East Midlands Airport named best UK Medium Sized Airport
East Midlands Airport (EMA) has been crowned ‘Best UK Airport’ for its size (3-10 million passengers) by the industry trade body, the Airport Operators Association (AOA).
The award recognises excellence and achievement across a whole range of areas and comes in the year that records were broken for the volume and value of the cargo EMA handles. On the back of this, EMA has shone a light on the aviation sector and the important role that airports play in growing local economies.
Just under five million passengers travel through EMA each year to over 80 destinations in Europe and long-haul to the USA and Mexico. Airlines based at EMA are Ryanair, Jet.com, TUI and Thomas Cook and it is also served by Flybe and BMI.
As the UK’s most important airport for dedicated cargo aircraft, EMA handles 1000 tonnes a day and the value of non-EU goods being exported and imported through it every 12 months now exceeds £10bn.
Karen Smart, EMA’s Managing Director, says: “I’m delighted that the aviation industry recognises what has been achieved and the important role EMA plays both regionally and nationally. Building on this award, I am very positive about this airport’s future. We will continue to play an increasingly important role in shaping the East Midlands economy, creating new jobs and connecting people and products to other parts of the world.”
The Airport Operators Association (AOA) is the trade body representing more than 50 UK Airports in the UK and the views of UK airports to Government, parliament and regulators to secure policy outcomes that help deliver their mission.
Chief Executive of the AOA, Karen Dee, said: “Aviation is a UK success story and our vibrant and innovative work is globally leading. The AOA Annual Awards showcased just a sample of that best-in-kind work, including around improving efficiency, reducing the impact of aviation on the environment and delivering an ever-improving passenger experience.”