West Atlantic relocate UK operations to East Midlands Airport,
20
November
2017
|
14:09
Europe/Amsterdam

West Atlantic relocate UK operations to East Midlands Airport

Summary

The UK division of European cargo operator West Atlantic (West Atlantic UK Ltd.) has relocated its operation from Coventry Airport to East Midlands Airport.

 

The express freight company has leased 43,151 sq ft of hangar space close to its key customers DHL and the Royal Mail. The move is driven by a need to find increased space to accommodate its recently expanded fleet of B737 aircraft, and the fact that many of West Atlantic’s customers are based at East Midlands Airport. West Atlantic also offers aircraft maintenance services and aircraft leasing which will benefit other cargo operators that are located at East Midlands Airport.

The relocation was managed by MAG Property, the property division of MAG (Manchester Airports Group) which owns East Midlands Airport, as well as Manchester, London Stansted and Bournemouth Airports. West Atlantic are moving into specialist hanger space which is designed to fit the particular needs of their aircraft maintenance operation.

East Midlands Airport is the UK’s second busiest cargo airport after Heathrow, and the UK’s most important airport for dedicated freight aircraft. As the home of worldwide logistics specialists DHL, UPS, FedEx and the Royal Mail, it is the airport of choice for many airfreight operators. Last year, £9bn worth of goods were exported on behalf of UK business to 200 countries in Latin America, Asia, North America and the Middle East.

Nigel Hiorns, Managing Director for West Atlantic UK Ltd, says:

We had outgrown our Coventry facility as it could no longer meet the demands and needs of our business. A new base is required due to the rapid expansion of our fleet, and our in- house maintenance capabilities especially as we prepare to launch new converted Boeing 737-800 freighters in February 2018. East Midlands Airport is the perfect solution for us as it’s a prime site for our customer network and it will offer us a convenient solution for the maintenance of our larger aircraft.”

Lynda Shillaw, CEO MAG Property, said: “Our focus at MAG Property is on providing the right kind of property and location to suit the individual needs of businesses and, in particular, those in industry sectors that benefit from airport locations. East Midlands Airport, with its excellent access to the UK motorway network and with 89% of England and Wales within a 4 hour truck drive time, makes it a natural choice for air cargo operators. That is why we are seeing a rapidly expanding cargo community around the airport. I’d like to welcome West Atlantic to that community, and wish them every success in their new location.”

Howard Ebison, East Midlands Airport’s Commercial Director, says: “Such is the strategic importance of our cargo offer that many operators and their support networks want to be located nearby or on our site. The arrival of West Atlantic is a further boost to the current operation and is yet more evidence of the impact the airport has on attracting new business to the East Midlands region. The impact of such investment will be felt across the region especially by regional businesses that rely on exporting and importing goods.”

West Atlantic Group is a European dedicated cargo airline specialising in mail and express freight. With many years’ experience, it offers its customers bespoke and efficient solutions for airfreight, maintenance and airworthiness services and aircraft leasing.