UK airport in talks to increase number of flights & turn itself into ‘major hub’ for holidays to Europe

Published on September 22, 2025 at 10:07 PM
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A UK airport is reportedly in talks to increase its number of flights, with hopes to become a “major hub” for holidaymaker around Europe.

Huge upgrades are included in the plans which hopes to have the airport better connected to more destinations.

Illustration of the East Midlands Airport terminal interior with "Welcome" and "Departures" signs.There are hopes to offer new departure options for passengers from the airport East Midlands Airport terminal building with passengers and the air traffic control tower.East Midlands Airport is situated between Loughborough, Derby and Nottingham A Ryanair plane takes off from East Midlands Airport in the UK.Low-budget airlines like Ryanair, TUI, and Jet2 commonly fly from it

is having talks “already underway” with about plans for more cargo and passenger flights.

Currently, passengers can fly to and from 70 destinations through East Midlands Airport.

These include countries in and .

But new commerical director, Adam Andrews, revealed the airport wants to provide more one-stop connections for passengers.

He said: “We will build relationships with key decision makers and businesses from our region and its large three big cities to understand how we can work together to maximise the airports potential what they want from their local airport.

“This includes looking to increase the mix of leisure destinations, introduce business routes and enable year-round connectivity to the world.”

Increasing flight options during peak seasons, such as summer holidays, is in the works.

And plans for more flights during the traditional off-peak seasons are also being considered.

This would mean travellers are able to just go to their local airport for their flights rather than having to get across the country first.

Andrews hopes to draw on the airport’s success as the UK’s “number one express air freight hub” due to being central to both the country and world.

UK’s 2nd busiest airport is set for new runway in £275million-a-year tourism boost

East Midlands Airport is strategically located between Africa, Europe and the US.

It has been a hub for low-budget airlines like Jet2, Ryanair and TUI Airways.

The airfield was originally built as a station in 1943, before it was redeveloped as a civilian airport in 1965.

Busiest routes from East Midlands Aiport have been , , and

But it has no direct access via a passenger rail network, with the nearest being East Midlands Parkway about four miles away.

Proposals have been made in the past for a dedicated railway station to be installed at the airport, but is unlikely to be completed for another decade or so.

Plans for East Midlands Airport come after it was announced over the weekend the would be getting a new full runway.

Transport Secretary signed off on the plan that involves a £2.2billion expansion.

The project will shift emergency runway 12 metres north so it can be used alongside the main strip.

This will pave way for a year from the second busiest airport in the UK.

Brit Holiday Hotspots from East Midlands Airport

  • Barcelona, Spain – 2 hrs 30 mins
  • Bridgetown, Barbados – 8 hrs 25 mins
  • Corfu, Greece – 3 hrs 30 mins
  • Dubrovnik, Croatia – 2 hrs 50 mins
  • Enfidha, Tunisia – 3 hrs 20 mins
  • Madeira, Portugal – 3 hrs 55 mins
  • Malaga, Spain – 3 hrs 10 mins
  • Marseille, France – 2 hrs
  • Montego Bay, Jamaica – 10 hrs 15 mins
  • Naples, Italy – 2 hrs 45 mins
  • New York, USA – 8 hrs
  • Paris, France – 1 hr 30 mins
  • Prague, Czech Republic – 2 hrs 15 mins
  • Reykjavik, Iceland – 3 hrs 10 mins
  • Riga, Latvia – 2 hrs 30 mins
  • Rome, Italy – 2 hrs 45 mins
  • Santorini, Greece – 4 hrs 5 mins
  • Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt – 5 hrs 40 mins
  • Turin, Italy – 2 hrs
  • Vienna, Austria – 2 hrs 30 mins
Aerial view of East Midlands Airport in Derby, UK, showing the runway, airport buildings, parking lots, and surrounding countryside with a busy highway.KFMBT4 aerial view of East Midlands Airport, Derby, UK

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