Bournemouth Airport’s in-house cargo division, Cargo First, has announced its best-ever performance, handling 31,000 tonnes of freight in the 12 months to March 2025 — a dramatic rise from 18,000 tonnes the previous year. The growth now places Bournemouth 8th in the UK for airfreight volumes.
The surge has been driven by booming e-commerce imports and a sharp rise in UK export activity, particularly high-value manufactured goods, which have more than doubled in volume year-on-year in early 2025.
“We are incredibly proud of what the Cargo First team has achieved,” said Stephen Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport.
“To record our best-ever year is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved. With our new cargo facility on the horizon and volumes growing, we remain focused on Bournemouth Airport becoming the UK’s primary air gateway for e-commerce imports and exports.”
Workforce and infrastructure expansion
Cargo First’s continued growth is reflected in its staffing plans, with the team expected to reach 80 employees by summer 2025, alongside indirect job creation in refuelling, airfield operations, fire services, and air traffic control.
Supporting this momentum is a £60 million site-wide investment by airport owners Regional & City Airports (RCA). Central to this is a new 35,000 sq ft cargo facility, which will double the bonded warehouse capacity and deliver new airside infrastructure designed specifically for freighter aircraft operations.
Positioning Bournemouth as a viable alternative hub
Since its launch in 2022, Cargo First has rapidly built a reputation as a disruptive force in the UK cargo sector, offering freight customers a high-speed, low-congestion alternative to the London hub airports.
Strategically located just 90 minutes from West London’s freight corridor, Cargo First enables faster cargo turnaround from aircraft to highway than many of the UK’s busiest gateways. This logistical edge is attracting shippers focused on time-sensitive commodities.
Looking ahead, the business is exploring opportunities in express mail, pharmaceuticals, and perishables, leveraging its strength in time-critical logistics and infrastructure that supports rapid throughput.
Cargo First and Bournemouth Airport are both part of RCA, offering an integrated platform for growth in the UK’s regional cargo market.