UK’s Teesside International Airport seeks to capitalize on growth in trade with new £2.5m cargo handling facility

Teesside International Airport in the UK has opened a new £2.5m cargo handling facility as it seeks to capitalize on growth in trade in the northeast of England.

The purpose-built 21,000 sq ft hangar provides security screening technology, as well as cargo handling, freight-forwarding, customs clearage and storage.

The facility can also be used for specialized charter flights for both air and road freight.

As part of the development, the airport now has secured Regulated Agent status from the UK Civil Aviation Authority, allowing it to handle secure cargo at its site.

The facility is expected to generate 30 jobs and the airport also recently appointed a head of cargo.

“The new facility will all serve to capitalize on the huge opportunity within the region,” the airport said. “For example, a total of £2.9bn of goods were exported from the northeast in quarter four 2021, with a 47.3% recovery from the pandemic low point in quarter two 2020, higher than the national average.

“It will target the some 71,000 businesses within an hour’s drive of the airport, as well as those further afield.”

A new £200m logistics and industrial park is also being developed at Teesside International.