Bournemouth Airport’s devoted cargo division, Cargo First, has accomplished its main new cargo dealing with amenities, representing a step-change within the airport’s freight functionality.
The venture, a part of an ongoing main funding programme throughout the Bournemouth Airport property by house owners Regional & Metropolis Airports, has delivered three model new ICAO Code E plane stands, a a lot bigger customs-bonded cargo operations centre, and a programme of landside works to enhance entry and truck servicing areas.
The rising cargo operation now employs greater than 80 workers, and the funding successfully doubles the airport’s cargo infrastructure and consolidates freight operations in a purpose-built zone on the northern facet of the airfield, offering important scope for future progress.
The brand new location, immediately alongside the airport’s 200-acre enterprise park, additionally supplies new alternatives for logistics organisations to profit from co-location of landside warehousing.
Steve Gill, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, stated: “The completion of those new amenities marks a big milestone for Bournemouth Airport and Cargo First. They not solely present the infrastructure to help our fast-growing cargo enterprise but in addition reinforce our place as a extremely enticing various to congested London hubs.
“With document volumes already passing via the airport final 12 months, this funding underlines our ambitions because the UK’s latest import/export air hub.”
Cargo First dealt with a document 31,000 tonnes of freight within the 12 months to March 2025, rating Bournemouth eighth among the many UK’s airfreight airports – a 70% improve on the prior 12 months.
Development has been pushed by booming e-commerce imports and rising exports, with high-value UK-manufactured items turning into an more and more essential a part of the combo.
Iain Edwards, chief working officer at European Cargo, one in every of Bournemouth’s principal freight operators, stated: “The brand new amenities are an actual enhance to our enterprise. Bournemouth Airport presents us the pliability and velocity which might be crucial in air cargo, and the growth means we are able to look ahead to dealing with much more volumes effectively.
“It’s an enormous benefit to function away from the congestion of the London hubs, whereas nonetheless with the ability to ship consignments into the London market quicker than if we flew there immediately.”
Situated simply 90 minutes from London’s freight hall, Cargo First has established itself as a disruptor within the UK cargo market, providing streamlined dealing with and confirmed quicker onward supply than the capital’s airports.
Bournemouth Airport is present process a serious funding by house owners Regional & Metropolis Airports, spanning its cargo and passenger amenities. The airport lately obtained planning consent for a big growth of its passenger terminal and a brand new transport interchange.
READ MORE NEWS: E-commerce surge and exports energy Cargo First to document progress
