Airport wants carrier to provide useful hub link
‘Couldn’t be better placed for growing its market share’
EAST Midlands Airport is on the hunt for a new carrier that will be able to connect its passengers to destinations all over the world.
The Castle Donington airport is looking to attract an airline that could fly its passengers to a major European “hub” airport, from which they would be able to connect to destinations across the globe, using just one ticket.
Currently, the airport is one of the largest in the UK not to offer an “ongoing service” via a hub airport.
Almost five million passengers fly to and from East Midlands Airport a year but the airport has ambitions to double passenger numbers to 10 million a year.
Key to this is securing a carrier that could provide ongoing international connectivity via a European hub airport such as Paris Charles de Gaulle, Schiphol airport in Amsterdam or Frankfurt.
According to East Midlands Airport, there is demand for such a service among leisure travellers and business users, the latter of whom want better connections to the biggest global markets.
A team from the airport recently attended the Routes Europe event in Bilbao, Spain, with the aim of attracting a carrier that could provide such a service.
Routes Europe brings together leading airlines, airports and tourism authorities giving them an opportunity to explore new business opportunities face-toface. A total of 100 airlines, 300 airports and 50 tourism authorities attended the event.
Currently, East Midlands Airport flies to more than 80 domestic and European shorthaul destination, plus Cancun in Mexico and Orlando in the US. Airlines that currently fly out of East Midlands include TUI, Ryanair, Jet2.com and Thomas Cook.
Andrew Pelham, EMA’s head of aviation development, said: “East Midlands Airport couldn’t be better placed for growing its market share.
“We’re at the heart of the country, with easy access to the UK motorway network, and with a population of just over 30 million people within two hours’ drive.
“Our research tells us that more demand is there for both leisure and business travellers and if we are able to secure new routes that go further afield people will use them.”