YunExpress has been cleared to begin operations at a new cargo handling facility developed at East Midlands Airport, a move that marks a major milestone both for the company’s UK strategy and for the airport’s cargo ambitions.
The development makes YunExpress the first Chinese cargo handling company based at a UK airport, giving it an integrated plane-to-door cargo capability in Britain at a time when cross-border e-commerce continues to grow rapidly.
The company is preparing to handle its first flight on April 30 after receiving Regulated Agent recognition from the UK Civil Aviation Authority and ITSF approval from Border Force.
YunExpress began operating its own Boeing 777 freighter flights from China into East Midlands Airport in May last year through a partnership with Central Airlines. At the outset, the new facility will handle cargo for Central Airlines flights, currently operating four times per week with around 100 tonnes per flight. The company said it also intends to provide services to other carriers and has both the capacity and capability to support additional flights in the near future.
The new operation is housed in a 7,000 square metre facility developed within an existing warehouse at the airport. Around 40 people will be employed on site.
Adam Andrew, commercial director at East Midlands Airport, said the airport is pleased to welcome YunExpress as a cargo handler following the launch of its flights less than a year ago. He said the investment underlines the importance of East Midlands as the UK’s largest dedicated freighter airport, with around-the-clock unrestricted operations and access to 80% of the UK population within four hours.
He added that the investment gives fresh momentum to the airport’s cargo growth plans, including the potential development of four large plots on the airfield for additional cargo facilities. In his view, YunExpress is well positioned to expand further as more cargo operators choose East Midlands as their UK hub.
Orson Wang, general manager of YunExpress UK, said the launch of the East Midlands operation is a significant step in the company’s UK and wider European growth strategy. After evaluating a number of possible locations, he said East Midlands stood out because of its central position, cargo infrastructure and efficient access to the wider UK market.
With the necessary approvals now secured, Wang said the company is pleased to begin operations and further strengthen YunExpress’s global service network supporting cross-border e-commerce across major international markets.
He added that YunExpress is already looking at opportunities to work with airlines beyond Central and believes it is especially well placed to support Chinese operators because it understands their needs closely. The company, he said, is investing for the long term and intends to grow into a fully integrated end-to-end logistics operation under the YunExpress brand.
