Central UK airport builds China connections with major cargo deals

Britain's East Midlands Airport is set to play a vital new role in UK-China trade after securing a landmark deal with Chinese cargo giants Central Airlines and YunExpress. 

In a matter of days, the two firms will launch their first-ever flights to East Midlands, initially operating twice a week with Boeing 777 freighters and scaling up to five regular services.

The announcement marks the first time these Chinese operators have flown into the UK, placing East Midlands at the center of a growing network of international logistics. The airport already handles close to $1.6 billion in trade with China each year and runs a 24/7 operation, unlike larger hubs with night-time restrictions.

"East Midlands is one of the most centrally located airports in the UK," the airport's Head of Corporate Affairs, Ioan Reed-Aspley, told CGTN. "Goods flown in here can be distributed quickly and easily across the country."

The move echoes a similar shift by British operator One Air, which relocated its base from Heathrow to East Midlands a year ago and plans to grow its China-linked operations. 

Captain Joe Batt of One Air confirmed the arrival of a new dedicated freighter later this year: "We're looking at bringing on scheduled services out to China, probably via Hong Kong and Muscat."

Addressing inefficiency

However, despite the growing inbound flow of Chinese goods, many of these aircraft return to Asia empty, an inefficiency the airport is eager to address. 

"These aircraft can carry around 110 tonnes of goods," Reed-Aspley added. "We're working with local businesses to promote that outbound capacity."

To support this effort, the airport is developing a new technology hub aimed at UK firms seeking access to Chinese markets. Several parcels of land surrounding the airport, including the site of the now-closed Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, are being targeted for high-tech redevelopment focused on advanced logistics and manufacturing.

The airport's Head of Media, Stephan Richeux, stressed the long-term vision: "We're looking at developing parts of the airfield so that we could have even bigger and more cargo operations coming in."

With demand for fast global delivery soaring, East Midlands Airport's ability to scale and adapt is positioning it as a new gateway for UK-China trade—and a powerful magnet for business investment in the region.