East Midlands Airport (EMA) has announced ambitious plans to unlock over 50 hectares of airfield land for development, a move that could generate more than 20,000 new jobs.

The strategic blueprint was unveiled at UKREiiF, the UK's premier real estate investment and infrastructure forum in Leeds, where over 16,000 property, investment, and political leaders are gathered.

With air cargo demand forecasted to surge by 54% over the next two decades, EMA’s proposals aim to meet this growth and capitalise on its unique positioning. The airport is now welcoming expressions of interest from developers to help bring the vision to life. Further details are available at MAG Airports' website.


Four key development plots have been identified, with three offering direct runway access via new taxiways and capacity for up to 18 additional aircraft stands. The plans outline:

• 122,000m² of new warehouse space

• 51,000m² of landside yard space

• 1,000 parking spaces

• Tax site status for two of the plots under the East Midlands Freeport, offering investment incentives

The proposals follow a detailed study by York Aviation and MDS Transmodal, which forecast that cargo volumes at EMA could rise from 370,000 tonnes in 2023 to 583,000 tonnes by 2043. This projected growth is underpinned by EMA's key advantages:

• A central UK location with 85% of the population reachable within a four-hour truck drive

• Round-the-clock operations, thanks to fewer night flying restrictions than other major airports

• A focus on dedicated cargo aircraft, avoiding competition with passenger flights

• Direct runway-to-hub access, speeding up freight handling times

The expansion is expected to deliver substantial economic gains, supporting up to £1.8 billion in additional gross value added (GVA) and 12,600 jobs by 2030, and up to £3.9 billion GVA and 21,300 jobs by 2043.

With air cargo capacity under pressure nationwide, EMA's ability to absorb growing demand positions it as a key player in supporting UK trade and supply chains.