The Spanish coastal town is served by all three of the main airlines that operate from East Midlands - Ryanair, TUI and Jet2 - with up to five departures a day next month.

September sees temperatures of around 28°C and the Mediterranean Sea remaining an inviting 25°C, while crowds have reduced as school terms resume across Europe and accommodation and flight rates are lower than during the peak summer period.

Alicante has more to offer than just spending time on the beach – although the city's main urban beach Playa del Postiguet, or the larger Playa de San Juan a short tram ride away, are well worth visiting. The historical old town offers winding, white-walled streets and flower-lined alleys, while a hike or lift up to the medieval fortress of Castillo de Santa Bárbara provides panoramic views of the coast.

Other pleasant pastimes include a stroll along the esplanade, a visit to the Mercado Central to sample local delicacies and a boat trip to Tabarca Island, Spain's first protected marine reserve.

September is when the historic, former fishing neighbourhood of Raval Roig celebrates its patron saint festivities, the Fiesta de la Virgen del Socorro. The streets fill with neighbours, traditional music and community parties.

Between 4 and 9 September, the town of Villena, a 45-minute trip north, hosts the Moors and Christians Festival, featuring 12,000 participants parading in jaw-dropping, elaborate medieval military costumes, complete with thundering gunpowder re-enactments and brass bands.

A similar distance east along the coast lies Benidorm, which stages its Gay Pride festival between 1-6 September, offering seven nights of incredible indoor and outdoor parties, featuring a truly international lineup of singers, dancers, drag artists, DJs and club nights from the biggest names in Spain, with a colourful parade on the Saturday.

Flights from East Midlands Airport to Alicante can be booked here: Flights from East Midlands Airport | Search and buy flights | East Midlands Airport

The equipment gives fire personnel overseeing incidents instant access to accurate information about the crew’s status, enabling them to make timely decisions about removing and deploying firefighters to the scene.

The airport moved from an old-style system using whiteboards which required firefighters to provide ongoing verbal updates about the oxygen levels in their breathing apparatus, while dealing with incidents.

The new system supplied by Dräger means the breathing apparatus is linked to a smart control board overseen by entry control operators and incident commanders. It takes into account in real-time the level of oxygen depletion as firefighters exert themselves during incidents, and sounds an alarm for the firefighter and officers in charge as levels start to get too low. It also sounds an alarm if there is no movement from the user.

East Midlands Airport Fire Station Manager Jez Paget said: “The new system has been a gamechanger for us, and has proved to be very straightforward and intuitive to use.

“It means there’s less pressure on our firefighters to monitor themselves and provide updates while they are dealing with an incident, as the system does it for them. It reduces risk, promotes safer monitoring of the breathing apparatus, and the crews have faith in the system, which is a huge thing for us.”

Elizabeth Milward, Marketing Manager Emergency and Rescue Services at Dräger Safety UK, said: “East Midlands Airport has taken an important step forward by becoming the first mainland airport in the UK to introduce telemetry into its firefighting operations.

“The unique challenges faced by airport firefighters require technology that is simple to use, supports rapid deployment and strengthens situational awareness, helping crews and commanders respond with greater confidence in time-critical environments.”

Flights to the beautiful Italian city leave on Fridays – with morning departures with TUI and evening departures with Jet2.

September is widely considered Naples’ best month, with temperatures 18–27°C, sea that’s warm enough to swim in and the city’s biggest religious event, the Festa di San Gennaro, taking place on the 19^th.

The event honours the patron saint of Naples, with processions, street celebrations and authentic Neapolitan culture taking place throughout the city. From Castel dell'Ovo, visitors witness genuine Naples spiritual life and cultural traditions.

Naples offers incredible street food, massive subterranean networks and panoramic coastal views, as well as being the gateway to Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. The National Archaeological Museum in Naples is one of the world's best collections of Roman artefacts, including treasures from Pompeii and Herculaneum. September often includes special museum events and free-entry days.

If you can’t wait until you’re in Naples itself, you can try some authentic Italian cuisine while you’re waiting for your flight at East Midlands Airport. The airport’s newest restaurant, Terracotta, offers a range of Italian flavours in Mediterranean-style surroundings. It opened this summer as part of a drive to improve the customer experience at East Midlands, with a more welcoming and even speedier security hall, kids’ play area, quiet room and upgraded toilets among the many changes.

And to add to the effortless experience East Midlands is renowned for, there’s always the option of leaving your car in the capable hands of the Meet & Greet service which now includes self-service facilities to safely deposit and collect your keys and avoid any queues.

Check and book flight options here: Flights from East Midlands Airport | Search and buy flights | East Midlands Airport

It was an increase of almost 16,000 people, or 3.1% more than July last year.

There are plenty of reasons a growing number of people pick East Midlands, with 97% of them rating it ‘good to excellent’ and 78% recommending it to friends and family. Factors include:

·       Perfectly located close to the M1 makes it easy to get to. If arriving by car, you’re only three to 15 minutes’ walk from the terminal from most car parks – or take the free shuttle bus. If you choose the Meet & Greet service, there’s now a self-serve option to safely deposit your car keys and collect them on your return to avoid any queues. Alternatively, frequent bus services from surrounding areas drop you just steps from the terminal.

·       Security is also a breeze at East Midlands, with 99% of customers clearing it in under 15 minutes. The whole process has been speeded up with next-gen scanners, allowing you to keep liquids and electricals in your hand luggage – and the security hall has undergone a complete makeover, making it brighter and more welcoming.

·       That’s part of ongoing investments to enhance the customer experience – and you’ll enjoy more of that once you’re in the departure lounge. Here, there are new and refurbished shops, bars and restaurants, extra seating, better wi-fi, and upgraded toilet and baby changing facilities. There’s also a larger, refurbished Escape Lounge, a new play area for young fliers and a new quiet room and sensory pod for those who need them.

·       An Assisted Travel service for those who need extra support getting through the airport has recently earned top marks from the CAA for the seventh year running

·       70 popular destinations around Europe and north Africa to choose from this summer, served by low-cost airlines Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI. Some new destinations include Agadir, Costa de Almeria, Preveza, Thessaloniki, Chania, Pula, Split and Sharm el Sheikh. A new daily service to Jersey has been launched by Loganair, while another option closer to home is Belfast, with Aer Lingus operating daily flights.

Director of Customer Services and Planning at East Midlands Airport, Mike Grimes, said: “We’re delighted that even more people have chosen to fly with us for their summer holidays this year.

“Our approach is to make getting away an effortless, enjoyable experience – not something often associated with air travel. It’s why people come back to us time after time and tell their friends and family to do the same.”

As an island nation in our modern globalised world, it’s essential that we can trade effectively on the international stage. Having an airport gives us a significant competitive edge and makes the East Midlands a region that is in a strong position to support and grow existing businesses as well as attracting new ones.

East Midlands Airport is an asset not only to the region, but to the whole country. Within the UK, its cargo operation is the largest of its kind, providing trade routes to the world’s economic powerhouses. It provides the main UK base for major logistics firms trading around the globe and has recently had great success in attracting new cargo airlines as its reputation as the UK’s number one freight-only airport spreads worldwide.

This matters to our region, because many of our thriving industrial sectors rely on international trade, from the automotive and aerospace industries to advanced manufacturing, pharmaceuticals and life sciences. The firms that are importing and exporting goods in turn rely on a supply chain, and together it’s estimated the airport supported a remarkable 52,000 jobs last year.

Indeed, the airport's success is not happening in isolation. It sits at the heart of a wider opportunity in my Vision for Growth for the East Midlands – the Trent Arc. This urban regeneration corridor linking Derby and Nottingham brings together our greatest concentration of economic assets, regeneration opportunities, and investment potential.

The Trent Arc covers two city centres, three universities, three train stations, the East Midlands Freeport and Infinity Park Investment Zone site, green and blue spaces, alongside emerging proposals for a new town. Collectively, the pipeline of projects in the Arc has the potential to deliver 30,000 homes, 40,000 high-quality jobs, and £2.4 billion in GVA.

Through the Trent Arc, East Midlands Airport has a golden opportunity to help us deliver a nationally significant growth corridor that provides jobs, homes, innovation, and sustainable prosperity for generations to come.

I’m delighted to see that it is building on its success. Last year, our regional airport’s cargo growth was a third of all air cargo growth in the whole of the UK – a typically East Midlands feat of punching above our weight. And it’s not stopping there, with plans to develop sites – some of them Freeport tax sites – on and near the airfield for the extra cargo-related activity that’s anticipated in the coming years.

As Mayor of the East Midlands, I fully support the airport’s bold vision and will work closely with the airport and partners to ensure it continues to bring lasting benefits to our region. This is our moment to lead – connecting East Midlands businesses to the world, creating opportunities for local people, and building a stronger, more inclusive economy for generations to come.

The Fund was set up in 2002 to help bring lasting benefit to those areas most affected by the airport’s operations. In that time, it has handed out £2.9m to more than 2,088 community initiatives.

The airport contributed £59,000 to the fund this year, which is topped up with noisy aircraft fines. The Community Fund Committee held its latest meeting this week, awarding £36,923 to 29 local groups and charities. This included a grant of £1,624 to the Leicestershire and Rutland Ornithological Society for recording and monitoring equipment, a grant of £2,000 to East Leake Village Hall for a new oven, £1,000 to Borrowash in Bloom towards a180-litre water trolley and £1,345 to Kegworth Angling Society for lifebuoys.

Applications for the latest round of funding will be made using new online platform ActionFunder. This new method is being trialled with a view to making the process simpler and quicker, and allows organisations and the airport to share updates on applications. It also means that applicants can find other funding sources for their projects as Action Funder matches a wide range of different funders with projects.

Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Airport, Colleen Hempson, said: “We’re proud of the difference our Community Fund has made for people living in the areas around the airport over the years, and are pleased to open another round of funding.

“The new system for applying online should make the process easier and we are looking forward to hearing feedback from applicants on their experiences of using the new platform that we are trialling for this funding round.”

Eligible charities, community groups and not-for-profit community organisations within the Area of Benefit can apply for grants up to £2,000 for tangible items of lasting benefit, such as equipment and furniture. The fund cannot pay for running costs, consumables, salaries, rent or maintenance.  Statutory organisations need to demonstrate that the items they are bidding for are outside of their statutory obligations or provide advice to local community groups and not-for-profit community organisations.

More information including how to apply is available in the EMA Community Fund Guidance Brochure and on the airport website here.

The country’s busiest pure freight operation connects the UK to more than 185 international markets, with more than 400,000 tonnes of cargo passing through the airport last year, up 12.5%.

That accounted for more than a third of all cargo growth across the UK, with the average value of items exported through East Midlands 34 times higher than at any other port in the country.

New data – from experts at York Aviation – shows the airport’s economic impact growing to £6.2bn in 2025, driven mainly by its unrivalled freight operation which supports the success of firms in high-value sectors like advanced manufacturing and life sciences. The new findings show:

·       East Midlands’ cargo operation was responsible for around half of the total economic impact, driving £3.4bn of freight-related business productivity

·       Operational activity accounted for £2.7bn

·       Passenger-related business productivity and inbound tourism made up the remaining £0.1bn

·       The airport’s operational impact is strongest in the region it serves, supporting £1.5bn in GVA and 15,430 jobs in the East Midlands

·       Neighbouring West Midlands also benefits substantially, with £569m in GVA and 6,520 jobs.

Click here to watch our video 'East Midlands Airport economic impact unpacked' 

The economic analysis measures the direct impact of East Midlands’ operations, through the 7,500 jobs it supports on site, as well as the indirect benefits it delivers by supporting more than 52,000 jobs throughout the UK economy in 2025 – 7,000 more than the previous year. The analysis also includes business productivity, which is significantly enhanced by the airport’s freight operations, along with inbound tourism.

East Midlands Airport is owned by MAG, which also runs Manchester and London Stansted. The overall group has an economic impact of £29bn. East Midlands plays a pivotal role in the region it serves due to its strategic central location placing it within four hours of 90% of the UK population and within 125 miles of 80% of all major warehousing in England and Wales.

As well as being the main UK base for global logistics giants DHL, UPS and FedEx, it has recently attracted seven new cargo operators including China’s YunExpress, which has developed a new handling facility at the airport.

Last year, goods for export worth £13bn passed through the airport, underlining its importance for high-value, time-sensitive and supply-chain-critical goods. More than half of the goods exported via East Midlands Airport are manufactured in the Midlands, whose industrial landscape is dominated by advanced manufacturing, aerospace, the automotive sector, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, including global brands such as Rolls Royce, JCB, Boots, Jaguar Landrover and Toyota.

