Management at East Midlands Airport say they have become the only 海角视频 airport to be served by a direct cargo flight from China during the lockdown.
The new weekly link, launched by DHL Express from Hong Kong, is in response to growing demand for trade from Asia as markets start to open up following the pandemic.
It further cements the airport鈥檚 position as a key hub for global trade.
The airport, on the Leicestershire/Derbyshire border, is already the 海角视频鈥檚 biggest operation for flights carrying just cargo.
The new service is operated by the Boeing 747-8 Queen of the Skies, one of the most fuel-efficient freighters currently available, with a cargo capacity of 100 tonnes, and leaves Hong Kong on Fridays arriving at East Midlands Airport on Sunday.
Shipments enter the delivery cycle to be distributed across the 海角视频 on Monday morning.
Around 95 per cent of the goods on board are time-critical products, from medical and industrial supplies to consumer e-commerce shipments.
In addition to the Hong Kong-EMA route, DHL Express has also introduced two additional new routes from JFK Airport and Miami International into EMA. Later this month, a new flight from EMA to Los Angeles will also be introduced.
These routes are in response to the growing demand for time-critical deliveries from the USA.
Airport managing director Karen Smart said: 鈥淲e very much welcome DHL鈥檚 continued investment in its EMA operation.
鈥淚t is fitting that currently the only direct cargo flight to the 海角视频 from China comes into EMA which is home to the 海角视频鈥檚 largest dedicated air cargo operation.
鈥淭his new route is further evidence of the airport鈥檚 vital role as a global hub for time-critical goods and a facilitator of world trade.
鈥淎s one of the 海角视频鈥檚 most strategically important infrastructure assets, EMA is well-placed to support the gradual steps being taken by countries to re-start manufacturing and exports as they ease their way to normality following Covid-19 as well as being key to unlocking the 海角视频鈥檚 economic potential in the coming years.鈥
Ian Wilson, of DHL Express, said: 鈥淎s lockdowns in many countries around the world begin to ease, we鈥檙e seeing a sustained growth in demand for goods from Asia, covering all of the usual high value or time-critical products like technology, medical and industrial goods.
鈥淲e have introduced this new direct route operating into EMA as a direct response to this, and as part of our ongoing adaptations to the network to enable us to best serve our customers.鈥
EMA鈥檚 dedicated air cargo operation has come into its own in recent months as a lack of international passenger flights to and from the 海角视频 has meant less 鈥渂elly-hold鈥 capacity on those flights for carrying goods.
A spokesman said: 鈥淲hile airports in the country have seen air traffic movements reduce by over 90 per cent, East Midlands has continued operating around 60 per cent of all scheduled flights elevating it to one of Europe鈥檚 top 10 busiest airports.
鈥淭his is because of its global express freight operation which is playing an important role in keeping trade moving and facilitating the supply of vital PPE equipment in the fight against Covid-19, as well as more people ordering goods online when shops have been shut.
鈥淚n the last two years, more than 拢200 million has been invested into bespoke handling facilities at EMA by the world鈥檚 largest logistics companies, establishing it as the 海角视频鈥檚 busiest and most important airport for dedicated cargo planes (which carry just cargo and no passengers).
鈥淧ositioned only a four-hour truck drive to 90 per cent of the population of England and Wales, EMA鈥檚 central location means vital supplies flown into the 海角视频 can be with those who need them most urgently very soon after landing, wherever they are in the country.鈥
East Midlands handles 370,000 tonnes of cargo a year, and is home to the 海角视频鈥檚 biggest dedicated air cargo operation.
It is also a major hub for express freight experts UPS, FedEx and Royal Mail.
