Will there be another UK freight hub after EMA (assuming it reaches capacity at some point), and, if so, where will it be?

[AlastairFraser]

A discussion in another thread brought up an interesting point. Aside from passenger traffic, where there have been low cost carrier dominated airports e.g. Luton/Stansted, is a secondary UK air freight hub, to reduce costs for freight airlines, a realistic prospect, and where would it be?

 

[pug1]

A discussion in another thread brought up an interesting point. Aside from passenger traffic, where there have been low cost carrier dominated airports e.g. Luton/Stansted, is a secondary UK air freight hub, to reduce costs for freight airlines, a realistic prospect, and where would it be?

Not likely. See the proposal to reopen Manston Airport and the assessment completed by York Aviation Consultancy. There is a growing trend towards distribution companies using belly hold space on long-haul passenger aircraft.

The parcel distribution companies such as DHL, FEDEX, UPS and Royal Mail utilise pure freighter aircraft from a couple of strategic points in the U.K. they are growing, but East Midlands is not bursting at the seams, in fact they’ve just invested in a new freight integrator facility. Another reason why DSA was unable to access that market, and why the business case for reopening Manston is wafer thin.

 

[Tetchytyke]

is a secondary UK air freight hub, to reduce costs for freight airlines, a realistic prospect, and where would it be?

I wouldn’t have expected anything any time soon. EMA works really well as it’s bang in the middle of the country and right by the M1.

As others have said, a lot of cargo is transported on scheduled airlines. It’s usually for cargo that you’ll see long-haul aircraft on short-haul European routes. I’m led to believe that cargo is where Emirates make their money on their UK routes, especially Newcastle.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Thanks for your responses guys.
So the probable answer is - unlikely, but perhaps Manston will be.

 

[dosxuk]

It's often forgotten or overlooked that Heathrow - by far - handles the most air freight in the UK - five to six times that handled at East Midlands.

Equally, Stansted also handles a significant amount of air freight, most years around 2/3 to 3/4 of that handled at East Midlands.

Interestingly, according to the DfT statistics, in 2021 Doncaster handled the 7th most amount of air freight in the UK, only just under the amounts at Luton and Belfast.

Source - https://maps.dft.gov.uk/transport-statistics-finder/index.html

 

[pug1]

It's often forgotten or overlooked that Heathrow - by far - handles the most air freight in the UK - five to six times that handled at East Midlands.

Equally, Stansted also handles a significant amount of air freight, most years around 2/3 to 3/4 of that handled at East Midlands.

Interestingly, according to the DfT statistics, in 2021 Doncaster handled the 7th most amount of air freight in the UK, only just under the amounts at Luton and Belfast.

Source - https://maps.dft.gov.uk/transport-statistics-finder/index.html

Heathrow does, and this is the function of freight being transported as hold luggage on long-haul passenger flights but also having pure freight flights thrown in too to bolster that number. Doncaster handled a fair bit of ad/hoc cargo in its time, its freight throughput increased during the pandemic years 20/21 due to PPI shipments coming through there and Liverpool so the stats from 2021 may be somewhat misleading.

There is also a difference between having a freight forwarding facility (customs etc) for ad/JOC bulk freight and that of the requirements to handle the more lucrative and frequent parcel shipments which when using dedicated aircraft also require integrator facilities like those seen at East Midlands. These are expensive capital intensive projects that require the parcek companies themselves like FEDEX and DHL to invest in. They don’t need more than a couple of these in the U.K. as the road network sees to it that the remote hubs receive the inbound cargo within the space of a day. It’s why there are question marks over the reopening of Manston.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Heathrow does, and this is the function of freight being transported as hold luggage on long-haul passenger flights but also having pure freight flights thrown in too to bolster that number.

Isn't LHR runway capacity at a premium, hence the case for Manston?

 

[pug1]

Isn't LHR runway capacity at a premium, hence the case for Manston?

The case for Manston has been determined as flimsy at best by two independent airport consultancy organisations. Reason it’s been given the go-ahead is purely down to the ‘well it’s investment innit’ mindset, the exact same reasoning for approving the building of DSA in spite of market analysis predetermining it’s lack of viability. Runway capacity isn’t an issue where freight is concerned as the trend as mentioned is moving away from dedicated freighter aircraft towards belly hold freight which helps generate revenue for passenger carrying airlines.

Sorry if I appear contrarian, I just think it’s important to challenge the accepted beliefs.

 

[Shimbleshanks]

Bournemouth Airport has also emerged as a reasonably significant freight hub. There's a freighter airline based there called European Air Cargo that operates a fleet of converted ex-Virgin A340 aircraft. They claim that you can land freight there and get off the plane and into the London area quicker than is possible via any actual London airport.