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “I’m proud of the huge contribution the airport makes to the economy, which increased by £2bn in 2025, driven largely by the growth in our fantastic cargo operation that plays such a vital role in the UK’s international trade.

“We know how critical high-value industries like advanced manufacturing and life sciences are key to the UK’s industrial strategy and that these sectors rely more than most on access to the world. We’re proud to play that vital role to help them ship high value, time critical items to key global markets, and how this supports almost 22,000 jobs at businesses in the Midlands alone.

“Alongside our plans to grow our cargo operation to maximise its potential, we are in ongoing talks with airlines to expand our passenger network. We continue to offer an effortless experience for four million people a year, enhanced by significant investment in our facilities.”

The sort of local businesses that rely on East Midlands’ cargo operation includes Leicestershire-based Ventola Projects, which manufactures specialist lighting systems and supplies them around the globe.  The airport has played a vital part in its growth from a sole trader in 1989 to a multi-million-pound business with a significant client base in the Middle East and across the United States.

Another company reliant on the airport for its success is Attenborough Medical, producing and supplying bespoke medical implants from bases in Nottingham and Lokeren, Belgium. The reliability of the airport’s cargo services is essential for delivery of its time-critical products.

There are plans to build on the airport’s success. East Midlands Airport is the primary port of the UK’s only inland Freeport and owns Freeport tax sites on and near the airfield which it is seeking to develop to support and grow its cargo operation. Two of four sites on the airfield identified for development have Freeport status, with plans unveiled last year to meet increased demand of 54% over the next two decades, estimated by York Aviation.

Reimagining 50 hectares of airfield space for increased cargo activity could see volumes rise to more than 580,000 tonnes per year and support up to £3.9bn in further economic contributions to the regional economy – including up to 21,000 new jobs.

The airport’s highly popular Assisted Travel service is a free option for anyone who needs some support getting through the airport and onto their plane. The CAA has once again graded the service with the highest score of ‘Very Good’ for 2025/26.

Its report says that East Midlands Airport "consistently achieved very close to or 100% against waiting time standards during the reporting year. They also recorded strong survey scores above 4.5, demonstrating consistent delivery of assistance services," referring to scores out of five. The airport’s own survey shows 87% of service users rate their experience as good to excellent, recognising not just customer service, but also the quality of the physical environment, communication tools, and staff friendliness.

The Assisted Travel service can include hiring a mobility scooter or wheelchair, being provided one-to-one support from a member of the Assisted Travel team, using specially designated waiting areas, or using an ‘ambulift’ bus to take them from boarding gates straight up to the aircraft door.

There are also Quiet Rooms in the check-in area and departure lounge for those who need them, along with a sensory pod – the first of its kind at a UK airport – for customers with neurodivergent conditions.

The departure lounge Quiet Room and sensory pod were both new improvements put in place ahead of this summer, along with six new mobility scooters doubling the number available for customers. These add to other facilities that aim to make the airport experience effortless for all customers – including accessible and stoma friendly toilets and Changing Place facilities. The airport also recognises green lanyards and sunflower lanyards worn by people with non-visible disabilities so staff can take their needs into account.

An Accessibility Advisory Group made up entirely of disabled airport users helps to shape the Assisted Travel service – one of the few at a UK airport that is operated in-house.

East Midlands Airport’s Head of Customer Operations and Business Change, Jessica Ward, said: “We’re really thrilled to have our Assisted Travel service recognised by the CAA as top rate for the seventh year running.

“We see it as an essential offer for people who choose to fly from East Midlands Airport – we want to make sure everyone has an effortless experience, whatever their needs. We’re proud that people who use the service rate it highly, but as can be seen with the improvements carried out ahead of this summer, we’re always looking at ways to make it even better.”

More information about the Assisted Travel service is available here: Assistance at the Airport | East Midlands Airport

The leading leisure airline will operate a ski programme to Geneva from East Midlands Airport next winter. With weekly Saturday services, customers can access the popular ski destination from mid December 2027 and throughout the winter season.

With flights perfectly timed over a weekend, skiers and snow sports enthusiasts can enjoy fantastic flexibility when it comes to sloping off to the snow and accessing the most popular French and Swiss ski resorts, including Tignes, Flaine, Verbier, Zermatt and the Three Valleys.

The launch of the programme today means skiers and snowboarders in the East Midlands can book great-price ski flights early and plan their alpine escapes in advance.

When travelling to the best ski destinations in Europe with Jet2.com, customers can look forward to friendly flight times, 10kg hand baggage allowance and great value hold luggage* and ski carriage* each weighing up to 22kg each.

Steve Griffiths, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said: “It’s great to already have Jet2’s ski programme for next year, and we hope that more and more skiers and snowboarders choose East Midlands Airport as the jumping off point for their trip the mountains. We make getting away easier than other airports, making us a great choice for people heading to the slopes.”

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We enjoyed another successful ski season last winter, and with skiers and snowboarders already looking ahead to Winter 27/28, we have responded by launching our ski programme for next winter from East Midlands Airport. With perfectly timed flights at the most popular times, we are certain next year’s ski programme, will be our best yet.”

The popular attraction is located on the northern edge of East Midlands Airport’s airfield, and provides raised viewing areas overlooking the runway for aviation enthusiasts.

The museum houses a substantial collection of heritage aircraft, some of which flew from the airport in the past. It is run by volunteers and has recently opened a new shop and café offering souvenirs and snacks.

Its celebration event will run from11am-5pm, with standard entrance fees applied - under fives free / children (5-16) £3 / adults £5 - parking included. As well as the usual attractions, there will be bouncy castles, face painting and community stalls, including the airport’s community engagement team.

East Midlands Airport’s Community Engagement Manager Colleen Hempson said: “We have had a strong partnership with the Aeropark ever since it opened 40 years ago on the other side of the airport – moving to its current location 25 years ago.

“It has been offering a great, affordable day out for families and aviation enthusiasts for four decades, and we’re looking forward to taking part in the celebrations on Sunday.”

More information about the Aeropark is available here East Midlands Aeropark

With recent official statistics showing East Midlands flights experienced the fourth lowest number of delays across all UK airports last year, it’s the number one choice for an easy way to get away for a growing number of people.

The 1.1m people choosing it as the gateway to their summer break between July 7 and September 7 – covering the school holiday period in areas surrounding the airport – make up a quarter of all passengers expected at East Midlands this year. Thursday July 23 is shaping up to be among the busiest days of the summer, with just under 20,500 passengers expected.

East Midlands customers have 70 popular destinations to choose from in Europe and north Africa, flying with low-cost airlines Jet2, TUI and Ryanair. New destinations this summer include Agadir, Costa de Almeria, Preveza, Thessaloniki, Chania, Pula and Split with Jet2 and Sharm el Sheikh with TUI. A new daily service to Jersey was also launched by freshly arrived airline Loganair for the first time this summer.

People choosing East Midlands Airport this year will benefit from a wide array of improvements in place for summer 2026. This includes:

• A new-look security hall with faster next-generation scanners allowing liquids and electricals to be left in bags
• New and refurbished bars, restaurants and Escape Lounge
• Brand new one-stop WH Smiths shop including health and beauty, food and audio tech along with other pre-flight essentials
• Self-service Meet & Greet kiosks for easy key drop-off and vehicle collection
• A new Little Flyers play zone
• A new quiet room and first-of-its-kind sensory pod for customers who need to get away from the departure lounge hubbub
• Extra seating, upgraded toilets and water fountains
• Cashless payment arrangements for quicker, easier drop-off.

East Midlands Airport Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “It’s shaping up to be another great summer getaway from East Midlands this year, with new destinations and an even better airport experience than ever.

“With 99.7% of customers clearing security in under 15 minutes and significant improvements to terminal facilities, we’re in a strong position to give people the relaxing, effortless start to their holidays they expect when they fly with us.”

The awards, supported by the Department of Transport, highlight and celebrate the unwavering commitment, expertise, and innovation of those working tirelessly to improve our transport networks across the UK. Winners will be announced in October at a ceremony where Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will be the keynote speaker.

East Midlands Airport’s shortlisting is based on a successful year – marking the airport’s 60^th anniversary - in which:

·       Passenger numbers were held at around 4m, with encouraging year-on-year increases heading into summer 2026

·       The express air cargo operation remained the busiest in the UK, with cargo growth representing a third of all air cargo growth in the UK

·       Extensive improvements were carried out throughout the terminal and on the airfield as part of an ongoing £120m investment programme to enhance the customer experience

·       Customer satisfaction increased across all metrics, with 97% of customers rating the airport good to excellent

·       East Midlands was among the least delayed airports in the UK, with 90.4% of flights departing on time during the busiest early wave

·       The CAA gave the airport the highest accessibility ranking for the sixth year running, as investment continues in Assisted Travel improvements

·       Progress was made to decarbonise ground operations, shifting the airport’s operational fleet to biodiesel, and continuing to incentivise airlines to reduce their carbon footprint

·       Ongoing training and employment activity included the first-ever Aviation Careers Festival backed by the DfT and CAA, attracting 500 students.

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “I’m delighted we’re finalists in the National Transport Awards Airport of the Year category – it’s a great way to celebrate all that we achieved in our 60^th anniversary year.

“We hit the halfway mark of our investment programme which has seen huge improvements for our customers throughout the terminal – and on all measures we have increased customer satisfaction. Meanwhile our cargo operation went from strength to strength, attracting new airlines and topping 400,000 tonnes for the first time since the pandemic.

“It’s all been achieved by our fantastic team who are dedicated to providing effortless travel for our customers and driving seamless trade for the UK.”

Marking World Youth Skills Day on 15 July which this year focused on AI and digital skills, the airport is highlighting the work taking place across its education and skills programmes, including its education centre Aerozone and the East Midlands Airport Academy, which help thousands of young people and adults each year build skills, gain experience and explore future career opportunities.

The Aerozone welcomed a group of students from East Leake Academy who heard about the next generation scanning equipment that’s now in use in airport security, as well as how other new technologies are changing how the airport operates. [M(1] In addition, the students had the opportunity to experience what it is like to work in a variety of roles at East Midlands Airport through the Aerozone’s interactive role-play zones. They ended the day with a terminal trail, where they were able to see these roles in action.

These programmes support the Government's ambition to reduce the number of young people who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) by creating pathways into learning and work. The Aerozone hosts visits from around 80 local schools each year, with almost 35,000 young people having attended since it opened in 2010. Meanwhile the Academy offers two-week ‘introduction to aviation’ courses every year run by Nottingham College, training over 207 people last year, with 49% going on to find employment.

Just under 8,000 people work across the East Midlands Airport campus, which is home to 145 companies. As the airport continues to grow, developing a strong pipeline of future talent remains a key priority.

Marcella M'Rabety, Head of Social Sustainability at MAG, said: "For many young people, a visit to Aerozone is the moment aviation becomes real. By giving young people access to experiences, opportunities and role models, we're helping them build confidence, develop skills and understand the exciting careers available at the airport.

“Supporting young people is important because it helps us build the future workforce the airport needs while creating opportunities for local communities and helping reduce the number of young people not in education, employment or training (NEET)."

More information about Aerozone, the airport Academy and careers at the airport is available here: Employment, Skills and Education | East Midlands Airport

Around 6,000 more passengers flew through the airport last month compared to last June – a total of 498,365. It bodes well for the peak summer season, with school holidays underway in Leicestershire from this week already seeing an increase in numbers of people seeking the 70 destinations available in Europe and north Africa through low-cost airlines based at East Midlands.

Jet2 is serving seven new destinations this summer - Agadir (Morocco), Costa de Almeria (Spain), Preveza, Thessaloniki and Chania (Greece), and Pula and Split (Croatia). Meanwhile TUI reintroduced Sharm el Sheikh to their schedules following strong customer demand.

And a new daily service to Jersey is available for the first time this summer with freshly arrived airline Loganair.

Meanwhile as the UK’s largest express air freight hub, East Midlands Airport handled 37,458 tonnes of goods last month – around 4,500 tonnes more than last June, a 14% increase. Further announcements about more cargo aircraft flying into East Midlands are expected later this month, as the operation continues to grow.

East Midlands Airport Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “I’m delighted to see both sides of our business booming as we enter the peak summer season.

“While passenger numbers are climbing, we’re still giving them a relaxed and enjoyable experience, with swift clearance through security and an array of new and improved facilities in the terminal to enjoy ahead of their flights.

