Teesside International Airport has signed a landmark deal with European Cargo that will see regular freight flights to China begin this month, marking a major step up in the region’s global trade links. The UK-based carrier will establish a new multi-million-pound operational base at Teesside Airport Business Park, launching five weekly services to a key Asian trade hub from MAR26 onwards. The route will offer up to 375 tons of weekly capacity, giving British manufacturers and exporters a faster, more direct pathway into international markets. European Cargo will operate the flights with its Airbus A340-600 freighters, each able to carry around 76 tons of cargo – or “twelve adult African elephants”, as the release emphasizes [though this is an unlikely UK export commodity, not least because any elephants living in UK zoos are usually Asian elephants which range widely in weight, so you’re looking at anything between eight and thirty Asian elephants as the equivalent of twelve African ones… but that’s by the by, and just a little trivia for you.]
Airport bosses say the move will support new jobs and further cement Teesside’s growing role as a North of England logistics hub. It follows a series of major private-sector investments at the airport, including Willis Aviation’s GBP 13.5 million MRO center, new paint facilities by Airbourne Colours, and a GBP 7 million hangar developed by Draken.
Teesside Airport Managing Director, Phil Forster, said: “The impact of this deal will be substantial – not only in boosting cargo operations and revenue, but in firmly positioning the airport as a strategic location for aviation, freight and future investment. It underlines our ambition to develop a highly commercially successful airport that plays an essential role in driving the region’s economic future.”
European Cargo’s Chief Operating Officer, Iain Edwards, added: “Our investment in Teesside reflects our confidence in the region’s infrastructure and its potential as a premier logistics gateway. We are proud that this expansion will drive local job creation and provide a meaningful boost to the regional economy, while further cementing Teesside’s status as a world-class center for air freight and international trade.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “This is a hugely significant announcement for Teesside Airport and for our wider local economy. […] Growing commercial operations is central to our long-term plan to make the airport financially sustainable, while also creating more well-paid, high-quality jobs for local people.”
