East Midlands Airport (EMA)
East Midlands Airport (EMA) serves the East Midlands region from its single-terminal site at Castle Donington on the Derbyshire/Leicestershire border. Sitting 9 miles northwest of Leicester, 15 miles south of Nottingham, and 27 miles northeast of Birmingham, it is geographically well-placed to serve a large catchment spanning several major UK cities.
The airport handles approximately 4 million passengers per year with a focus on leisure travel — beach holidays, city breaks, and package tours. Ryanair is the dominant operator, with easyJet, Jet2, TUI, and Wizz Air also running regular schedules. Popular destinations include Alicante, Faro, Malaga, Palma, Tenerife, and Dublin.
Beyond passengers, East Midlands Airport is one of the UK's most important air freight hubs. Its 24-hour operating licence, central location, and direct motorway access (M1 junction 23A) make it a base for major logistics operators including DHL, Royal Mail, UPS, and TNT. It consistently ranks in the UK's top three airports for cargo volume.
The airport is owned and operated by MAG (Manchester Airports Group) — the same group that operates Manchester, Stansted, and London City airports.
East Midlands Airport at a glance
| IATA code | EMA |
| ICAO code | EGNX |
| Location | Castle Donington, Leicestershire / Derbyshire border |
| Distance | 9 miles NW of Leicester · 15 miles S of Nottingham · 27 miles NE of Birmingham |
| Terminal | Single terminal |
| Owner / Operator | MAG (Manchester Airports Group) |
| Passengers | ~4 million per year (recovering to ~4.7M pre-COVID peak) |
| Cargo | Top 3 UK airport for freight — DHL, Royal Mail, UPS hub |
| Motorway access | M1 Junction 23A (direct), A42/M42 for Birmingham |
| Bus to Nottingham | Skylink ~30 min, every 15 min · ~£6–7 |
| Bus to Leicester | Skylink ~45 min · ~£6–7 |
| Bus to Derby | Skylink ~30 min · ~£6–7 |
Most popular routes
Single terminal — all airlines
East Midlands Airport has one passenger terminal. All airlines check in, depart, and arrive from the same building — there is no need to check which terminal your airline uses.
After check-in you pass through security into the main airside departures area. Facilities include a Wetherspoons pub, Costa Coffee, Boots, WH Smith, and Bureau de Change. Gates are a short walk from the central lounge area. There is no airside transit — once through security you are in the single departures zone.
The arrivals hall is on the ground floor. Car hire desks (Hertz, Europcar, Enterprise, Avis, National) are landside in arrivals. The Skylink bus stop is immediately outside the terminal exit. Short Stay car park is directly opposite across the road. Taxis queue at the rank just outside arrivals.
Transport to East Midlands Airport
| Skylink to Nottingham | ~30 min to Broadmarsh · £6–7 single · every 15 min |
| Skylink to Derby | ~30 min to Derby bus station · £6–7 single · frequent |
| Skylink to Leicester | ~45 min to St Margaret's · £6–7 single · frequent |
| Skylink to Loughborough | ~20 min · frequent services · good for EM Parkway rail connections |
| Skylink to Burton upon Trent | ~25 min · serves A38 corridor |
| Taxi to Nottingham | ~25–35 min · approx £20–25 |
| Taxi to Leicester | ~35–45 min · approx £25 |
| Taxi to Derby | ~30–40 min · approx £25–30 |
| Drive | M1 Junction 23A · A42/M42 from Birmingham · A453 from Nottingham |
| No direct rail | Nearest station: East Midlands Parkway (~5 miles) — no direct shuttle |
Unlike Manchester or Edinburgh, East Midlands Airport has no railway station. The nearest rail connection is East Midlands Parkway on the Nottingham–London St Pancras line, approximately 5 miles away — but there is no regular shuttle bus connecting the two. If you need rail, take Skylink to Nottingham or Derby and connect from there.
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Pre-booking online can save up to 60% versus paying on arrival. Book early — prices rise steeply as your travel date approaches.
Who flies from EMA?
East Midlands Airport FAQs
The Skylink bus runs from the airport directly to Nottingham city centre (Broadmarsh) every 15 minutes throughout the day. The journey takes approximately 30 minutes and costs around £6–7 for a single. Taxis cost approximately £20–25 and take 25–35 minutes. By car, take the A453 directly into Nottingham — about 20–30 minutes outside rush hour.
No. East Midlands Airport does not have its own railway station. The nearest station is East Midlands Parkway, approximately 5 miles away on the Nottingham–London St Pancras line, but there is no dedicated shuttle bus linking them. The most practical public transport option is the Skylink bus service to Nottingham, Derby, or Leicester.
The Skylink bus connects the airport to Leicester city centre (St Margaret's bus station) in approximately 45 minutes, with frequent services throughout the day. A taxi costs approximately £25 and takes around 35–45 minutes. By car, take the A453 south and join the M1 or A46 into Leicester — typically 30–40 minutes outside peak hours.
The Skylink bus runs to Derby bus station in approximately 30 minutes with frequent services. Taxis cost approximately £25–30. By car, take the A50 westbound towards Derby — around 25–35 minutes. Derby also has connections via Loughborough for East Midlands Railway services.
Ryanair is the largest operator at EMA. Other airlines include easyJet, Jet2, TUI Airways, and Wizz Air. Aurigny serves Guernsey and Loganair operates some domestic routes. The airport specialises in leisure travel — Mediterranean beach destinations, city breaks, and package holiday flights.
As of 2026, East Midlands Airport does not have a dedicated passenger lounge. The airside departures area has a Wetherspoons, Costa Coffee, Boots, and WH Smith. Some airlines offer priority boarding products. If a lounge is important to you, consider whether departing from another airport with lounge access (e.g. Birmingham, Manchester) is practical for your journey.
For short-haul European flights, arrive at least 2 hours before departure. During peak summer periods, school holidays, and bank holiday weekends, allow an extra 30–60 minutes as security queues can build at busy times. Check-in desks typically close 40–60 minutes before departure depending on your airline.
Yes, and it is strongly recommended. Pre-booking online saves significantly — on-the-day rates can be two or three times the advance price. Options include Short Stay (directly opposite the terminal), Long Stay (free shuttle, 5 minutes), Express Drop & Go, and off-airport operators. Book as far in advance as possible for summer travel.
East Midlands Airport ranks in the UK's top three airports for air freight thanks to its 24-hour operating licence, central UK location (equidistant from many major cities), and direct motorway access via M1 junction 23A with easy onward reach to the M42, M6 and A42. Major operators based here include DHL, Royal Mail, UPS, TNT, and several charter freight companies. Cargo operations run overnight when passenger flights have finished.
Landside: check-in desks, car hire counters, Bureau de Change, left luggage, cash machines, and a small café. Airside (after security): Wetherspoons, Costa Coffee, Boots pharmacy, WH Smith, a newsagent, Bureau de Change, and several food concessions. The airport is compact — facilities are more limited than larger UK airports but sufficient for short-haul leisure travel.