“Our cargo operation is doing brilliantly, with increasing numbers of carriers choosing East Midlands as their entry point to the UK as our reputation spreads as the country’s number one airport for freight.”

It is a popular six-mile circular walking route that follows the outer boundary of the airport, with fantastic viewpoints for watching plane take-offs and landings.

The route mixes aviation views with quiet countryside, looping through local woodlands, open meadows and historic country lanes. In late 2025, the trail received a £60,000 upgrade to mark the airport's 60th anniversary, bringing improved paths, brand-new directional fingerposts and nine highly detailed educational information boards highlighting local wildlife and history.

A mix of grass, paved tracks, packed dirt and gravel, the trail takes roughly 2.5 to 3 hours to complete at a leisurely pace. Among the points of interest along the route are:

• "Art on the Trail": The path features five unique, locally designed sculptures scattered around the perimeter, including the Dog Tooth Violet Seed, Valentines Tree and Sky Ladder
• Plane spotting viewpoints: Multiple designated clearings sit directly alongside the airport fence. You can stand almost directly beneath the flight path on short final approaches, with Hemington Crest offering clear lines of sight to the 51-metre-high Air Traffic Control tower, airport wind turbines and active aprons
• The East Midlands Aeropark: Located right next to the trail, this aviation museum houses historic aircraft like the Vulcan and Nimrod. It serves as a great start or end point for walks, with raised airport viewing areas providing some of the best plane spotting spots
• Wildlife and Nature: The airport has planted thousands of native trees including oak and dogwood to create rich habitats for local kestrels, skylarks, and bats, along with a new hedgerow as part of last year’s upgrades.
• Parking: A small amount of free public parking can be found at the East Midlands Airport Picnic and Viewpoint Area close to the East Midlands Gateway entrance off the A453. Alternatively, you can park for a small fee at the East Midlands Aeropark
• Public Transport: The local Skylink bus services run frequently and drop off passengers directly at several joining points along the perimeter trail, including near the picnic area and the Aeropark.
• Food and drink: There are various options for a refreshment break. Take your own food and drink to the picnic site at the eastern end of the runway, or a newly-opened café at the Aeropark offers snacks and drinks. Alternatively, the Nag’s Head in Castle Donington is close to the trail, as is The Plough Inn in Diseworth on the other side of the airport.

The newly released Annual Report of MAG (Manchester Airports Group), East Midlands Airport’s parent company, shows that across all three of its airports, including Manchester and Stansted, it handled record numbers of passengers at 66m in 2025, up 1.9% year-on-year.

East Midlands’ passenger operation was in line with the previous year, serving 4m passengers, with based airlines Jet2 and TUI both adding new routes to their network of popular European destinations. The airport continued to carry out significant improvements to passenger and airfield facilities as part of an ongoing £120m investment programme.

Strong operational performance saw 99% of passengers passing though security in 15 minutes or less, while it achieved the highest ‘Very Good’ CAA rating for accessibility for the sixth year running, thanks to its award-winning assisted travel service.

MAG also increased the amount of cargo it handled by 12.5%, driven primarily by strong growth at East Midlands. With cargo volumes topping 400,000 tonnes for the first time since the pandemic, it accounted for a third of all air cargo growth in the UK. 

2025 saw seven new cargo airlines start operations at the airport, including Chinese logistics firm YunExpress which launched its first UK route with a twice weekly service to China, alongside Etihad Cargo, Atlas Air, Saudi Cargo, SF Express, Hong Kong Air Cargo and Ethiopian Cargo running services to the United Arab Emirates and Asia. 

Last year the airport also announced its plans to meet the future demand for freight – set to increase by 54% over the next two decades. This investment would add 50 hectares of cargo capacity – increasing volumes to more than 580,000 tonnes per year and supporting up to £3.4bn in further economic contributions to the regional economy.

The report also points to progress on protecting the environment and supporting local communities – with 100% of the airport’s operational vehicles starting to run on biodiesel and a broad programme of engagement with local communities. This involved education and training opportunities including its first-ever Aviation Careers Festival, as well as staff volunteering, funding community projects and staging a series of events to celebrate its 60^th anniversary with communities, staff and stakeholders.

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “The investment in our growing cargo operations across the financial year bolsters East Midlands Airport’s position as a central driver of UK international trade, while our passenger operation provides travellers from across our region with a range of popular European destinations all year round.

“It was a pleasure to mark our 60th anniversary year celebrating the impact we have had on our communities, colleagues and wider region.”

Airlines Jet2 and TUI both offer the service for customers who are flying before midday, opening their check-in desks between 4-9pm the evening before - useful for those living close to the airport and anyone using a hotel nearby. East Midlands Airport offers customers taking up this option up to 90 minutes of free parking in Short Stay 1 car park.

It’s one of a number of measures that are designed to make flying from East Midlands Airport as effortless as possible. The airport was recently rated the least stressful airport in the UK based on CAA data. Options alongside the evening before check-in option include:

·       Customers using the Meet & Greet service can now drop off and pick up their keys automatically to avoid potential queues

·       Barrierless, cashless payment systems for rapid drop-off have been introduced to make it quicker and easier for customers and reduce congestion in the area

·       Assisted Travel is available for anyone requiring extra help getting through the airport - with new mobility scooters, a new Quiet Room and the first-of-its-kind sensory pod introduced recently

·       Fast track tickets can be bought to avoid queues through security, which has seen next-generation scanners installed to further simplify and speed up the process – with 99% of customers already completing it in under 15 minutes.

Customer Services and Planning Director at East Midlands Airport, Mike Grimes, said: “We are constantly looking for ways to make our customers’ experience as effortless as possible, and these services are just some of the options available that help us do that.

“The opportunity to check in baggage the evening before travel is appealing for Jet2 and TUI customers living or staying nearby so they can fully relax on the day they fly. This, together with other services and a range of improvements we’ve undertaken in our terminal, help to give people a great hassle-free start to their holidays.”

The Ministry of Defence is carrying out essential resurfacing and improvement works on the airfield operating surface at RAF Brize Norton.

The airfield needs to be temporarily closed, and all airfield operations and flights are being relocated to a number of alternative locations around the UK. The A330 Voyager fleet will operate out of East Midlands as well as Prestwick and Stansted airports.

Once the resurfacing work has been completed at Brize Norton, the aircraft are expected to return in late November.

RAF Brize Norton is the UK's primary military air mobility hub, supporting the movement of personnel, equipment and humanitarian supplies across the globe. The RAF has stated that missions, including global logistics, humanitarian operations and support to allies, will continue without interruption. Locations like East Midlands Airport are being secured and protected in readiness for the dispersed operation.

The short-term RAF presence at East Midlands Airport is expected to result in only a minimal increase in road or air traffic, with a small number of flights carrying defence passengers and freight between the Falkland Islands, Cyprus and East Midlands each week.

East Midlands Airport’s Operations Director Lauren Turner said: “We’re honoured to act as the temporary base for some of the RAF’s A330 Voyagers that usually operate out of Brize Norton.

“We have developed strong working relationships with the RAF over the years and are pleased to be able to help with the dispersal of their fleets while upgrades take place at their base. We look forward to supporting them and no doubt the presence of their aircraft in the skies around us will excite some interest locally.”

The Ryanair flights include popular destinations like Girona and Reus to the east and west of Barcelona, at £36 each – or for just £1 more there are flights to Palma on the Spanish island of Mallorca.

Girona is a Catalan gem with a charming medieval old town, stunning architecture and is only half an hour from the beaches of the Costa Brava. As the birthplace of Gaudi, Reus boasts exceptional Catalan architecture and is also a gateway to the Costa Brava. Meanwhile Mallorca is one of the most popular Balearic Islands for beach holidays, while also boasting a rich history with Roman and Moorish remains, art galleries and music festivals.

The stylish Italian city of Milan will cost you a mere £31 for return tickets, leaving you more to spend on great food and drink or high fashion buys. Famed as the fashion capital of northern Italy, there’s plenty to do besides shopping, with the impressive Gothic Duomo di Milano and Sforza Castle among the highlights.

Or closer to home there are there three Irish destinations served by Ryanair that won’t put a hole in your pocket – with Knock and Dublin just £31 each and Belfast £36. Knock offers the ideal gateway to the rugged countryside of rural southern Ireland, while Dublin is famed for its lively pub culture and coastal charm. Belfast also offers authentic pub culture, along with maritime history and a great starting point to explore Northern Ireland’s iconic natural landscapes.

All flights can be found and booked here Flights from East Midlands Airport | Search and buy flights | East Midlands Airport

·       All figures from Kiwi.com, based on one person travelling with cabin luggage, correct at time of publishing.

Spain’s third-largest city sits directly in the path of totality for a rare solar eclipse. On August 12 August, the sky will plunge into darkness for about a minute at sunset, with city rooftops, the Hemisfèric planetarium, or catamaran boats out on the open sea being recommended vantage points.

It’s actually a rare and brief break for a city that is famed for having around 300 days of sunshine every year and is emerging from the shadows cast by its larger and louder neighbours, Barcelona and Madrid.

With miles of palm tree-lined beaches, fragrant orange groves, rich artistic heritage and a thriving food scene as the birthplace of paella, Valencia has all the elements for an unforgettable holiday. It blends futuristic architecture, historic charm and Mediterranean lifestyle.

There are countless galleries for art lovers to explore including the ultra-modern City of Arts and Sciences which includes Europe’s largest aquarium, as well as regular street art tours around El Carmen - the cobbled Old Town with its medieval structures and Valencia Cathedral - or take a trip to UNESCO World Heritage Site La Lonja de la Seda (the Silk Exchange), a lavish gothic-style building, and one of the city’s top tourist attractions. Also, don’t miss the Mercado Central, one of Europe's largest fresh produce markets, housed in a breathtaking Art Nouveau building.

Valencia is incredibly flat and features over 200 kilometres of dedicated cycle lanes, making it an ideal city to explore by bike. Meanwhile Turia Garden offers a lush five-mile green ribbon of parkland running through the city, featuring walking tracks, sports facilities and playgrounds.

If all that wasn’t enough, there’s a packed programme of events this summer besides the solar eclipse. Among the highlights, the waterfront FAR festival from July 8-31 will be kicked off by Jean-Michel Jarre, the Valencia International Jazz Festivals runs from July 15-25 in historic venues around the Old Town, and the Medusa Sunbeach Festival from August 13-16 brings top global DJs to the area with mind-blowing electronic music shows.

Valencia is reached from East Midlands Airport through twice-weekly flights with Ryanair – flights can be booked here: Flights from East Midlands Airport | Search and buy flights | East Midlands Airport

Photo credit: Visit Valencia

The ‘insider trick’, revealed by TUI UK’s Commercial Director Chris Logan, reveals how savvy travellers can snap up last-minute flights just weeks before departure which include bargain breaks for a fraction of the usual price. 

On TUI’s dedicated ‘Cheap Flights’ page Brits can find empty seats on return routes which are regularly released at heavily reduced prices in the weeks and months leading up to departure. 

"If you’ve got a bit of flexibility, this is one of the easiest ways to find a great-value getaway. It’s not something everyone knows about, but checking our flights page regularly can uncover some genuinely low fares, especially closer to departure as we look to fill remaining seats," said Chris Logan. 

"We’re talking everything from the Canaries to the Balearic Islands, as well as firm favourites like Greece, Turkey and Cyprus. Because TUI Airways flies from 22 regional airports like EMA across the UK, it makes it easy to pick a date, pack a bag and fly from your closest airport." 

The best deals tend to be snapped up by those who can be flexible on dates. But it’s not just quick getaways either, the deals can stretch from short breaks to two-week holidays or even longer.  

Chris added: "For customers who don’t mind when or where they go, it can be a really simple way to save money on flights and land some of the best-value fares”. 

Right now, Brits can find deals from East Midlands Airport such as: 

• Seven nights in Menorca with return flights East Midlands Airport from £72 person (8 July to 15 July)
• Seven nights in Ibiza with return flights from East Midlands Airport from £72 (17 July to 24 July)
• Seven nights in Palma de Mallorca (pictured above) with return flights from East Midlands Airport from £81 (23 July to 30 July)
• Seven nights in Lanzarote with return flights from East Midlands Airport from £82 (8 July to 15 July).

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths added: “There are lots of great reasons to choose East Midlands Airport as the gateway to your holidays – our central location puts us in easy reach of millions of people and our focus on providing effortless travel will have you through security and enjoying new and improved terminal facilities in no time.

