The UK’s East Midlands Airport (EMA) has reconfigured its aircraft stand spaces to increase the number of widebody cargo aircraft it can handle.
The work has seen the airport double the number of widebody cargo aircraft stands on its east apron from two to four, while its west apron has increased stands for widebody cargo aircraft from five to eight.
The work was completed in response to expectations of growing cargo demand.
A recent study from York Aviation/MDS Transmodal carried out on behalf of EMA showed that cargo volumes could grow from 370,000 tonnes to 491,000 tonnes by 2030 and then to 583,000 tonnes by 2043 – a growth of 54%.
The airport explained that during the summer season, the 23 stands for passenger aircraft are full and with growing numbers of cargo airlines using the airport, teams at the airport were tasked with finding a way to grow capacity within the existing apron space.
"This was a significant technical challenge that required complex redesign, procedural overhauls, cultural shifts and a key focus on safety. It involved staff from a number of teams including airfield operations, aviation safety, air traffic control, capital delivery and control room," the airport said in a press release.
"The result can be seen in new markings recently completed on the east and west aprons, which have doubled the airport’s capacity for widebodied cargo aircraft to seven. And the work will continue on the central apron to create four more stands for passenger aircraft."
Head of airfield operations Lauren Turner said: “The operation of an airfield is quite rightly highly regulated to ensure safety, and so any changes to layouts are a huge challenge involving a lot of different specialist knowledge at the airport.
"At East Midlands, we have the extra challenge of being two airports in one - a friendly, customer-focused passenger airport by day and the UK’s number one airport for cargo by night.
"These changes will help us meet our medium-term plans to grow both sides of our business as we successfully attract more airlines to choose East Midlands as the best place for new operations.”
Future planned improvements include a full re-marking of the apron, installation of new centreline lighting, and expansion of parking areas for ground service equipment.
The development comes as the airport is preparing for future cargo growth and earlier this year revealed plans to develop new cargo areas.
The airport has earmarked four sites on the airfield, totalling more than 50 ha for the development of new facilities.
Two of the plots have tax site status as part of the East Midlands Freeport, for which EMA is the primary port.
Three of the sites have direct access to the runway, through new taxiways, and space to park up to 18 extra aircraft.
The proposals also outline a total of 122,000 sq m of warehouse space, along with up to 51,000 sq m of landside yard space and 1,000 parking spaces.
