UK airports boost economy with record cargo growth and £2.4bn expansion

East Midlands Airport, the UK’s largest pure‑freight hub, generated an estimated £6.2 billion for the British economy in 2025. Its cargo operation handled more than 400,000 tonnes of freight, accounting for over a third of national cargo growth and supporting high‑value sectors such as advanced manufacturing, aerospace and life sciences. The airport’s impact includes £3.4 billion from freight‑related productivity, £2.7 billion from operational activity, and the creation of up to 21,000 new jobs as it plans to raise annual cargo volumes to 580,000 tonnes.

London Luton Airport will undergo a £2.4 billion expansion that adds a new terminal and upgrades the existing one, aiming to accommodate up to 32 million passengers by 2043. The project, cleared after a Supreme Court decision, is expected to generate 11,000 new jobs, including 4,400 in the local community, and increase annual flight movements to around 209,000. Chair of Luton Rising, Paul Kehoe, called the approval a “landmark moment” for the community‑owned airport.