UK-based air freight carrier European Cargo will establish a new operational base at Teesside International Airport and launch five weekly long-haul cargo flights to China, under a multi-million-pound agreement designed to strengthen export capacity from the North of England.
The deal will see the carrier position Airbus A340-600 freighters at Teesside International Airport, creating up to 375 tonnes of weekly freight capacity on the new route.
The service, due to begin in March 2026, is aimed at providing manufacturers and exporters with a faster, more direct link into a major Chinese trade hub, reducing reliance on congested southern UK gateways.
Teesside International Airport managing director Phil Forster said: “This is a transformational agreement for our airport and a further major milestone in delivering on our ambition to establish Teesside as a leading UK centre for the aviation and logistics industry.
“Securing a new freight base and direct links to China is a pivotal moment that significantly strengthens our commercial offering and demonstrates the confidence global operators have in what we are building here.”
Forster added: “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 said: “We are incredibly pleased to establish this new operational base at Teesside International Airport, which marks a significant step forward in our mission to connect UK businesses with global markets.
“By launching five weekly flights to a key strategic trade hub, we are providing 375 tonnes of much-needed weekly capacity and offering a faster, more reliable export route for manufacturers across the North of England.”
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 centre for air freight and international trade.”
The route will be operated using European Cargo’s Airbus A340-600 long-haul freighters, each capable of carrying up to 76 metric tonnes of cargo per flight.
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