East Midlands Cargo
East Midlands Airport is the UK’s busiest ‘pure’ cargo airport and second only to London Heathrow in terms of total cargo.
East Midlands (EMA/EGNX) handles over 370,000 tonnes of cargo each year. EMA is a major global hub for DHL, UPS, FedEx and Royal Mail.
With ample room to grow, the airports thriving cargo facilities are expanding to meet the demands of importers and exporters from across the UK. Able to accommodating the largest freight and passenger aircraft, EMA supports a vibrant cargo logistics operation 24/7.
Useful information
Fees and charges
Schedule of Charges and Terms & Conditions of Use
1 April 2021 until further notice
PDF format
Airport capabilities
- Intercontinental Cat IIIb 2893m / 9492ft runway
- 24 hour operations with no slot restrictions
- Excellent good weather record
- Central UK location adjacent to the UK motorway network with over 89% of England and Wales within a 3 to 4 hour truck drive-time.
- Frequent scheduled air cargo truck services to all major UK airports
- Broad on-site cargo community
- Five airside cargo terminals offering over 865,000 sq. ft of undercover cargo processing area
- Over 2 million sq. ft of dedicated cargo apron/ramp space with handling capability for multiple AN124s / B747Fs / 777Fs
- Interline non-stop cargo connections to major cities throughout Europe and North America
- Experienced in the handling of the world’s cargo aircraft, including the AN-225, B747-8F.
- A380 approved
- Specialists in the handling of “outsize” cargo
- EU listed Border Inspection Post for animal products
- Revolutionary pricing structure to benefit cargo aircraft operators
- “Freighter Friendly” airport management
Airport map
Border Inspection Post
East Midlands Airport is approved as a Border Inspection Post (BIP) on the European Union’s “List of Border Inspection Posts”. EMA became operational as a BIP in February 1995. A 4,500 sq.ft, state of the art facility, became operational in May 1999.
The DEFRA website has a very useful section dealing with Border Inspection Posts.
The EMA BIP is approved for Third Countries (non-EU members) imports of:
- Packaged Animal products for human consumption imported at ambient temperatures
- Packaged Animal products not intended for human consumption imported at ambient temperatures.
Frozen or chilled goods and live animals cannot be handled at the EMA BIP. The facility is available H24 by contacting North West Leicestershire District Council, Environmental Health (BIP operators).
The EMA BIP is operated by North West Leicestershire District Council and manned on Thursdays from 8.30am for a minimum of two hours. At other times a call-out procedure is operated by contacting North West Leicestershire District Council Environmental Health Department on the numbers below.
Products
Environmental Health - North West Leicestershire District Council
Enquiries Mon-Fri, 9am-5pm:
Tel: 01530 454 556
Fax: 01530 454 574
Email:
ehealth@nwleicestershire.gov.uk, karen.draper@nwleicestershire.gov.uk and fiona.west@nwleicestershire.gov.uk
Out of hours Tel: 01530 454 556 (a voicemail facility is in operation for out of hours enquiries)
Official Veterinarian - Eville & Jones Ltd
Enquiries:
Tel: 0113 284 0400
Fax: 0113 284 0429
Email: info@eandj.co.uk
The Leicester Animal Health Office
Tel: 0116 278 7451
Fax: 0116 277 0153
For general enquiries about importing animals and products of animal origin you can contact: Animal Plant & Health Agency (APHA) - Centre for International Trade,Carlisle
Telephone: 03000 200 301
Email: imports@apha.gsi.gov.uk
Animal Health / Environmental Health can provide assistance on the types of products requiring BIP clearance as the list is expanding all the time.
Plants
EMA is also authorised as “a port of entry” for plants, fruit, vegetables and seeds. DEFRA are responsible for the inspection of such imports and the contact is:
Paul Bratby
APHA Plant Health & Seeds Inspectorate
2nd Floor, Apex Court, City Link, Nottingham NG2 4LA
Tel: 02082256138( direct line )
Email: Paul.Bratby@apha.gsi.gov.uk
The Border Inspection Post is located airside in the 'Critical Part' between the central and eastern aircraft parking aprons. However please note the BIP office is NOT permanently manned and the NWLDC Environmental Health number should be contacted if there is no answer at the BIP:
BIP Tel/Fax: Direct Line 01332 852 919 (or 01332 852 852 ext.2919)
Email: ehealth@nwleicestershire.gov.uk
Cargo community
East Midlands Airport has encouraged the development of a thriving and balanced air cargo community.

Contacts
To speak to someone about cargo opportunities at MAG airports, please contact:
Stephen Harvey
Vice President Cargo & General Aviation
Email: stephen.harvey@eastmidlandsairport.com