“Bagging a bargain on your flights means you really don’t have to look any further - so we’re delighted that TUI are giving East Midlands Airport customers the inside track on lots of great low-cost options for their next break.”

Holidaymakers can browse the latest deals at: Flights with TUI | Thomson now TUI Airways 

Note: All prices quoted are correct to the particular product package at the time of issuing the price package/packages to the publication. Price was quoted on 26.06.2026 Prices provided are subject to change and have limited availability. Terms and conditions apply.

Two village hall committees have also completed improvements thanks to the funding that aims to give something back to the communities surrounding the airport.

Established in 2002, the Community Fund has since helped more than 2,000 initiatives benefit from £2.8m, which has gone towards a diverse range of projects, from equipment for village halls to the development of wildlife areas.

Last year it handed out more than £106,000 to 81 local projects, while this financial year from April, it has already awarded just over £39,000 to 33 local charities and community not-for-profit groups.

Among the recent recipients are the 15th Long Eaton Sea Scouts who have been refurbishing their Blue Hut, which was originally famously donated to them from the set of Auf Wiedersehen Pet by Central Studios in Nottingham. The EMA Community Fund grant of £1,000 went towards a new kitchen. Members of the East Midlands Airport Community Fund committee attended a special celebration event to mark the 60th anniversary of the main hall and the 40th anniversary and completion of the refurbishment of the blue hut.

Meanwhile Ashby Croquet Club (pictured above) received a grant of £1,811 towards croquet playing equipment, Staunton Harold Sailability Trust received a grant of £2,000 towards a new hoist (pictured below right), and Long Eaton Town Bowls Club received a grant of £1,570 towards materials for the restoration of their bowling green edges. 

This year Newton Solney Village Hall (pictured below left) finally completed the installation of solar panels which were made possible by an East Midlands Airport Community Fund ‘Low Carbon Energy’ Grant of £10,000, made in 2024. And Weston-on-Trent Village Hall Committee recently completed the upgrade of their village hall car park to improve accessibility thanks to a grant of £2,000 from the EMA Community Fund towards materials. 

East Midlands Airport’s Community Engagement Manager Colleen Hempson said: “It’s great to see the difference our Community Fund can make in the towns and villages surrounding the airport.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer ongoing support through this funding, as well as our staff volunteering and wider programme of community engagement, to really play a positive part in the lives of local people.”

More information about the fund and how to apply for it is available here: https://www.eastmidlandsairport.com/community/supporting-the-local-community/

The impressive achievement among participating airports in a worldwide survey is thought to be down to a combination of a new and welcoming security area fitted with next-generation scanning equipment and a cohort of experienced security staff instilling a customer-focused approach in new recruits.

East Midlands Airport has achieved the UK number one spot among airports taking part in the globally recognised Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey that measures and benchmarks passenger satisfaction at airports worldwide. ASQ collects feedback while passengers are at the airport, both at departure and arrival gates, ensuring that impressions are captured in real time.

In the survey for January to March this year, the airport achieved a Security Screening score of 4.44 out of a possible five - up 5.2% on the previous year. This grades airports on security waiting times, ease of security and the courtesy and helpfulness of staff.

The airport has overseen a complete transformation of its security area as part of an ongoing investment programme. The new look starts at the entrance to security, with new automatic boarding card reader gates and a bright, fresh environment which carries though to the main security hall. Better lighting, wooden panelling and media walls improve the feel of the areas, while state-of-the-art scanners speed up the process by allowing customers to leave items like liquids and electricals in their baggage. This has helped 99.7% of customers complete pre-flight checks in under 15 minutes.

East Midlands Head of Security Tony Jackson also points to lowered ceilings improving acoustics and providing a calmer, quieter environment that enables easier conversation between staff and passengers.

He added: “We have a core set of experienced colleagues who are passionate about security, aviation and customer service and pass those values on to new members of staff. This goes hand in hand with the changes in the security area to help us achieve these great results and make things hassle-free for our customers.

“Our staff also now have new uniforms which are smart but less formal which adds to their pride in the airport and helps to make them more approachable. We are also focusing more on learning from complaints where we get them and implementing improvements from those experiences.”

Customer Services and Planning Director at the airport Mike Grimes said: “I’m so proud that we can say we are the best performing airport in the UK and placed in the top 20 of all participating European airports for the ease of our security experience.

“We are constantly striving to make things as effortless as possible for our customers and to achieve this in security, which people often see as one of the most stressful parts of air travel, is really impressive. These scores contributed to our best overall customer satisfaction results ever, with 97% of customers rating us good, very good or excellent.”

The UK’s largest tour operator and third largest airline will operate weekly Saturday services to the North African hotspot from 1^st May to 30^th October 2027.

Today’s announcement comes in response to demand from customers and independent travel agents across the region and means they have plenty of choice when it comes to taking off to a sun-soaked destination that offers culture, cuisine, history, beaches and fantastic value for money.

The exciting new addition means that customers travelling to Tunisia with Jet2holidays can now choose from a range of 3 to 5-star hotels situated in the resorts of Port el Kantaoui, Skanes, Mahdia, Sousse, Yasmine Hammamet and Hammamet.

From Hammamet’s magical medina to Sousse’s palm‑lined ramparts, the country brims with colour and character. Holidaymakers can wander Roman amphitheatres, sip mint tea beside blue‑and‑white cliffside houses or watch fishermen haul in the day’s catch along Mahdia’s quiet coast. Out in the south, salt flats shimmer like glass and desert villages appear out of nowhere. As well as offering golden beaches, Tunisia offers more than just a beach break as it is a place where every corner has a story.  

As well as experiencing the delights of Tunisia, customers can also choose award-winning holidays and flights, whether that is a package holiday with Jet2holidays, or a leisure flight with Jet2.com. Each of the brands have been recognised as a Which? Recommended Provider for providing industry-leading levels of customer service and customer experience.

Today’s announcement means that Jet2 will operate to 44 destinations in Summer 27 from East Midlands Airport, with four new destinations including Tunisia, Hurghada, Paris and Sharm el Sheikh.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said: “We are thrilled to be giving customers and independent travel agents even more choice from East Midlands Airport thanks to the launch of Tunisia as our latest new addition. With year-round sunshine, rich culture and fantastic sunshine, Tunisia has something for everyone and we know how immensely popular it will be.”

He added: “This latest expansion demonstrates the strength of our growing business, and it comes on the back of customers and independent travel agents choosing to travel with us time and time again. Our award-winning proposition clearly continues to delight holidaymakers, and we look forward to welcoming even more customers onboard thanks to the launch of this new destination, taking the number of destinations we have on sale from East Midlands Airport in Summer 27 to 44.”

Steve Griffiths, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, said: “We’re always keen to expand our network of destinations to meet customers’ expectations, so it’s great to be able to offer this new route to Tunisia with Jet2, which shows the airline’s confidence in East Midlands and adds to the broad range of options they offer from here.

“North Africa is growing in popularity as a holiday option, with fantastic weather, culture, food and experiences for enjoyable and memorable trips. We will make sure everyone is chilled out and in the holiday mood while they’re with us at East Midlands Airport.”

Last month alone, almost 32,000 people flew to the Spanish coastal town – 7% of all flights from the airport throughout May. All three of the airport’s main airline partners – Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI – offer frequent flights of around three hours ten minutes throughout the summer period, with Malaga’s southern location resulting in temperatures of up to 28.8C in August.

As one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in Europe, it effortlessly blends millennia of history with a thriving modern cultural scene, golden beaches and exceptional Mediterranean gastronomy.

Cultural highlights include The Alcazaba, a stunningly preserved 11th-century Moorish fortress that sits on a hillside overlooking the city and the sea, and Gibralfaro Castle located just above the Alcazaba, which offers magnificent panoramic views of the coastline and mountains.

As birthplace of Pablo Picasso, the town celebrates its legendary artist with more than 200 of his works at the Picasso Museum Málaga, housed in the beautiful Palacio de los Condes de Buenavista.

Visitors can also wander through the historic cobbled streets and enjoy a refreshing drink in one of the Old Town’s many sunny plazas. Mercado de Atarazanas, Málaga’s oldest central market, is perfect for sampling fresh seafood, local cured meats, and traditional Andalusian tapas. Meanwhile Calle Larios, the city's main pedestrianised shopping street, buzzes with stylish boutiques, local eateries and dynamically changing seasonal decorations. If you're visiting in August, don't miss the spectacular Málaga Fair, where flamenco, food, music and celebrations fill the streets day and night.

And a trip to the Costa del Sol wouldn’t be complete without a beach day, with La Malagueta Beach located within easy walking distance from the historic centre, lined with vibrant seaside cafes and restaurants.

Book your flights to Malaga >

Jet2 has today announced the launch of its Winter Sun programme from East Midlands Airport for Winter 2027/28, with more seats and choice on offer. The programme includes two exclusive routes from the airport to Madeira and Agadir.

As demand from holidaymakers looking to escape the long British winter continues, the leading leisure airline and tour operator is once again giving customers what they want by putting over 340,000 seats on sale from East Midlands Airport.

A choice of 15 winter sun destinations have gone on sale from East Midlands Airport: The Canary Islands (Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura), Spain (Alicante, Malaga), Balearics (Majorca), Portugal (Faro, Madeira), Morocco (Agadir), Egypt (Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh), Cyprus (Paphos), Turkey (Antalya), and Malta. During peak periods, the airline and tour operator will operate 49 weekly outbound flights.

The release of the programme comes in response to demand from holidaymakers looking to book ahead and enjoy some winter sunshine. It also makes Jet2 the first airline and tour operator to go on sale for Winter 27/28, giving customers and independent travel agents the opportunity to book their place in the sun for next winter early.

 The full Winter 27/28 Winter Sun programme from East Midlands Airport is as follows:

• Tenerife (up to 10 weekly services)
• Lanzarote (up to 7 weekly services)
• Gran Canaria (up to 4 weekly services)
• Fuerteventura (up to 4 weekly services)
• Malaga (up to 3 weekly services)
• Alicante (up to 7 weekly services)
• Antalya (weekly services)
• Faro (up to 3 weekly services)
• Agadir (weekly services) – exclusive route to Jet2
• Madeira (weekly services) – exclusive route to Jet2
• Hurghada (weekly services)
• Malta (up to 2 weekly services)
• Paphos (up to 2 weekly services)
• Majorca (up to 2 weekly services)
• Sharm el-Sheikh (weekly services)

Over the coming weeks, the airline and tour operator will also reveal further programme details for Winter 27/28.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2, said: “Our winter sun programme for 2027/28 is on sale nice and early from East Midlands Airport, and we are very pleased to be giving customers and independent travel agents such fantastic choice and flexibility. This exciting new programme opens up the best winter sun hotspots to local holidaymakers and, as always, we have designed it in direct response to the demand for our award-winning flights and holidays so we know how popular it will be. We are not done yet, with even more exciting announcements about our Winter 27/28 programme coming soon!”

Steve Griffiths, East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, said: “We know many of our customers like to plan well in advance and benefit from low prices by booking early, so they will be delighted with this announcement from Jet2. With 49 outbound flights every week offering 340,000 seats to some of our most popular destinations across the winter period, we’ll be ready to give them all our usual warm East Midlands welcome and a relaxing start to their trip.”

For further information and to book visit www.jet2.com or www.jet2holidays.com

The airport remains buoyant as it welcomed 465,300 passengers in May – that’s 9,300 or 2.1% more than in 2025. Just over a third of those travelled over the May bank holiday and half term, a period which also saw a stronger performance than the previous year.

Palma De Mallorca was the most popular destination during May, with 43,447 people travelling there, followed by Alicante (41,662), Malaga (31,887) and Faro (24,684). Barcelona made it into the top ten with 10,576 people choosing the Spanish city, while Rhodes attracted almost 17,500 showing ongoing certainty around the Eastern Mediterranean.

The airport continues to go from strength to strength, with passengers enjoying a wide range of improvements to the airport experience as part of an ongoing investment programme. Recent survey results also revealed 97% of customers ranked East Midlands Airport good to excellent, while 71% would recommend it to friends and family.

It also achieved great reliability results, with 90.4% of flights in the busy early morning wave leaving on time – helping to rank it the fourth least disrupted UK airport according to CAA data.

At the end of May, a new daily route to Jersey was launched from East Midlands Airport by Loganair, offering great connections to the popular Channel Island.

The airport’s cargo operation also continues to thrive – with an 11% (7,000 tonne) increase in freight volumes handled last month compared to last May, totalling 36,750 tonnes. The airport has been successfully attracting new cargo business and investing in facilities to prepare for further growth in this area.

