Teesside International Airport will host FedEx’s UK cargo operations after it agreed a new deal with the company today (19 March).
‘A significant step’
The BBC reports that the agreement will mean 89 tonnes of goods will pass through the airport weekly once it enters operation in June. An additional new five-year lease has also been signed for the company’s existing road operation at the site.
Phil Forster, managing director at Teesside Airport, said:
"This new partnership is a brilliant and significant step into the cargo market and is a sign of things to come at Teesside Airport. [It’s] another big leap forward.”
FedEx’s Alun Cornish, meanwhile, called it “the perfect location”, and noted that “we are seeing increased import and export demand to and from the region”. Establishing cargo operations at the airport “will enable us to get our goods to our customers faster”, he said.
‘Show of confidence’
The mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, called the deal “fantastic”, stating:
“It’s an incredible development for the airport and one that shows to the world of cargo the opportunity and possibilities of being located here.
“We have always said that our cargo operation is key to the long-term success of our airport and this show of confidence from FedEx, one of the world leaders in air freight, shows what we are doing is working.
“This announcement is every bit as important as all the amazing holiday flights we have brought in over the past few years, and with the business park now up and running, we are ahead of schedule and turning things round.”
The FedEx announcement comes after a wave of private investment at the airport. Among the firms investing is Willis Aviation, which last year committed to a new £25m aviation village and jet centre that is expected to bring between 250 and 300 new jobs to the region and facilitate cargo flights.
Ongoing investments
A £2.5m cargo handling facility also opened at Teesside Airport in 2022, offering security screening, freight forwarding, customs clearage and storage facilities, according to Air Cargo News.
The airport said then that the new facilities “will all serve to capitalise on the huge opportunity within the region.
“For example, a total of £2.9bn of goods were exported from the North East in quarter four 2021, with a 47.3% recovery from the pandemic low point in quarter two 2020, higher than the national average.
“It will target the some 71,000 businesses within an hour’s drive of the airport, as well as those further afield.”
The airport was approved as a Border Control Point last year. This means it will now be able to process perishable products, including food.