurHistory . 2 April 2015 . 16 June 2015 . East Midlands Airport.
  5. News: Care . Adam . 9 November 2018 . This is the moving way the fallen are being honoured at East Midlands Airport . Leicester Mercury . live . 28 April 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190428192629/https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/local-news/moving-way-fallen-being-honoured-2200267 . 28 April 2019.
  6. "the eighties ." British Midland International. Retrieved on 28 December 2011.
  7. "World Airline Directory." Flight International. 26 July 1980. 295 . "Head Office: East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington, Derby, Great Britain. 37172."
  8. http://www.east-midlands-airport-guide.co.uk/history.html History of East Midlands Airport
  9. http://www.manchesterairport.co.uk/manweb.nsf/alldocs/314061A7BF7257488025738D004BB429/$File/Annual+Report+and+Accounts+0001.pdf Manchester Airports Group Annual Report 31 March 2001
  10. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/1179057.stm Manchester Airport spreads its wings
  11. News: 20 January 2004 . Row over airport name change . BBC News . BBC . live . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20070223055512/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/leicestershire/3412149.stm . 23 February 2007.
  12. News: 8 December 2006 . It's back to East Midlands Airport . en-gb . bbc.co.uk . BBC . BBC News . live . 25 December 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20181225081554/http://www.bbc.co.uk/nottingham/content/articles/2006/12/07/rename_nottingham_ema_feature.shtml . 25 December 2018.
  13. Web site: 3 September 2009 . easyJet announces network redeployments . https://web.archive.org/web/20091222204333/http://corporate.easyjet.com/media/latest-news/news-year-2009/03-09-09.aspx . 22 December 2009 . EasyJet.
  14. Web site: 3 May 2012 . BMI Baby to be grounded by BA owner IAG . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150925142111/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17940539 . 25 September 2015 . 14 October 2016 . BBC . "BMI Baby has delivered high levels of operational performance and customer service, but has continued to struggle financially, losing more than £100m in the last four years,".
  15. Web site: Advice to UK consumers following Flybe entering administration UK Civil Aviation Authority . 2020-03-30 . www.caa.co.uk.
  16. Web site: Flybe has ceased trading and all future flights from the UK cancelled . 2020-03-30 . Flybe has ceased trading and all future flights from the UK cancelled . en.
  17. News: Six new routes for Belfast City Airport with Aer Lingus regional hub . en-GB . belfasttelegraph . 2021-08-11 . 0307-1235.
  18. Web site: Bunn . Matthew . 2021-06-17 . easyJet confirms brand new route from East Midlands Airport . 2021-08-11 . NottinghamshireLive . en.
  19. http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/flight-information/timetables/ eastmidlandsairport.com - Flight Timetables
  20. Web site: April 2020 . Aircargo News - East Midlands Airport experiences cargo growth amid Covid-19 outbreak .
  21. News: 19 October 2022 . BBC - East Midlands Airport sees huge increase in cargo volumes Published . BBC News .
  22. Web site: 10 December 2021 . Business Live - East Midlands Airport cargo shipments up more than 25% on pre-pandemic levels .
  23. Web site: 21 March 2023 . Airport Data 2022 . 23 March 2023 . UK Civil Aviation Authority . Tables 12.1(XLS) and 12.2 (XLS).
  24. News: Page . Jemma . 3 May 2016 . East Midlands Airport 'drop-off' charges double . Nottinghamshirelive . 5 May 2016.
  25. Web site: Pick Up & Drop Off East Midlands Airport . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180101123116/http://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/parking/pick-up-and-drop-off . 1 January 2018 . 23 December 2017 . www.eastmidlandsairport.com . en.
  26. Web site: Tram Train proposals for East Midlands Airport and East Midlands Parkway news . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20190119121228/https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/tram-train-proposals-for-east-midlands-airport-and-east-midlands-parkway-news.117583/ . 19 January 2019 . 23 December 2017 . RailUK Forums. 27 June 2015 .
  27. Web site: Train services to and from East Midlands Parkway – East Midlands Trains . East Midlands Trains.
  28. Web site: EMA Rail Link . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20150804090150/http://www.emarailink.co.uk/ . 4 August 2015 . 16 August 2015.
  29. Web site: 28 May 2020 . Access to Toton, the HS2 East Midlands Hub . 28 May 2020 . Midlands Connect.
  30. Web site: Rail Minister officially opens Maritime's Rail Freight Interchange at East Midlands Gateway . 2022-11-26 . www.maritimetransport.com.
  31. Web site: Maritime boosts East Midlands operation with two new Kalmar reach stackers . 2022-11-26 . www.maritimetransport.com.
  32. Web site: welcome - my15 - run by trentbarton. www.trentbarton.co.uk. 15 November 2023.
  33. Web site: service map - skylink Derby - operated by Kinchbus . 2022-05-07 . Kinchbus.co.uk.
  34. Web site: service map - skylink Nottingham - operated by Kinchbus . 2022-05-07 . Kinchbus.co.uk.
  35. Web site: welcome - my15 - run by trentbarton . 2021-06-17 . www.trentbarton.co.uk.
  36. Web site: Route 9 | Midland Classic . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20191228133638/http://www.midlandclassic.com/timetable/route-9-from-28-oct-2019/ . 28 December 2019 . 8 March 2020.
  37. Web site: AEROPARK EXHIBITS . 3 August 2022 . East Midlands Aeropark.
  38. "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"
  39. Web site: Accident description . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20121025095833/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19690220-0 . 25 October 2012 . 7 October 2009 . Aviation Safety Network.
  40. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Shorts 360-100 EI-BEM East Midlands Airport (EMA) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110806022116/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19860131-1 . 6 August 2011 . 8 November 2010 . Aviation-safety.net.
  41. Web site: ASN Aircraft accident Fokker F-27 Friendship 200 G-BMAU East Midlands Airport (EMA) . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20110606095218/http://aviation-safety.net/database/record.php?id=19870118-0 . 6 June 2011 . 4 December 2017 . Aviation-safety.net.
  42. Web site: 7 April 2010 . Terrorist Bombers May Have Targeted Aircraft . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20101104062802/http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/11/01/terrorist-bombers-targeted-aircraft/ . 4 November 2010 . 1 November 2010 . Fox News Channel.
  43. Web site: Rayner . Gordon . 31 October 2010 . Cargo plane bomb plot: al-Qaeda terrorists 'threatened another Lockerbie' . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20101102223811/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8100970/Cargo-plane-bomb-plot-al-Qaeda-terrorists-threatened-another-Lockerbie.html . 2 November 2010 . 1 November 2010 . The Daily Telegraph.
  44. Web site: 5 November 2010 . Al-Qaida claims responsibility for cargo bombs . 8 November 2010 . NBC News.