East Midlands Airport Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “We have high hopes for a busy summer ahead, with these latest figures showing year-on-year increases in both our passenger and cargo operations.

“With a new airline launching services and the summer schedules for existing airlines already underway, customers can look forward to getting away to their favourite holiday spots without the hassle that’s sometimes associated with airport travel. We work hard to make it effortless, and have invested in a whole range of new and improved facilities to make it even more enjoyable.”

Even before their recent Europa League victory, Aston Villa were riding high in the shirt sales league table at East Midlands Airport.

The Birmingham-based team which ended its 30-year trophy drought with an emphatic win against Freiburg came second behind Liverpool, with Manchester United in third, according to data released by the UK's largest airports group, MAG.

MAG ‘s league table was created by analysing shirt sales at JD Sports outlets at its three airports, Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands. 70% of the UK population lives within two hours of a MAG airport and together they handle more than 66m passengers a year.

Liverpool took top spot at all three of MAG's airports despite a trophy-less season that frustrated Kop fans. The Reds condemned Manchester United to second spot at the Red Devils' home airport, while Premier League champions Arsenal were second at Stansted, relegating their closest top-flight club Tottenham Hotspur to fourth place.

Across MAG, Wrexham AFC finished third after Liverpool and Manchester United following the Hollywood hype linked to Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac’s involvement in the club.

At East Midlands, as well as showing support for a team from the Midlands, passengers revealed themselves to be the most cosmopolitan, with Real Madrid, Barcelona, PSG, AC Milan and Inter Miami all making the top 10. Shirts are available at the airport’s JD Sports store, which moved into the largest retail unit in the terminal last year as part of ongoing improvements.

East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director Adam Andrews said: “The sale of football shirts at our JD Sports outlet offers a fascinating insight into some of our customers.

“The prominence of Aston Villa shirt sales backs up our understanding that many people choose to travel from the West Midlands so they can enjoy a hassle-free start to their holidays at East Midlands Airport.”

The changes are focused on improving the customer experience, with virtually no aspect of the journey through the airport untouched.

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “Everywhere you look, things have changed and improved to make the customer experience even better at East Midlands Airport as part of our investment programme. We’re already rated good to excellent by 97% of our customers, but we’re constantly striving to improve things further and make the start of everyone’s holidays from East Midlands as effortless and relaxing as possible.”

Here are 23 ways in which the airport has changed over the last two and a half years:

1.      Arriving at the airport, people using the Short Stay 1 car park have clearer signage and resurfaced, freshly laid-out parking spaces

2.      Anyone dropping off friends and family can now do so at a newly laid-out Rapid Drop Off area where queues are a thing of the past thanks to a new cashless, barrierless payment system

3.      Meet & Greet customers now benefit from a refurbished reception area, along with automated self-serve options that speed up the process of dropping off and collecting vehicle keys. A clearer colour-coded layout has also been introduced for easier vehicle collection

4.      New baggage trolleys are available

5.      Inside the terminal, after passing through new revolving doors in the check-in hall, customers are greeted with a new entrance to departures, with a new set of Automatic Boarding Card Reader gates in a fresh, welcoming setting with improved lighting and a media wall providing helpful pre-security preparation advice

6.      The security hall has been expanded and completely transformed to accommodate larger next-generation scanners which speed up the process by allowing customers to keep electronics and liquids in their bags. Wooden panelling, improved lighting and a media wall create a brighter, more welcoming space

7.      Lots has changed in the departure lounge. The Escape Lounge has been extended and refurbished to offer an enhanced experience to more customers

8.      A new Italian restaurant, Terracotta, has opened in a large unit in the departure lounge – offering customers a fresh dining experience

9.      A new Mediterranean restaurant, Alembic, was opened on the 60^th anniversary of the airport’s first day of operations

10. Refurbishment has been carried out to the Pork & Pickle food and drink outlet

11. A new WHSmith one-stop shop has opened in an enlarged unit, providing all the essentials for travellers including health and beauty products, tech, souvenirs and food and drink

12. The Castle Rock Bar and Kitchen has been refurbished

13. A new JD Sports outlet has opened in the airport’s largest retail unit

14. New and extra departure lounge seating is now available

15. A new Little Flyers interactive play zone has opened in a space previously occupied by the Quiet Room for Assisted Travel customers. The play zone includes a large role play plane on runway flooring, along with seven airport-themed games on the colourfully decorated walls, along with activity packs to keep young travellers occupied

16. The Assisted Travel service has been enhanced, with a new Quiet Room opening in a calmer part of the terminal, alongside a new sensory pod for customers with neurodivergent conditions – the first of its kind at a UK airport. Two new electric ambulifts and six new mobility scooters have also been added to help people’s journey through the airport and onto their plane

17. Toilet and baby changing facilities have been modernised and upgraded throughout the terminal from check-in to the departures lounge, as well as arrivals and the baggage reclaim hall, plus new Changing Places facilities landside and airside

18. New water fountains have been introduced in security and the departure lounge, as well as customer wi-fi being upgraded

19. Touch-screen customer service kiosks are now available in the departure lounge for easy access to information to complement the service provided by customer ambassadors

20. A new airside multi faith room has opened, complementing the one already available at check-in

21. On return from their holidays, customers now have a warmer welcome in an immigration hall refreshed in line with improvements elsewhere, with clearer wayfinding, wooden panelling and local landmark imagery

22. After passing through new anti-backtrack doors, there’s a new-look Lost Property hub in arrivals, where the WHSmith has also undergone a refresh

23. Some out-of-sight but important improvements have been carried out on the airfield too. This includes upgrades and maintenance of the runway, taxiways and aprons; increasing cargo stands for wide-bodied aircraft by four to 12; developing new gatehouse checkpoints to increase capacity and bring the security specifications in line with the next-generation equipment inside the terminal; upgrading the airport’s water management systems; investing in a new fleet of seven snowploughs to improve the airport’s response to wintry weather; and introducing state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control equipment.

The activity also coincides with World Environment Day, with the litter collected on June 3 and 4 separated into general waste and recyclable materials, as part of the day’s focus on climate action. The Airport Trail is popular among local walkers, aviation enthusiasts and dog walkers, providing a circular walk around the airport’s perimeter, including some picnic spots, art installations and information boards about local wildlife and the airport’s operations and history.

Plastics such as plastic bottles, metals such as drink cans, glass including bottles, and paper will all be separated out for recycling as teams of volunteers tackle the stretch of the Airport Trail alongside the A453.

The volunteering efforts also tie in with North West Leicestershire District Council's Love Your Neighbourhood campaign which aims to encourage local businesses to show commitment to the local environment and the communities they work in.

The airport encourages staff to get involved in a wide range of volunteer opportunities in surrounding communities. Over the last financial year, 37% of the workforce and all leaders carried out voluntary activities in local communities – giving the equivalent of more than 613 days to local projects, some of which the airport has helped to support with grants from its Community Fund.

Last year this included carrying out improvements to the Airport Trail itself, including resurfacing sections of the path and planting a hedgerow, to complement new signs and information boards provided as part of the airport’s 60^th anniversary celebrations. Other projects included Swarkestone Sailing Club where volunteers cleaned boats, pontoons and walkways ahead of Sailability sessions for disabled sailors; mucking out the enclosures at Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary; along with a whole range of festive activities in neighbouring communities, such as wrapping and donating gifts to a local food bank and treating local children to a trip to the pantomime, complete with a visit from Santa and his elves to hand out gifts.

Community Engagement Manager at East Midlands Airport, Colleen Hempson, said: “We take volunteering really seriously at the airport, to give something back to the communities around us.

“Staff find it really rewarding and local organisations and projects appreciate us taking an active interest in supporting them. As well as being a great way to mark Volunteers Week, we’re really pleased our litter picks coincide with World Environment Day.”

The first flight departed on Sunday 31 May, further enhancing connectivity between the UK mainland and the Channel Islands.

The new route is introduced as East Midlands Airport gears up for its busy summer season, with signs that customers remain confident about booking from the popular holiday gateway. Last week saw its busiest day since Covid with 10,418 departing passengers, while the May half term saw 17,000 more people fly through the airport than last year.

Recently released data also reveals that the airport is rated good to excellent by 97% of customers and is the UK airport experiencing the fourth least delays, with 90.4% of flights getting away on time during its busiest early wave last year. And more than 99% of its customers clear security in under 15 minutes – all backing up the airport’s claim to offer effortless travel to its customers.

The newly-introduced Loganair flight is one of four new routes the airline is launching from its Channel Islands base with seasonal services to Norwich, Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Bordeaux all launching over a six-week period as part of a major expansion of services. Flights to East Midlands Airport start from just £94.

East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director Adam Andrews said: “We’re really thrilled to be able to offer our customers daily flights to Jersey this summer, and were pleased to see the first flight depart on Sunday.

“We know Jersey is a really popular destination offering an idyllic island escape, and East Midlands is a fantastic gateway to the UK for Jersey residents looking for access to our great region and beyond.”

Ronnie Matheson, chief commercial officer at Loganair, said: “Our new East Midlands route is one of four new destinations we are launching via Jersey and represents a sizable investment for the airline, and Loganair’.

“Loganair has a long history of connecting regions which have been ignored or underserviced, and this route is no different, bridging two economic regions together support business and leisure travel.

“Customers will benefit from even more convenient access to key destinations across the UK and Europe.”

Customers flying with Loganair benefit from a 21kg baggage allowance included as standard, providing added value for longer stays and multi-stop trips, alongside convenient connections across the airline’s extensive regional network. Passengers can also benefit from Loganair’s partnerships with Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, Singapore Airlines and Aer Lingus, securing onward travel with a single ticket.

Loganair was named the most punctual major airline for UK arrivals and departures in 2025 (January-September) by the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), with 81% of its flights arriving and departing on time – significantly above the industry average of 72%. CAA’s analysis covers the 20 airlines carrying the most passengers at UK airports.

Both instantly recognisable symbols of the region, Trent Bridge and East Midlands Airport will work together to highlight the scale of opportunity and ambition found across the East Midlands, reaching audiences at home and around the world.

The airport will be showcasing its offer to the Trent Bridge faithful, as it continues to expand its range of routes both to Europe and throughout the UK.

Meanwhile, visitors arriving at, or returning home to, East Midlands Airport will be greeted by branding showcasing one of the region's most prominent sporting venues on the global stage. 

The partnership encompasses a host of high-profile events at the historic home of Nottinghamshire CCC, with England and India's IT20 clash this summer set to attract billions of eyeballs, and with Trent Bridge hosting cricket's most historic rivalry next summer, as the Men's Ashes returns for the first time in 15 years. 

Adam Andrews, Commercial Director at East Midlands Airport, said: We’re absolutely delighted to be partnering with Trent Bridge. They are one of the region’s most recognisable institutions, putting Nottingham and the wider East Midlands on the global sporting map.

“We share Trent Bridge's ambition to represent our region and forge connections on the world stage - whether that's through sport, travel or leisure.”

Joe Sharphouse, Head of Commercial Sales at Trent Bridge, said: “Partnering with East Midlands Airport, the primary gateway in and out of the area, feels like a very natural fit for a venue that's proud to represent our region to international audiences.

“We’re excited to work collaboratively over the coming seasons, highlighting the great things the East Midlands has to offer and our great connections with the rest of the globe.”

The Meet the Buyer event, staged yesterday (May 21) at the Radisson Blu Hotel at the airport, attracted 124 suppliers who were given access to 23 buyers, through more than 650 face-to-face appointments.

As a significant driver of jobs and growth in the region, the airport represents a huge opportunity for a wide range of businesses, and the event provides a rare opportunity to make connections and strike deals. It comes as the airport grows its cargo operation, invests in its passenger and airfield facilities and seeks to grow its flight network. After the event, a number of suppliers gave positive feedback, with Rob Salt, of Prismo Global, summing it up: “All these buyers and knowledge in one room is like a dream. It's like one year's worth of work in one day.

Nick Adams, of Tommicks Ltd, said: “Today has given us the opportunity to speak directly to various companies of interest which is not normally possible when sending cold emails across, usually resulting in no response.  I made some good contacts and info on how to become a supplier to companies outside of our primary industry.”

Joanne McBean, of Creative Triangle, said: “It has been a great event to meet and engage with some brilliant conversations with Tier 1 suppliers that we have wanted to talk to for ages.”

Nathaniel Grant, of HSS Proservice, said: “These events are great to get to meet with the buyers, but even to connect with fellow suppliers is worthwhile as we've managed to meet a company that we will work with in the future.”