 

[edwin_m]

The case for Manston has been determined as flimsy at best by two independent airport consultancy organisations. Reason it’s been given the go-ahead is purely down to the ‘well it’s investment innit’ mindset, the exact same reasoning for approving the building of DSA in spite of market analysis predetermining it’s lack of viability. Runway capacity isn’t an issue where freight is concerned as the trend as mentioned is moving away from dedicated freighter aircraft towards belly hold freight which helps generate revenue for passenger carrying airlines.

Sorry if I appear contrarian, I just think it’s important to challenge the accepted beliefs.

Manston strikes me as a pretty poor place for an air cargo hub, purely due to its location in the far corner of the country and the need for freight for most other populated areas to have to find its way round London first.

 

[AlastairFraser]

The case for Manston has been determined as flimsy at best by two independent airport consultancy organisations. Reason it’s been given the go-ahead is purely down to the ‘well it’s investment innit’ mindset, the exact same reasoning for approving the building of DSA in spite of market analysis predetermining it’s lack of viability. Runway capacity isn’t an issue where freight is concerned as the trend as mentioned is moving away from dedicated freighter aircraft towards belly hold freight which helps generate revenue for passenger carrying airlines.

Sorry if I appear contrarian, I just think it’s important to challenge the accepted beliefs.

No, that makes sense. We'll just have to wait and see I guess.

Manston strikes me as a pretty poor place for an air cargo hub, purely due to its location in the far corner of the country and the need for freight for most other populated areas to have to find its way round London first.

It feels weird to say this and I'm not trying to be patronising, but I underestimate the impact of London and the South East. 19 million people and a weighty GDP per capital.
East Midlands Airport is well placed for most other major population centres in the UK as a second hub, but freeing up capacity from the remaining pure freighters at the core London airports and driving air freight growth.

 

[edwin_m]

It feels weird to say this and I'm not trying to be patronising, but I underestimate the impact of London and the South East. 19 million people and a weighty GDP per capital.
East Midlands Airport is well placed for most other major population centres in the UK as a second hub, but freeing up capacity from the remaining pure freighters at the core London airports and driving air freight growth.

Considering the distances and achievable journey times on the roads in question, the boundary between the optimum catchment of Manston and East Midlands is probably around the Thames. So if both operated similar services they would each have about half of the London and South East market, but East Midlands also has a similiar sized market in the Midlands and North. Freight on passenger aircraft is also a bigger competitor in the South East, as it has many more flights by legacy airlines who carry it. So I suggest Manston only has a case if air freight expands significantly, and will never have as much as somewhere like EMA - which in turn means it will have a worse choice of services which reduces its attractiveness.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Considering the distances and achievable journey times on the roads in question, the boundary between the optimum catchment of Manston and East Midlands is probably around the Thames. So if both operated similar services they would each have about half of the London and South East market, but East Midlands also has a similiar sized market in the Midlands and North. Freight on passenger aircraft is also a bigger competitor in the South East, as it has many more flights by legacy airlines who carry it. So I suggest Manston only has a case if air freight expands significantly, and will never have as much as somewhere like EMA - which in turn means it will have a worse choice of services which reduces its attractiveness.

Fair enough, that's reasonably thought through.

 

[Bald Rick]

East Midlands Airport is well placed for most other major population centres in the UK as a second hub, but freeing up capacity from the remaining pure freighters at the core London airports and driving air freight growth.

To put it in context, according to CAA data for 2019, Heathrow sees an average of 8 freight only flights per day (presumably 4 in and 4 out!), representing 0.6% of all flights at the airport

EMA has 44.

 

[pug1]

To put it in context, according to CAA data for 2019, Heathrow sees an average of 8 freight only flights per day (presumably 4 in and 4 out!), representing 0.6% of all flights at the airport

EMA has 44.

My last airside visit to EMA was 2019, at that time the finishing touches were being made to the new integrated freight facility on the eastern side of the airport. I can only assume this number of flights has increased in that time owing to the growth of flights by FEDEX and UPS who ISTR the new facility was built for.

It why when the I can’t take people wanting to reopen DSA seriously, they talk about freight being a major growth sector. EMA is 40 about miles away, that’s a few minutes in flying time.

 

[AlastairFraser]

To put it in context, according to CAA data for 2019, Heathrow sees an average of 8 freight only flights per day (presumably 4 in and 4 out!), representing 0.6% of all flights at the airport

EMA has 44.

Interesting. I wonder which airport is second in the top 10 for number of pure freighters a day.

 

[Speed43125]

Bournemouth Airport has also emerged as a reasonably significant freight hub. There's a freighter airline based there called European Air Cargo that operates a fleet of converted ex-Virgin A340 aircraft. They claim that you can land freight there and get off the plane and into the London area quicker than is possible via any actual London airport.

This was what I was going to mention. For non parcels/logistics traffic it seems reasonably well placed to harness lower overheads. Which of course is reflected in the use of low capex A340s in the short to medium term.

