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barrier-less drop-off technology to improve traffic flow and remove congestion at the airport entrance,” he explains.
Every one of those investments has been driven by customer feedback and a determination to remove any pain points from the passenger experience. Alongside these improvements, the airport is also a key stakeholder in the East Midlands Airport and Gateway Industrial Cluster( EMAGIC), a 160-hectare development designed to create a multimodal transport hub connecting air, road and rail, with a focus on decarbonization and job creation.
EMAGIC is also one of three sites forming part of East Midlands Freeport, of which East Midlands Airport is a founding member and port authority. This makes East Midlands Freeport the only inland freeport in the UK with road, rail and air connectivity. The Freeport designation covers a number of sites that offer both investment and tax incentives. Three of those sites sit within East Midlands
Airport’ s boundaries, two of which align directly with its cargo master plan, while the third is on adjacent land owned by the airport, giving it considerable influence over how that growth takes shape.
“ We are working hard to grow the industry within this region, collaborating with regional mayors and other bodies to develop the industrial strategy while supporting the airport’ s own growth. With the high concentration of manufacturing in the East Midlands and the connectivity we offer, we believe we are in a prime position to support that ambition,” Steve concludes.
East Midlands Airport stands as one of the UK’ s most strategically important transport hubs. With the required infrastructure, operators and long-term plan now in place, the airport is set to operate at the scale it was always built for. ■
www. eastmidlandsairport. com
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