The airport handled 31,000 tonnes of cargo in the 12 months ending in March 2025, up from 18,000 tonnes in the 12 months ending in March 2024, making Bournemouth the eighth busiest cargo airport in the UK.
Cargo First’s growth has been driven by e-commerce imports and an increase in UK exports.
Export volumes have almost doubled, making high-value UK-manufactured goods a growing part of Cargo First’s business.
The workforce is growing with Cargo First expecting to employ around 80 people by the summer with further recruitment planned for the next 12 months.
The growth of cargo operations supports jobs on site including refuelling, airfield services, fire and Air Traffic Control.
Growth will be further boosted by investments at the airport.
As part of airport owner Regional & City Airports’ £60 million investment at Bournemouth Airport, there are advanced plans for a 35,000 square foot cargo facility.
It will double Customs-bonded warehouse capacity and forms part of a significant development which will also new airside facilities purpose-built for handling cargo aircraft this year.
Stephen Gill, Managing Director of Bournemouth Airport said: “We are incredibly proud of what the Cargo First team has achieved. 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.”
