£10.5m airfield upgrade boosts cargo growth at East Midlands Airport

East Midlands Airport has completed a £10.5m upgrade to critical airfield access infrastructure.

The project has seen the construction of two new airfield gatehouses, replacing outdated facilities and significantly increasing capacity for staff, operators and logistics partners accessing the cargo aprons.

The investment forms part of a wider £120m capital programme aimed at strengthening both cargo and passenger operations.

Gatehouses act as secure entry points to the airfield for airport employees and third-party operators, including airlines, freight handlers, engineers and fuel providers.

Steve Griffiths, managing director at East Midlands Airport, said: “This significant investment in our gatehouses is another sign of the growing success of our cargo operation. Along with other improvements we have undertaken to boost our cargo capabilities, it helps to pave the way for a further increase in cargo activity as our development plans come to fruition.

The new facilities, located on the east and west cargo aprons, are equipped with advanced screening technology and expanded vehicle processing space to improve throughput and resilience as cargo volumes grow.

The east apron gatehouse, which serves major operators including UPS, FedEx and Royal Mail, has been expanded to almost six times the size of the previous building.

At 400 square metres, it now includes two pedestrian security lanes and capacity for four HGVs within the secure vehicle screening area, doubling processing capability. The site also provides access to the central apron used by passenger aircraft and offers flexibility for private aviation movements away from the terminal.

On the west apron, the new 200-square-metre gatehouse supporting DHL’s UK hub is nearly three times larger than the facility it replaces. Both buildings feature covered vehicle screening areas, improved staff facilities and upgraded working environments for security teams.

The gatehouses are fitted with next-generation scanners using 3D imaging technology, enabling faster and more accurate screening of personnel and vehicles. The upgrade follows the recent reconfiguration of the cargo aprons to accommodate four additional wide-bodied aircraft.

The airport’s longer-term development plans include up to 50 hectares of land being brought forward for new cargo facilities near the runway, alongside additional apron space for up to 18 aircraft and new taxiways. These proposals are intended to support a projected 54% increase in cargo demand over the next 20 years.

Griffiths said: “We have introduced the latest scanning equipment and built extra capacity into the new facilities so they can cope with the expected extra demand in the coming years. This brings these facilities up to the standards of the newly refurbished passenger security hall for our staff and partners accessing the airfield.”