The UK division of European cargo operator West Atlantic has relocated its operation from Coventry Airport to East Midlands Airport.
The express freight company has leased 43,151 sq ft of hanger space close to its key customers DHL and the Royal Mail.
The move is driven by a need to find increased space to accommodate its recently expanded fleet of B737 aircraft, and the fact that many of West Atlantic’s customers are based at East Midlands Airport.
The relocation was managed by MAG Property, the property division of Manchester Airports Group which owns East Midlands Airport.
Nigel Hiorns, managing director for West Atlantic UK, said: “We had outgrown our Coventry facility as it could no longer meet the demands and needs of our business.
“A new base is required due to the rapid expansion of our fleet, and our in-house maintenance capabilities especially as we prepare to launch new converted Boeing 737-800 freighters in February 2018.
“East Midlands Airport is the perfect solution for us as it’s a prime site for our customer network and it will offer us a convenient solution for the maintenance of our larger aircraft.”
Lynda Shillaw, chief executive MAG Property, said: “Our focus at MAG Property is on providing the right kind of property and location to suit the individual needs of businesses and, in particular, those in industry sectors that benefit from airport locations.
“East Midlands Airport, with its excellent access to the UK motorway network and with 89 per cent of England and Wales within a four-hour truck drive time, makes it a natural choice for air cargo operators.
“That is why we are seeing a rapidly expanding cargo community around the airport.
“I’d like to welcome West Atlantic to that community, and wish them every success in their new location.”
Howard Ebison, East Midlands Airport’s commercial director, said: “Such is the strategic importance of our cargo offer that many operators and their support networks want to be located nearby or on our site.
“The arrival of West Atlantic is a further boost to the current operation and is yet more evidence of the impact the airport has on attracting new business to the East Midlands region.”