James Hatton, of Insigns, said: “Really enjoyed the Meet The Buyer event, the conversations felt genuine and it was great having direct access to the buyers in a relaxed setting. A worthwhile experience, with some really useful meetings and opportunities that you just wouldn’t get through emails or cold calls.”

Buyers also praised the event.

Mike O'Connor, of Bethell, said: “Nice and relaxed event. Very informative conversations and we've really been able to take the time and engage with the suppliers.”

Lewis Howie, of AIS, said: “Really good event. The suppliers have been a good variation and very relevant. Best Meet the Buyers we have been part of as far as the suppliers go.”

Julie Oakley, of De Montfort University, said: "It has been useful to see and talk to a wide range of suppliers from our local areas that have the capability to add value to our institution."  

Marcella M’Rabety, Group Head of Social Sustainability at MAG, said: “We’re pleased that the Meet the Buyers event has been another success, bringing together major buyers in our supply chains to connect with the relevant businesses in the areas we serve.

“It provides the introduction for meaningful business relationships and boosts the benefit of our airports to local economies.”

Six new electric scooters bring the total to 12 that are now available to any assisted travel customer, giving them independence and freedom to travel through the airport from check-in to the aircraft. All they need to do is book on arrival, watch a short user video and off they go. Where needed, an ‘ambulift’ vehicle will transport them from the boarding gates and up to the aircraft doors.

The scooters and ambulifts are all part of the airport’s award-winning assisted travel service, which offers support for anyone who feels they need extra help getting through the airport. This could be because of anything from anxiety about flying and uncertainty about procedures to medical conditions including mobility or mental health issues. One-to-one support is provided, with special waiting areas set aside at check-in and the departure lounge. A new quiet room was opened in the departure lounge earlier this year, along with a first-of-its-kind sensory pod, for those who need to step away from noise and sensory overload.

East Midlands is one of only two airports to gain the highest UK Civil Aviation Authority rating of ‘Very Good’ for accessibility for the sixth year running last year. In 2025, 89.8% of assisted travel customers said their experience was 'good' or 'very good,' recognising not just customer service, but also the quality of the physical environment, communication tools, and staff friendliness. The service helped 100,000 customers for the first time in 2025.

East Midlands Airport’s Customer Services and Planning Director Mike Grimes said: “We’re super proud of our assisted travel service, which is shaped by an independent accessibility advisory group made up entirely of disabled airport users.

“Listening to them has led to lots of improvements to what is already a very popular service and these scooters are just the latest example of that. It means we can provide an effortless travel experience to all of our customers, whatever their needs.”

Airport figures show 167,000 will fly through East Midlands during the May half-term holiday – around 17,000 more than last year, offering a glimpse of a busy summer ahead. Passenger figures for the last two months also show a positive performance compared with last year, almost 25,000 up across March and April when the airport experienced a strong Easter break. 

Recent data from the Civil Aviation Authority reveals East Midlands flights experienced the fourth lowest number of delays across all UK airports last year. The airport achieved a 90.4% ‘On Time Performance’ score for departures in the busiest early morning wave.  

The three main airlines based at East Midlands – Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI – all operate low-cost connections on short-haul flights to popular destinations in Europe and north Africa, providing strong schedule stability. ABTA and ATOL protected package holiday deals with Jet2 and TUI provide further peace of mind for travellers. 

A wide range of improvements carried out over the last three years also enhance the customer experience when flying from East Midlands Airport. Meet & Greet customers can now skip queues by opting to use self-serve kiosks to securely drop off and collect their car keys, while queuing is also a thing of the past when dropping off friends and family now that a cashless, barrierless payment system is in place. 

A new-look security hall is fitted out with the latest scanners allowing passengers to leave electronics and liquids (each 100ml) in their hand luggage. The average wait for security for East Midlands customers last year was six minutes 43 seconds, with 99.7% of customers through security in under 15 minutes. 

It all means there’s more time to relax ahead of your flight – and there’s better facilities for passengers to do that. This includes new restaurants Terracotta and Alembic, offering tastes from Italy and the Mediterranean that join popular eateries Castle Rock Bar & Kitchen and Pork & Pickle which have undergone refurbishments, along with a new one-stop WHSmith shop that meets all travelling needs, and a new Little Flyers play zone. There’s also extra seating, better wi-fi, water fountains and upgraded toilet facilities throughout the terminal. 

And if passengers need a little extra help, East Midlands has got that covered better than most airports. Its assisted travel service provides award-winning one-to-one support to get people effortlessly through the airport and onto their flight. A brand new quiet room is available, as well as a first-of-its-kind sensory pod, for those who need to take themselves away from the hustle and bustle of the departure lounge. 

It’s an approach which saw 97% of customers rate the airport good to excellent last year, with 71% saying they would recommend it to friends and family. 

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “We’re pleased that growing numbers of people compared to last year are continuing to choose East Midlands for their getaways, as we look towards the half term break. 

“We’re looking forward to welcoming them and giving them the chilled-out start to their holidays that they’ve come to expect from us. Not only are we well located and connected, but we’ve completed lots of investment which makes the customer experience even better.” 

A limited number of spaces are still available for the airport’s Meet the Buyers event, which provides access to a selection of more than 25 supply chain decision makers looking to place contracts with SMEs in the East Midlands. The airport is a significant driver of jobs and growth in the region, with 7,800 people working across the airport site and supporting a further 42,800 jobs in the UK economy.

Taking place at the Radisson Blu Hotel at the airport on Thursday 21 May, the roadshow follows the inaugural event in 2024 which landed deals estimated to be worth £1.9m. It gives local firms face-to-face opportunities to pitch their goods and services to a range of businesses. As well as the airport’s parent company MAG, this includes Atkins Realis, bam, Galliford Try, Lagan Aviation & Infrastructure, De Montfort University, Bethell, Fado, HSS, M Group, Olivetti Group, Allied Infrastructure, Amco Giffen, Volker Fitzpatrick, WH Good, Whitehouse Construction and Airport Integrated Services.

The event comes as East Midlands Airport - the airport of choice for 4m people every year and the UK’s number one express air cargo hub - grows its cargo operation, welcoming seven new cargo carriers last year and seeing cargo handling companies set up new and larger facilities to deal with the extra demand. This is ahead of long-term development plans which will facilitate a predicted doubling in demand for its cargo services. The airport is also in the middle of a £120m investment programme to upgrade facilities throughout the airport to improve the customer experience, as well as driving forward with plans to expand its passenger route network.

Marcella M’Rabety, Group Head of Social Sustainability at MAG, said: “The Meet the Buyers events we’ve held at all three of our airports have proved to be highly successful, bringing together major buyers in our supply chains to connect with the relevant businesses in the areas we serve.

“It provides the introduction for meaningful business relationships and boosts the benefit of our airports to their local economies. There is a strong and growing supply chain connected to East Midlands Airport’s significant cargo operation, as well the passenger side of the business.”

Further information and how to register for the remaining appointments is available here: https://www.eastmidlandsmtb.co.uk/

The US rockers are Saturday night headliners at the Donington Park festival next to the airport, with heavy metal bands Limpbizkit and Linkin Park taking the Friday and Sunday top slots. The line-up, including more than 90 other acts, is expected to attract 95,000 music fans to the site from Wednesday 10 June when campsites open for the extended weekend of live rock and metal acts that’s now in its 22^nd year.

The festival inevitably brings significant extra traffic to the roads near the airport, including the M1, A42, A50 and A453. Festival organisers work with the local highways authorities and the police to manage the huge influx of people, with traffic management plans proving successful in recent years.

East Midlands Airport still advises its customers to allow extra time for journeys to and from the airport if they are travelling when Download Festival is underway.

The airport has 624 flights arriving and departing over the five days when people will arrive, stay and leave the festival and has arranged for airlines to alert their passengers to potential delays. Airport representatives have been in regular dialogue with festival organisers to understand their traffic plans.

Operations Director at East Midlands Airport, Lauren Turner, said: “Every year we meet frequently with the festival organisers to plan how the traffic will be managed to minimise the impact on our operations and our customers.

“The arrangements for getting people to and from the festival site are now well established and effective, but with extra traffic on the roads around the airport during this time, we always advice our customers to allow extra time.

“The other potential impact on our operations is the use of drones to film at the festival. It is illegal to do so close to the airport, which we know is a message organisers emphasise with festival goers, as it could create diversions, delays and risks for passenger and cargo flights."

Airport users are advised to check latest traffic and travel reports before they set off and follow East Midlands Airport on social media for latest flight information East Midlands Airport (@EMA_Airport) X (twitter.com) and https://www.facebook.com/EastMidsAirport

And 71% say they would recommend the airport to friends and family, with the ease of getting to and through the airport, staff courtesy, ease of getting on and off aircraft and through security and immigration among the airport’s key qualities.

The ringing endorsement follows investments in arrivals, departures and security – where customer satisfaction rose by between 2% and 3% to 86%, 86% and 90% respectively compared to the previous year.

Arrivals has seen aesthetic improvements in the immigration hall, clearer wayfinding, a new Lost Property hub along with refurbished toilets and Changing Places toilet facility in the baggage reclaim hall. Changes in the departure lounge include a new quiet room, sensory pod and children’s play zone, new seating, new and refurbished restaurants, better shopping facilities and refurbished toilets. Meanwhile the security hall has undergone a complete transformation including next generation scanners to speed up the process - helping 99.7% of customers complete pre-flight checks in under 15 minutes.

Landside operations including the airport’s popular Meet & Greet parking service also contributed strongly to the overall scores, with customers citing staff courtesy among the reasons. Improvements have also been introduced here, with self-serve options for dropping off and collecting vehicle keys allowing customers to skip queues and adding to EMA’s effortless promise.

Customers also experience few delays, with a 90.4% ‘On Time Performance’ score for departures in the busiest early morning wave. Recent national data shows that flights at East Midlands last year experienced the fourth lowest total delays across all UK airports, at an average of 11 minutes 48 seconds.

The airport’s Customer Services and Planning Director, Mike Grimes, said: “These fantastic scores show just how strongly our customers value the effortless experience we provide when they travel through East Midlands Airport. By all measures we have improved on the previous year and are consistently performing way above our targets.

“I’m really proud of all our dedicated staff who make this happen day in day out, from first impressions landside to the final moments in the terminal, whether supporting customers face to face or working behind the scenes. I hope that friends and family listen to the 71% of our customers who recommend us and also choose East Midlands as their easy way to get away.”

Unprompted Trust Pilot reviews from June last year included:

·       “East Midlands Airport has very cheerful staff, no queues, as good as an airport can be”

·       “What an amazing experience at East Midlands Airport, as a single parent travelling with two small children. All the staff were super helpful and made the experience effortless”

·       “Arrived 20 minutes ago at Meet and Greet, took 5 minutes to check the car in. Now sat in the bar relaxing with a beer. Well done EMA, if only all other airports were this easy!”

The airport carried 413,664 tonnes during the 2025/6 financial year (April 2025 to March this year) – the first time since the global Covid pandemic that freight volumes have topped 400,000 tonnes.

The 12.5% increase - 46,000 tonnes up on the previous year - represents more than a third of all air cargo growth in the UK.

The pandemic supercharged East Midlands Airport’s cargo operation as it played a crucial role in the global trade network to keep goods including vital pharmaceuticals moving – growing its annual total to 448,000 tonnes. Since then, cargo totals have dipped while remaining above pre-pandemic levels – but the latest results show the airport’s recent cargo growth is bringing it close to its busiest-ever period.

Anchored by global logistics giants DHL, UPS and FedEx, the airport’s impressive cargo operation has recently seen a surge in the number of cargo airlines choosing it as their gateway to the UK market – with seven new operators joining in the last half of 2025 alone.

Airport bosses have taken action to pave the way for further growth, investing in extra stands for cargo aircraft and developing new larger gatehouses, giving cargo operators greater secure access on and off the airfield. Cargo handling firm Swissport has moved into a larger facility to meet increased demand and a new handler, YunExpress, has recently opened a new cargo facility.

Ambitious plans were also unveiled by the airport last year to develop four sites near the runway for cargo operations, unlocking more than 21,000 new jobs and a £3.9bn boost to the economy to meet an expected 54% rise in demand in the coming two decades.

Despite this growth, the number of freight aircraft movements has gone down over the same period – falling by 1,423 or 6.1% to just above 22,000 annual movements. This is driven by a drop in shorter flights to Europe, meaning larger aircraft are carrying more freight per flight on longer inter-continental routes.

