AIR ONE has inaugurated its first-ever scheduled freighter service, with a Boeing 747-400F operated by One Air touching down at East Midlands Airport (EMA) from Hong Kong on 4 September 2025. The inaugural flight arrived early, carrying 109,484 kilos across 39 pallets, marking a major step in the company’s growth.
The new four-times-weekly route is designed for time-sensitive cargo such as e-commerce and electronics, with late evening departures from Hong Kong and early morning arrivals into EMA. Cargo is distributed nationwide through Swissport’s road feeder network, linking key UK hubs including London Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham.
Since 2020, AIR ONE has operated over 3,000 Boeing 747 charter flights moving more than 300 million kilos of cargo from Hong Kong to 35 destinations. The company has also opened a permanent Hong Kong office to support its long-term expansion.
Chief Commercial Officer Peter Scholten said the service adds a “third pillar” to AIR ONE’s operations, alongside wet lease and charter flights, and lays the foundation for broader scheduled services. By 2026, the airline plans to increase frequencies from Hong Kong and add new routes.
As the UK’s leading freighter hub, EMA’s 24/7 operations and central location make it a strategic base for AIR ONE’s scheduled services.