How the powerhouse of East Midlands Airport boosted UK economy by £6.2bn

East Midlands Airport, in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, is credited with boosting the UK economy by £6.2 billion in 2025, driven primarily by freight operations, according to a study led by York Aviation cited in the article. The airport connects the UK to more than 185 international markets and is described as the country’s busiest pure freight operation. It serves as a key base for logistics giants DHL, UPS and FedEx, and recently developed a new handling facility for China’s YunExpress. Etihad Cargo also joined in the previous year. In 2025, more than 400,000 tonnes of cargo moved through the airport, up 12.5% year-on-year, contributing over a third of national cargo growth. Overall, EMA supports 7,500 on-site jobs and more than 52,000 roles across the wider UK economy.