East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director Adam Andrews said: “We’ve had a bumper year for cargo, bringing us back towards the previously unprecedented levels achieved during the pandemic when the operation was running flat-out. It’s great that we have built up to this being our new normal and is an encouraging sign for our long-term growth plans.

“We’ve been making sure that key players in the sector are aware of our unique proposition. Our strategic central location that gets goods quickly onto the road network, coupled with specialising in cargo-only aircraft and offering 24/7 access, offers certainty for time-critical businesses. This contrasts with other UK airports which mostly carry cargo on passenger planes, leading to slower turnaround times.”

The fund was set up in 2002 and over that time has handed out more than £2.8m to local projects that bring lasting benefits to communities around the airport.

Over the last financial year (April 2025 to March 2026), £106,405 was awarded from the Community Fund, helping to deliver 81 community projects that benefit almost 230,000 people.

Organisations within the  Area of Benefit – which stretches to the outer edges of Derby, Nottingham and Leicester to the north, east and south and includes Burton on Trent to the west  -  can apply for up to £2,000 from the fund. Information including eligibility criteria and how to apply can be found here.

Among those which benefitted from between £1,000 and £2,000 over the last 12 months are:

·       Kegworth Town Cricket Club towards replacement cricket nets

·       One Kegworth towards building a Santa Sleigh

·       Castle Donington Town Bowls Club towards an irrigation system for the bowling green

·       Belton Parish Council towards restoring a red telephone box and its conversion to a library (pictured above are Cllr Angus Sowter from the EMA Community Fund Committee with local Belton author Jamie Mollard)

·       Hemington and Lockington Sports Pavilion towards acoustic panels

·       Youth Landscapers Collective based in the National Forest area towards musical recording equipment

·       Marlborough Rovers Football Club towards a branded gazebo, flags and table for fundraising efforts

·       West Bridgford Hockey Club towards new goals

·       Devil’s Elbow Rowing Club based near Trent Lock towards a new training boat

·       Long Eaton Library Group towards chairs, tables and a sofa for a new community space (pictured below).

The Community Fund also provided an additional £60,000 towards upgrades of the 10km Airport Trail that follows the airport’s perimeter, ringfenced from historic fines to be used as part of East Midlands Airport’s 60^th anniversary celebrations last year. This contributed towards new information boards, gateway and wayfinding signs and surface improvements to a section prone to flooding which also gained new hedgerow plants (pictured below).

East Midlands Airport’s Community Engagement Manager Colleen Hempson said: “We’re always really pleased to be able to help out local groups and projects with funding from our Community Fund. We know it can make a big difference and is part of our ongoing efforts to be a good neighbour.

“Quite often our staff will visit some of the projects we’ve supported to help out as part of our commitment to volunteering in local communities – so we really feel we play a big part in supporting improvements in the areas around us.”

More information about the Community Fund and all projects which benefited from it in 2025/26 is available here: 2025-2026 EMA Community Fund Annual Report

The UK’s favourite airline and tour operator has revealed the new and exclusive route to Paris from East Midlands Airport, with two weekly services (Monday and Friday) operating from 26^th March to 29^th October 2027.

Today’s announcement provides customers and independent travel agents with the opportunity to book award-winning holidays to Paris whether they want to visit the city itself, enjoy a magical treat to Disneyland Paris or explore the great outdoors with a Eurocamp getaway in the Paris area booked through Jet2.

As the most visited city in the world, Paris charms holidaymakers with its iconic landmarks and world-class cuisine. From the Eiffel Tower and Gothic grandeur of Notre Dame to the elegant Louvre and strolls along the Seine, there is a bumper list of bucket-list sights to get through. Whether it is visiting the iconic sights, exploring low-key neighbourhoods or perusing through boutique shops, holidaymakers are spoilt for choice when it comes to experiencing the idyllic Parisian lifestyle for themselves. 

The addition of these new routes also means that customers can turn dreams into a reality and, as well as exploring Paris, can enjoy a trip of a lifetime to Disneyland Paris on the outskirts of the French capital. The iconic, attraction-packed park, which has recently undergone a multi-million-dollar transformation, shows off everyone’s favourite life-sized characters, fantastical themes and thrilling rides.

For those looking for fun, freedom and adventure, Jet2holidays customers can also book a holiday at a Eurocamp park in the Paris area with the UK’s largest tour operator. As well as being close to the buzz of Paris and Disneyland Paris yet surrounded by beautiful countryside, a Eurocamp holiday booked through Jet2 offers something for everyone.

Customers can choose from a flight-only booking with Jet2.com including friendly low fares, great flight times and a generous 22kg baggage allowance, plus 10kg hand luggage or an ATOL protected package holiday with Jet2CityBreaks or Jet2holidays. Package options include flights with Jet2.com, including 22kg free hold luggage, 10kg of free cabin baggage and accommodation all for a low £60 per person booking deposit.

Steve Griffiths, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to give our customers access to the French capital with Jet2 starting next summer. This move really highlights Jet2’s confidence in East Midlands Airport as a highly popular gateway to some of Europe’s top destinations.

“Paris is a destination our customers are continually asking for, so it’s fantastic to meet their expectations and deliver a great, relaxing start to their holiday from their local airport.”

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays, said: “We have seen continued demand for flights and holidays to Paris, so we are giving customers and independent travel agents exactly what they want by launching this brand-new route to Paris from East Midlands Airport for Summer 2027.

"This expansion further strengthens our network of incredible destinations from the airport, and we know this new route will be incredibly popular with holidaymakers across the airport region. We look forward to bringing even more holidaymakers to the French capital.”

The move bolsters the airport’s cargo growth plans and its status as the UK’s number one express air freight hub. It also marks the first Chinese cargo handling company based at a UK airport, giving YunExpress full integrated plane-to-door cargo capability in the UK — a critical capability for the fast-growing cross-border e-commerce market.

The firm has teams on site preparing to handle its first flight on April 30 after its recognition as a Regulated Agent by the Civil Aviation Authority and ITSF (Internal Temporary Storage Facility) approval from Border Force.

YunExpress began operating its own Boeing 777F freighter flights into East Midlands Airport from China last May, in partnership with Central Airlines. It will initially handle cargo for Central Airlines flights – currently four per week each carrying 100 tonnes of goods. The aim is to provide services to other carriers, with capacity and capability to support further flights in the near future.

The company has developed its new 7,000sqm facility in an existing warehouse at the airport. It will employ around 40 staff at the site.

East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director Adam Andrews said: “We’re thrilled to have YunExpress on board as a cargo handler, following on from the flights they launched just under a year ago. This investment by YunExpress is further evidence of the importance of East Midlands Airport as the UK’s largest dedicated freighter airport, with YunExpress and their future clients able to take advantage of 24/7 airport operations and access to 80% of the UK population within four hours.

“Their investment here is a shot in the arm for our cargo growth ambitions, which could see four large plots on the airfield developed with new cargo facilities. We fully anticipate YunExpress expanding their operation to support the growing number of cargo operators choosing East Midlands Airport as their UK hub.”

Orson Wang, General Manager of YunExpress UK, said: “The launch of our East Midlands Airport operation marks a significant milestone in YunExpress’s UK and wider European growth strategy. Following a thorough evaluation of potential locations, East Midlands Airport stood out for its central location, strong cargo infrastructure and efficient access to the wider UK market. With the necessary approvals now in place, we are pleased to begin operations and to further strengthen YunExpress’s global service network, which supports cross-border e-commerce flows across major international markets.

“We are looking at opportunities to work with airlines other than Central and believe we are particularly well placed to support Chinese operators as we really understand their needs. We are investing here for the long-term, with a view to developing our business into a fully integrated, end-to-end logistics operation under the YunExpress brand.”

Pictured are General Manager of YunExpress UK Orson Wang and East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director Adam Andrews at the new YunExpress cargo handling facility at the airport

The airport also had a busy Easter, serving more than 170,000 passengers over the half term fortnight travelling to popular short-haul destinations largely with low-cost airlines that operate from East Midlands, Ryanair, Jet2 and TUI. This was up 8% on Easter last year.

All have launched their summer schedules, with Ryanair offering 32 routes, Jet2 offering 42 routes and TUI offering 28 routes. Jet2 has added four new destinations for summer 2026 - the Greek destinations of Preveza, Thessaloniki and Chania, along with Pula in Croatia – while TUI has reintroduced flights to the popular Egyptian destination Sharm El Sheikh. There are also extra frequencies on nine of the most popular routes from East Midlands, including Alicante, Malta and Rhodes.

At the end of May, Loganair is launching new daily flights between East Midlands Airport and the popular destination of Jersey.

People choosing to fly from East Midlands now benefit from a wide range of new facilities, from a new-look security hall with next-generations scanners and new and refurbished restaurants and shops, to a new children’s play zone, new quiet room and sensory pod, along with extra seating, better wi-fi and refurbished toilet facilities throughout the terminal.

The airport has also recently introduced improvements to its popular Meet & Greet parking service. Along with an improved reception area and clearer colour-coded parking layout to help customers find their vehicles on return from holiday, customers are now able to securely drop off and pick up their car keys in automated machines to avoid possible queues.

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director Steve Griffiths said: “We’re delighted that increasing numbers of people are choosing to fly from East Midlands. We know that many people prefer East Midlands to other airports because we offer them an effortless start to their holiday.

“But we haven’t rested on our laurels – we’re in the middle of a five-year investment programme which has seen enormous changes throughout the airport to further enhance the customer experience. We’re hopeful that these recent passenger figures showing a strong March and Easter are a sign of another great summer ahead.”

The new approach to the popular parking service, which allows customers to hand over car parking duties to members of airport staff to save time and effort, means that service users have the option to fill in details on easy-to-use kiosks in the Meet & Greet office which produce a key tag for the keys to be safely deposited.

This avoids the need to wait to be served by a member of staff in the Meet & Greet office  – although this option is still available. However at busy times queues can build up and the self-serve option is designed to take less than two minutes to complete.

When customers return from their holidays, they will use a barcode provided by the Meet & Greet service to scan at newly installed automated lockers conveniently located in the arrivals hall. This allows them to grab their keys and set off home without experiencing potential delays at the Meet & Greet office.

The move, which came into effect this week, follows a refurbishment of the Meet & Greet office where reception staff will still be on hand to serve customers if preferred. The area designated for Meet & Greet car collection, close to the terminal, has also recently been resurfaced and clearly laid out in colour-coded sections. Customers are guided to green, yellow or red areas to help them easily find their vehicle.

This is the latest in a series of improvements carried out as part of East Midlands Airport’s £120m investment programme, which has also seen the transformation of its security hall along with new and refurbished customer facilities including shops, restaurants, children’s play zone, quiet room and upgraded toilet facilities throughout the terminal.

Meet & Greet is a hugely popular service, with prices from £79 (based on an eight-day stay in October 2026) comparing well with other parking options. Last year it saw an increase in customer satisfaction, driving an overall rise of 10.5% in satisfaction with landside services to a score of 68 – taking it 27 points above target.

Director of Customer Services and Planning at East Midlands Airport, Mike Grimes, said: “This is another great example of us focusing on giving our customers an effortless experience at the airport.

“The popularity of Meet & Greet means that at busy times, queues can sometimes build up and this self-serve option gives customers the choice to avoid them by dropping off and picking up their keys themselves. It makes the service even simpler and more appealing.

“We hope this innovation will help to drive up satisfaction even further – although we are already achieving exceptionally high scores which we are delighted about.”

Terracotta has opened in time for the busy 2026 summer season and brings a fresh new look and dining experience for airport customers as they wait for flights to their favourite holiday spots across Europe and north Africa.

At 652 sqm, it occupies one of the largest units at East Midlands in a prominent position in the departure lounge, close to boarding gates. It provides seating for up to 185 customers with a contemporary Italian-inspired design to allow people to feel the holiday has already started while they enjoy leisurely meals or more casual visits to the bar. With an open kitchen, central bar and terraced area, the design has provided extra space for customers heading to boarding gates and other facilities in the departure lounge.

Terracotta is operated by Avolta, which already successfully launched the restaurant at sister airport Stansted, and now operates all food and beverage outlets at East Midlands Airport.

The opening is the latest in a whole range of new developments at the airport aimed at improving the customer experience. This includes a new WHSmith one-stop shop in the departure lounge, offering everything from books and meal deals to tech and health & beauty products. A new Little Flyers Play Zone for young travellers has also opened in what was the quiet room – with a new quiet room and  sensory pod launched for people with anxiety and neurodivergent conditions. Other changes include a new-look welcome home in the immigration hall, a new self-serve key collection option for Meet & Greet customers, upgraded toilets facilities throughout the terminal and a transformed security hall with next-generation scanners to make the whole process quicker and smoother.

