Newcastle Airport celebrates record-breaking cargo volume in first half of 2024

From January to June 2024 the Airport handled 3,100 tonnes of cargo, an 87% increase on the same period last year, further establishing the Airport as one of the UK’s key strategic air cargo gateways.  

Leon McQuaid, Director of Aviation Development at Newcastle Airport, said: “This record-breaking result is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the hard work of the Airport team and the support of our partners and customers. 

“Throughout the year, we have seen businesses increasingly utilise our Airport for their global import and export requirements due to our efficient operations, excellent transport links, later drop off times and faster collection times - establishing us as a vital gateway to and from the UK, connecting us to key markets around the world. 

“We take immense pride in this result and we look forward to building on this success, helping to drive further growth and investment in the region.” 

John McCabe, Chief Executive of the North East Chamber of Commerce, said: “It’s fantastic to hear that Chamber Partner member Newcastle Airport is continuing to break records as one of the UK’s key strategic air cargo gateways. 

“Imports and exports are worth nearly £29bn to the North East of England, making them the backbone of the region’s economy. It’s key that we utilise the impressive capabilities of our regional trade infrastructure. 

“The significant increase in the Airport’s operations is helping to drive investment and create sustainable economic growth for the North East of England.” 

John added: “The Chamber team produces over 13,000 export documents a year and clears over 10,000 customs declarations, we’re proud to help North East businesses of all sizes access a growing international market.” 

High demand goods such as auto parts and pharmaceuticals are frequently transported via Emirates’ daily service to and from Dubai. 

The airline’s Boeing 777-300 is capable of carrying up to 21 tonnes of cargo in addition to a full passenger load. 

From Dubai, cargo can be transported to over 130 destinations worldwide, with Shanghai in China, Melbourne in Australia and Johannesburg in South Africa being among the most popular destinations for exports from Newcastle.  

Newcastle Airport has a first-class freight village to the south of its runway, which provides a comprehensive range of facilities for freight processing. 

The facility centralises logistics and transportation services, meaning imported goods can be quickly processed to get customs clearance after landing at the Airport. 

Once complete, businesses can utilise the Airport’s excellent transport links and close proximity to the A1 to transport goods around the country and beyond. 

For more information about the Airport’s cargo operations or to make an airfreight enquiry, contact Aileen Wallace, Newcastle Airport's Cargo Business Development Manager.

• Email: cargo@newcastleinternational.co.uk
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