 

[Bald Rick]

My last airside visit to EMA was 2019, at that time the finishing touches were being made to the new integrated freight facility on the eastern side of the airport. I can only assume this number of flights has increased in that time owing to the growth of flights by FEDEX and UPS who ISTR the new facility was built for.

It why when the I can’t take people wanting to reopen DSA seriously, they talk about freight being a major growth sector. EMA is 40 about miles away, that’s a few minutes in flying time.

In Aug 23 EMA has an average if 67 non passenger aircraft movements per day, so yes a big increase on the 2019 year average.

Interesting. I wonder which airport is second in the top 10 for number of pure freighters a day.

Stansted.

 

[AlastairFraser]

Stansted

Ah so perhaps Ryanair would welcome some freight moving to Manston (I know freight mostly moves at night - not sure if that is the case with Stansted).

 

[pug1]

Ah so perhaps Ryanair would welcome some freight moving to Manston (I know freight mostly moves at night - not sure if that is the case with Stansted).

I don’t see what it has to do with Ryanair? I expect they don’t care at all in fact. And yes pure freight like what Stansted handles is typically done so at night.

 

[Bald Rick]

Ah so perhaps Ryanair would welcome some freight moving to Manston (I know freight mostly moves at night - not sure if that is the case with Stansted).

Load of spare runway capacity at Stansted. Its passenger handling capacity that’s the issue.

 

[paul1609]

Considering the distances and achievable journey times on the roads in question, the boundary between the optimum catchment of Manston and East Midlands is probably around the Thames. So if both operated similar services they would each have about half of the London and South East market, but East Midlands also has a similiar sized market in the Midlands and North. Freight on passenger aircraft is also a bigger competitor in the South East, as it has many more flights by legacy airlines who carry it. So I suggest Manston only has a case if air freight expands significantly, and will never have as much as somewhere like EMA - which in turn means it will have a worse choice of services which reduces its attractiveness.

Manston is 55 miles from Junction 2 of the M25 which is 2 miles south of the Dartford Crossing. EMA is 93 miles from Junction 21 of the M25 on the heavily congested M1. Id suggest that the whole area within the M25 and south and east of it plus Essex would be in the Manston Optimum Catchment viz EMA

 

[dosxuk]

Id suggest that the whole area within the M25 and south and east of it plus Essex would be in the Manston Optimum Catchment viz EMA

I suspect for that traffic, Manston would be competing with Stansted more than East Midlands.

 

[AlastairFraser]

I don’t see what it has to do with Ryanair? I expect they don’t care at all in fact. And yes pure freight like what Stansted handles is typically done so at night.

Well, if they could use the runway through the night for even higher fleet utilisation (I shouldn't give them any ideas!!)

Load of spare runway capacity at Stansted. Its passenger handling capacity that’s the issue.

Isn't that solved by building an additional terminal?

 

[CastlebarKeith]

There are politically motivated plans for Manston.
All to do with "We promise to build affordable houses"
(see Filton, Bristol)
Could a now closed airport be considered a "brownfield site"?

 

[paul1609]

I suspect for that traffic, Manston would be competing with Stansted more than East Midlands.

I think your right, the advantage of Manston Viz Stansted is that it is outside the London TMA so ideal for freight.

 

[Bald Rick]

Manston is 55 miles from Junction 2 of the M25 which is 2 miles south of the Dartford Crossing. EMA is 93 miles from Junction 21 of the M25 on the heavily congested M1. Id suggest that the whole area within the M25 and south and east of it plus Essex would be in the Manston Optimum Catchment viz EMA

You‘ve missed the key point though. EMA is within the Golden Triangle, where all the major parcel distribution firms have their overnight hubs. Manston is not.

Isn't that solved by building an additional terminal?

or expanidng the existing, yes - although those plans were abandoned not long ago, i expect they will return.

 

[pug1]

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/84987/html/

A small overview of a much larger piece of work completed by York LLP regarding Manston. I shall find and post the full version of anyone I’d interested.

 

[AlastairFraser]

or expanidng the existing, yes - although those plans were abandoned not long ago, i expect they will return.

Agreed, although I tend to prefer the multi terminal layout for larger airports personally.

https://committees.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/84987/html/

A small overview of a much larger piece of work completed by York LLP regarding Manston. I shall find and post the full version of anyone I’d interested.

This was 2017 and the aviation world has somewhat changed though.

 

[pug1]

Agreed, although I tend to prefer the multi terminal layout for larger airports personally.


This was 2017 and the aviation world has somewhat changed though.

Any changes have shown a trend towards consolidated growth at even fewer airports than in 2016/17..

Manston Airport DCO – Promises of over 23,000 new jobs are flawed - Alan Stratford and Associates

www.alanstratford.co.uk

More thoughts, this time from 2023.