Bournemouth Airport’s dedicated cargo handling business saw its cargo volumes rapidly increase over the last fiscal year, thanks in part to a rise in exports and e-commerce at the south coast UK airport.
Cargo First saw its cargo volumes increase by 72% year on year to 31,000 tonnes for the 12 months to the end of March.
As well as rising exports, the handler said it also benefited from rising e-commerce demand.
“In the first few months of 2025 alone, export volumes have risen to approximately double the levels seen in the prior year, with high-value UK-manufactured goods now a growing part of the business,” the handling business said in a press release.
The airport has marketed itself as an alternative to ”congested London hub airports” located “90 minutes from west London’s freight corridor”.
Over the past year, cargo carrier European Cargo, which utilises the airport, has expanded its fleet with three more Airbus A340 freighters.
Looking ahead, the airport has plans for the development of a new 35,000 sq ft cargo facility as part of a £60m investment.
“This will approximately double the operation’s Customs-bonded warehouse capacity and forms part of a significant development which will also deliver new airside facilities purpose-built for handling cargo aircraft this year,” the airport said.
Stephen Gill, managing director of Bournemouth Airport, said: “To record our best-ever year is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved. With our new cargo facility on the horizon and volumes growing, we remain focused on Bournemouth Airport becoming the UK’s primary air gateway for e-commerce imports and exports.”
The business is looking at future diversification centred on its core capabilities around time-sensitive cargo and sees potential opportunities ranging from express mail to pharmaceuticals and perishables.
