- Air cargo volumes through UK airports rose to 687,000 tonnes in the third quarter of 2025, a modest year-on-year increase from 679,000 tonnes in the same quarter last year. But while quarterly performance has been stable, cumulative numbers for the year to date show cargo tonnage is trending below its pre-pandemic highs.
According to the latest Aviation Trends data from the Civil Aviation Authority, total annual freight handled reached 2.7 million tonnes by the end of the third quarter – flat compared to 2024, and down from the 2.8 million recorded in 2018 and 2017. Despite a gradual recovery since 2020, when volumes fell to 2.2 million, 2025 remains the weakest post-Covid-19 year since 2021.
Heathrow Airport retained its position as the UK’s largest freight hub, handling 391,331 tonnes in the third quarter – an increase of just 1% year-on-year. It was followed by the East Midlands with 101,827 tonnes, up 6%, while Stansted saw a notable decline of 13%, processing just 69,421 tonnes.
Prestwick recorded the most dramatic increase of any airport, rising by 419% to 11,483 tonnes. Cardiff stocks also rose, albeit from a much lower base, recording a 1,836% jump to 312 tonnes.
Among the airlines, Air China and China Southern Airlines were the best performers, adding 11,000 and 7,000 tons, respectively. In contrast, DHL Air and Federal Express each lost 4,000 tons, and British Airways fell by 6,000 tons.
The bulk of the growth in payload came from passenger aircraft’s belly capacity, which increased by 7,000 tons year-on-year. Dedicated freight services contributed an additional 2,000 tons. Overall scheduled shipping operations were up 2%, while charter services were down 10%.
Markets outside Europe and North America – classified as “rest of world” – accounted for 335,492 tonnes in the third quarter, representing a 7% increase year-on-year. However, domestic freight traffic fell by 13%, and traffic to Eastern Europe fell by 20%.
Top international shipping methods
The busiest international routes in terms of tonnage were Doha (35,011 tons), JFK New York (34,653 tons), and Dubai (34,060 tons). While Doha and Dubai remained flat, traffic at JFK declined by 13%. Other notable shifts included a 54% increase in tonnage to Riyadh and a 47% increase to Beijing.
While the rise in Q3 provides reassurance about the stability of the UK air freight market, the broader annual trend highlights a sector that is still in a recalibration phase. The 2025 quarterly performance – Q1: 653K, Q2: 684K, Q3: 687K – shows gradual improvement, but still lags behind the 705K tons recorded in Q4 2024.
The Civil Aviation Authority noted that nearly 700,000 tonnes were transported across the UK network between July and September, representing a continuation of a moderate multi-year growth trend without significant spikes.
With the peak season approaching, all eyes are on whether the fourth quarter can push annual tonnage closer to or exceeding 3 million tons. Much will depend on shipping capacity during the winter holiday season, the pace of e-commerce flows, and how supply chains accommodate broader macroeconomic and geopolitical shifts.
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