UK airport expansion set to boost airfreight

Air Cargo News
Alexandra Herdman
11 Feb 2026

2025 was a significant year for airfreight and IATA data shows cargo demand grew 5.5% year on year despite a challenging trading environment. 

Airfreight remains a vital artery of the UK’s supply chain, driving growth across the whole economy.

£95.6bn of the UK’s Gross Value Added is dependent on airfreight exports from UK airports and much of the value lies not in the volume of goods transported, but in their nature: high value, time-critical items such as pharmaceuticals, specialist components, machinery and financial documentation.

Heathrow is the UK’s busiest port by value, handling over £215bn worth of goods every year, and the recent announcement that funding has been approved to begin the planning application for the third runway marks a significant milestone...

UK airport expansion set to boost airfreight - Air Cargo News | 11 Feb 2026