Express delivery firm YunExpress has begun operations at a new cargo facility it has developed at East Midlands Airport in the UK.
The company’s UK East Midlands operation was recently recognised as a Regulated Agent by the Civil Aviation Authority, has Internal Temporary Storage Facility approval from Border Force and will handle its first flight on 30 April.
The facility measures 7,000 sq m and was developed in an existing warehouse at the airport.
YunExpress began operating its own Boeing 777 freighter flights into East Midlands Airport from China last May, in partnership with Central Airlines.
The facility will initially handle cargo for Central Airlines flights – currently four per week, each carrying 100 tonnes of goods.
The aim is to provide services to other carriers, with capacity and capability to support further flights in the near future.
Orson Wang, general manager of YunExpress UK, said: “Following a thorough evaluation of potential locations, East Midlands Airport stood out for its central location, strong cargo infrastructure and efficient access to the wider UK market.
“With the necessary approvals now in place, we are pleased to begin operations and to further strengthen YunExpress’s global service network, which supports cross-border e-commerce flows across major international markets.”
Wang said the company was looking at opportunities to work with airlines other than Central.
“We are particularly well placed to support Chinese operators as we really understand their needs,” he said.
“We are investing here for the long-term, with a view to developing our business into a fully integrated, end-to-end logistics operation under the YunExpress brand.”
East Midlands Airport commercial director Adam Andrew said that the investment by YunExpress is further evidence of the importance of East Midlands Airport as the UK’s largest dedicated freighter airport – pointing out that the airport has 24/7 access and can reach 80% of the UK population in four hours.
To respond to extra cargo activity, the airport has recently reconfigured its cargo aprons so that out of 27 cargo stands, 12 can now take wide-bodied aircraft, up from seven previously.
There are also plans to develop other areas of the airport into cargo facilities.
“[YunExpress’s] investment here is a shot in the arm for our cargo growth ambitions, which could see four large plots on the airfield developed with new cargo facilities,” said Andrew.
“We fully anticipate YunExpress expanding their operation to support the growing number of cargo operators choosing East Midlands Airport as their UK hub.”
