Teesside International Airport Limited

Teesside International Airport has developed a growing cargo offer centred on speed, accessibility and operational flexibility.

The airport sits at the heart of the UK's logistics network, with around 60% of the country's distribution and manufacturing hubs reachable within four hours. It benefits from direct access to the A1(M), A19 and A66, rail freight connectivity and proximity to major ports including Teesport, Humber, Tyne and Blyth.

FedEx already operates from the airport and there are daily KLM services supporting wider logistics connections.

The airport's offer is particularly attractive for time-sensitive freight and e-commerce operations. Unlike many larger airports, Teesside emphasises rapid handling, minimal delays and round-the-clock operations. Its cargo services include customs clearance, cargo handling, ground operations, aircraft support and specialist facilities, all designed to help businesses move goods more efficiently. The airport is also one of the UK’s newest Border Control Points, enabling it to handle a wide range of specialist cargo streams.

Together, these services give cargo operators a flexible regional alternative to larger UK hubs, with the ability to combine handling, customs, aircraft support and onward distribution from a single airport location.

For cargo operators, Teesside’s multimodal connectivity is increasingly critical, enabling seamless onward distribution and reducing overall transit times.

The wider Airport Business Park, now home to MRO firm Willis Aviation Services Ltd, defence giant Draken and growing aircraft painting firm Airbourne Colours, is capitalising on those links to create a joined-up logistics ecosystem where air freight integrates effortlessly with road and rail networks.

Teesside's cargo credentials have also been strengthened by a series of significant commercial agreements in recent years. In 2024, FedEx signed a five-year deal to relocate its air cargo operation from Newcastle Airport to Teesside, bringing eight additional inbound and outbound freight flights a week.

The move established a dedicated airfreight handling operation at the airport and provided capacity for around 196,000lbs of cargo to move through Teesside each week, underlining growing confidence in the airport's logistics offer.

This summer, Teesside secured a landmark agreement with Alfor Aviation, which will see the global aerospace innovator relocate its headquarters to the airport as part of a £50million investment. The 50-year deal will deliver a major aircraft conversion campus featuring hangars, engineering workshops and warehousing, capable of converting up to 24 passenger aircraft into freighters annually once fully operational. The investment further reinforces Teesside's growing role in the international cargo and logistics sector.

Alongside established operations, new international cargo routes and major private-sector investment, Teesside is continuing to expand its infrastructure. A new 60,000 sq ft temperature-controlled cargo facility close to the terminal is well advanced and will support specialist freight, e-commerce and perishable goods. Developments such as the FedEx operation and Alfor Aviation's planned aircraft conversion campus demonstrate the airport's ambition to become one of the UK's leading regional cargo gateways.

The cargo growth is being spearheaded by Head of Cargo Bob Matharoo, one of the most experienced figures in the UK air freight sector. With more than three decades of experience across aviation, cargo and logistics, he has held senior commercial and cargo leadership roles at airports around the UK and internationally. His extensive industry network, strategic expertise and deep understanding of global freight markets have been instrumental in securing new airline partnerships, attracting investment and helping establish Teesside as an increasingly important northern cargo hub.

Since joining Teesside, Bob has championed the airport as a serious alternative to the UK’s more congested freight gateways. His focus has been on building an agile, customer-focused cargo operation with fully integrated handling, 24-hour operations and quicker turnaround times for airlines and freight operators.

Under his leadership, Teesside has secured significant new cargo routes, expanded its profile at international trade events and strengthened relationships with global freight carriers, giving the airport a stronger platform for continued cargo growth.