BOURNEMOUTH Airport has claimed to be the “fastest developing cargo airport in the UK” following the launch of its dedicated cargo handling service.

Through the Cargo First service, Bournemouth Airport will see now 20,000 tonnes of cargo pass through, from a standing start of almost none in April 2020.

Based on 2020 statistics, this makes the airport the fasted growing UK cargo hub and puts it on the verge of breaking into the UK’s top then busiest cargo airports.

The airport is playing a central role in enabling commercial exports from the UK to the USA with European Cargo Limited, which now operates a fleet of wide body cargo aircraft.

It also provided relief during the Covid-19 pandemic, bringing in hundreds of millions of items of PPE and test kits to the UK.

Andrew Bell, CEO, Regional & City Airports, said: “The launch of Cargo First consolidates the critical work of the team at Bournemouth Airport during the past two years.

“We quickly recognised the opportunity to stand up a new trade lane and facilitate exports from the UK to the USA, as well as supporting the temporary demand for PPE and test kits.

“Cargo First is well connected to London by road and we can have consignments in the market faster than through hub airports.

“Additionally, our unique one team approach means our customers don’t have to deal with multiple vendors, giving them greater simplicity, efficiency, and speed-to-market.”

Privately owned as part of Regional & City Airports (RCA), Bournemouth Airport has 24/7 capability and ample airfield space to establish new facilities.

This, together with uncongested airspace, open slot availability and cheaper tariffs versus larger hubs, makes Cargo First a compelling competitor in the cargo handling market, the airport said.

Steve Gill, managing director at Bournemouth Airport, said: “We are excited to be putting energy and investment into our cargo operation, especially considering we’ve come from nowhere to be knocking on the door of the top 10 cargo airports in the country.

“We’ve already added nearly 100 jobs, and there is potential to create hundreds more over the next five years.

“It is an exceptional achievement, and we look forward to seeing our excellent service enjoyed by many more customers.”