East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director, Adam Andrews, said: “The opening of Terracotta in our departure lounge marks an important milestone in our retail development strategy and a major improvement in our customer offer, alongside a wide range of other changes we’ve implemented throughout the airport. Our focus is on enabling customers to relax and start their holiday at the airport, and Terracotta will certainly help them do that.

“As well as offering a fabulous new dining experience, the design of the new restaurant has addressed a pinch point in the terminal to ease the flow of passengers to boarding gates. Our collaborative partnership with Avolta as our single food and beverage operator is central to delivering a consistent, high‑performing portfolio across the terminal, ensuring our commercial estate continues to grow in line with our long‑term strategic ambition.”

Avolta’s Senior Coordinating Director F&B UK, Beth Brewster, said:  “Today marks the official opening of Terracotta, and we are delighted to bring this new Italian concept to East Midlands Airport.

“We are proud to now operate all food and beverage outlets across the airport, which reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared ambition to deliver a consistent, high-quality experience for travellers. I would like to thank the airport team for their collaborative approach and continued support, in bringing this latest opening to life.”

The conclusion is that typical East Midlands Airport customers are a couple aged over 45 living less than an hour away who drive to the airport, eat a pub or bar meal and fly to Spain or a Spanish island on holiday.

The CAA survey from 2025 shows that the airport’s customers are a 50/50 split of males and females – with the largest group size of two, at 55%, indicating lots of couples travelling together choose East Midlands for an effortless start to their holiday.

The largest age group, at more than a third of the total (37%), are between 45 and 64 years old. Those aged 65 and over make up 27% while 22% are 25 to 44-year-olds. Three quarters live between half an hour to an hour away, with two-thirds (67%) from the East Midlands. The vast majority (66.2%) drive, around a quarter (23.3%) travel by taxi and 9.4% take the bus or a coach.

Just above three-quarters of the flights are for leisure, with just 2% business travel and 20% visiting family and friends – Ireland, Spain and Poland being the top non-UK residencies at 28%, 24% and 19% respectively, and non-UK residences making up just 7% of the total customer base.

Just over half of the airport’s customers (52%) are flying to Spain and Spanish islands, with 14 Spanish destinations to choose from. As well as the popular spots on mainland Spain of Alicante, Malaga, Barcelona, Girona Costa-Brava, Murcia, Reus, and Valencia, other firm favourites with East Midlands customers are the Canary Islands of Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote and Gran Canaria, along with the Balearic islands of Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. 

The next most popular holiday spot, attracting 10% of customers, is Greece and its islands, with flights to Preveza and Salonika as well as the islands of Rhodes, Corfu, Crete, Zakynthos, Kefalonia and Skiathos.

Before they head off on their holidays, a quarter of customers (25%) choose a pub or bar meal while at East Midlands Airport, with the recently refurbished Castle Rock Bar & Kitchen the main outlet, along with Alembic which opened last year. The survey was carried out before the opening of new Italian restaurant Terracotta this Easter, and showed 12% of customers chose restaurants for their pre-flight meal, with 20% opting for meal deals  - with these now available from the newly-opened WHSmith one-stop shop. A further 12% brought their own food, while 11% opted for fast food at Burger King.

East Midlands Airport’s Customer Services and Planning Director, Mike Grimes, said: “We know our customers really well at the airport and make sure we provide the routes and the service they expect.

“However, we’re also always looking to exceed those expectations and this includes recent investment which gives them fresh options for where to get their pre-flight meals and new facilities such as an expanded, refurbished Escape Lounge, kids’ play zone and a quiet room and sensory pod as an extension of our award-winning assisted travel service.

“We are also working hard to expand our route network to offer even more destination choices, as well as to grow the number of customers coming from outside the region which this survey shows is 33% of the total. We will be shouting louder and further about why more people should choose East Midlands Airport if they want an effortless start to their holidays.”

Rishi Patel, Sol Budinger, Ben Mike, and Ben Green filmed a promotional video for the new kit by swapping Uptonsteel Grace Road for exclusive access to areas of East Midlands Airport that are normally off-limits.

The players shot various scenes, including at the luggage carousel, arrivals and departures, as well as on the runway and apron.

The Foxes players had a fantastic time, and Rishi Patel described it as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

He said: "It was just surreal - having the airport shut down allowed us to film on the runway!

"It was so much fun, but there’s a serious message as well. We need support this season; we are now in elite company, but Leicestershire CCC aims high, and support will be crucial.  We’ve landed in the top flight, but our journey is just beginning."

East Midlands Airport’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Ioan Reed-Aspley, remarked that this was the first time in the airport's 60-year history that cricket players had filmed on the runway.

"Having cricket players on the runway is definitely a first! We were bowled over to be asked to support Leicestershire CCC’s video to launch their new kit and hope it helps their season really take off!

"As two major regional players, this is a partnership that makes a lot of sense and that we’re really proud of."

The film can be viewed here: Leicestershire Foxes Take Flight | with the Launch of the 2026 playing Kits.

It’s the airport of choice for millions of people in the region due to the ease of reaching it by road and the effortless experience it provides in the terminal to give everyone a stress-free start to their holidays.

Around 7,400 people will fly through the airport on Thursday 2 April, the busiest day of the Easter half-term holidays from March 30 to April 10. There will be 42 departures that day to a range of top destinations including Malaga, Rhodes, Alicante, Faro, Palma, Lanzarote, Barcelona, Sharm-el-Sheikh, Rome, Ibiza, Valencia, Krakow and Dublin.

And those travelling at Easter will be among the first to benefit from a whole range of brand new facilities the airport has developed over the winter:

·       A new restaurant, Terracotta Italian Kitchen, is set to open to customers for the first time on March 31, offering a fresh dining experience at the airport

·       WHSmith is opening its new one-stop shop in the departure lounge on April 2, offering everything from books and meal deals to audio equipment and health & beauty products

·       A newly-opened Little Flyers room provides a colourful, fun and bright space for young travellers complete with a role play plane on a ‘runway’ with airport-themed games on the walls

·       A new quiet room and sensory pod launched recently for people with anxiety and neurodivergent conditions provide calm spaces away from the main airport bustle

·       A transformed, bright and welcoming security hall with next-generation scanners make the whole process quicker and smoother, keeping average wait times below 15 minutes

·       A new-look welcome home in the immigration hall, along with quicker self-serve key collection for Meet & Greet customers

·       New toilet facilities throughout the terminal.

East Midlands Airport’s Managing Director, Steve Griffiths, said: “The Easter holidays signal the start of our summer season and are the first big getaway of the year. We continue to serve popular holiday destinations in Europe and beyond and remain the airport of choice for millions of people from around the region every year.

“We’re pleased to be able to offer significant improvements to the customer experience throughout the terminal from this Easter onwards as we continue our £120m investment programme. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to make East Midlands Airport the easy way to get away.”

Held at the East Midlands Aeropark – the aviation museum on the northern edge of the airport’s airfield - the inaugural event brought together 17 employers including the airport’s parent company Manchester Airports Group (MAG) with students from 18 schools and learners from 22 colleges

The students, aged 14-19, got the chance to take part in hands-on activities including:

•              Interactive exhibits: Attendees engaged with flight simulators, virtual reality tours and themed demonstrations, offering a realistic glimpse into aviation roles such as piloting, engineering and air traffic control

•              STEM workshops: Industry-led sessions explored aerodynamics, engineering principles and sustainability innovations, reinforcing the importance of STEM skills in aviation

•              Career speed networking: Young people connected directly with aviation professionals, gaining insights into career pathways and industry expectations

•              Food and entertainment: The festival featured food vans and fairground-style games to create a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere

•              Inclusive access: The event was designed to reach under-represented groups, including women, ethnic minorities and individuals with disabilities, through targeted outreach.

The aim was to inspire genuine career ambition by going further than a traditional careers fair with engaging hands-on experiences for the young attendees to explore, test, ask questions and picture themselves in real roles.

The festival, opened by local MP Amanda Hack, was the last of three events held across MAG airports including London Stansted and Manchester. They have been funded through the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Department for Transport’s Reach for the Skies initiative, which awarded £85,000 to help inspire future aviation talent. This creates a roadshow-style extension of the airport’s on-site Aerozone which is attended by around 1,300 local school children every year to give them an insight into the wide range of roles available in the aviation sector. The airport also offers on-site aviation courses run by Nottingham College at its Academy, as well as staging regular Jobs Fairs to connect local people with employment opportunities.

One of the speakers at the event was Lauren Turner, the airport’s Operations Director who was recently appointed by the Department for Transport as an Aviation Ambassador – a role which aims to inspire the next generation of aviation professionals.

Lauren said: “This is the first time we have staged an Aviation Careers Festival, and it fits perfectly with my new role as Aviation Ambassador to help showcase opportunities for diverse and disadvantaged communities by shining a light on the wide range of aviation jobs that are available.

“The festival has been designed as an immersive, high impact event showcasing careers in action. Real professionals, real equipment and real experiences, enabling students to connect authentically with a diverse range of career pathways.

“We’re proud to host such an inspiring event for local young people. As one of the largest single-site employers in the East Midlands, the airport offers a huge range of exciting career paths, and this festival gives students the chance to experience that first-hand.”

Aviation, Decarbonisation, and Maritime Minister Keir Mather said: “We’re showing young people routes into aviation by investing £85,000 to support MAG careers fairs and festivals, including in the East Midlands – breaking down barriers to opportunity, highlighting skilled opportunities that deliver growth, and encouraging the next generation to aim for the sky.”

“The UK has a proud history in aviation, and we’re propelling this into the future by inspiring young people from all backgrounds to see the sector as a place where they can build their careers.”

Brenda Jefcoate, STEM Lead at the CAA, said: “These events are a fantastic opportunity for young people to learn about the huge variety of careers in aviation, and we’re really excited to be supporting Manchester Airports Group in encouraging the next generation. With new technologies and challenges on the horizon, bringing in new talent is essential for the aviation system to grow, and we’re keen to support similar projects that connect with local communities.”

Employers which took part are Jet2, Ryanair, Swissport, HMSHost by Avolta, Royal Aeronautical Society, Border Force East Midlands Airport, BAM, Nottingham College, Newark College, EMA National Police Air Service, CAA, Rolls Royce, SkyPeople Training, DHL, North West Leicestershire Police, Derbyshire Mountain Rescue Team, along with several teams from MAG.

Schools and colleges which took part are Castle Donington College, Chellaston Academy, Loughborough College, Horizons Sixth Form College, East Leake Academy, Woodbrook Vale, West Park School Derby College, Lees Brook Academy, Nottingham University Academy of Science and Technology, Nottingham College, Ormiston Ilkeston Enterprise Academy, Mercia Academy, Allestree Woodlands School, Bluecoat Trent Academy, The de Ferres Academy, Leicester College, Air & Space Institute (Lincoln College) and West Nottingham College.

The colourful and bright space in the departure lounge includes a large role play plane on runway flooring, along with seven airport-themed games on the colourfully decorated walls.

The room also features the fun cartoon characters from the airport’s Little Flyers Club, Casey, Finn, Jet, Porter and Carrie. They can also be found in new Little Flyers activity packs that parents can pick up from three new stands located after passing through security and elsewhere in the departure lounge. The handy carry case shaped packs include a pop-out plane, puzzles and quizzes to help keep Little Flyers occupied throughout their journey.

The new Play Zone has been developed in what was previously the airport’s quiet room. A brand new quiet room opened recently in a calmer part of the terminal, alongside a sensory pod for customers with neurodivergent conditions.

All the changes are part of an ongoing £120m investment programme at East Midlands Airport which has already transformed the security hall into a bright welcoming space, upgraded toilet facilities throughout the terminal and in time for Easter, will see a brand new restaurant and one-stop shop open up for all travellers’ needs.

Customer Services and Planning Director at East Midlands Airport Mike Grimes said: “We’re so thrilled to open up the new Little Flyers Play Zone for our young customers. The space looks fantastic with brightly coloured walls and flooring, and a range of engaging games to keep the little ones occupied and happy while waiting for their flight.

“It is conveniently located near some of the main boarding gates, toilets and water fountain, where parents can keep an eye on their kids as well as the departure boards. It’s a great new addition to the terminal after opening the new quiet room and sensory pod last week, with more great changes to come in time for the busy Easter getaway.”