East Midlands Airport sits in Castle Donington, Leicestershire, between Nottingham, Derby and Leicester, near the meeting of the M1, A42 and A50. It handles around 3 million passengers a year alongside one of the UK's largest dedicated cargo operations — the airport is DHL's UK hub and runs around the clock for freight.

The passenger side is firmly leisure-focused: Jet2, TUI, Ryanair and easyJet dominate the route map, with most flights heading to Mediterranean and short-haul European destinations. There's no scheduled long-haul, but the route network is rich for holidaymakers in the East Midlands.

EMA is one of the cheapest UK major airports to drive to, fly from and park at — its rural location, single terminal and high cargo volume keep landing fees and operating costs low.

Getting to EMA

All the practical access info — by car, train, coach and otherwise.

By road

M1 junction 23a or 24, then a short A453 hop. From Nottingham, allow 25 minutes; from Derby, 25 minutes; from Leicester, 30 minutes. Free, well-signposted access from all directions.

By rail

There's no rail link to the terminal itself — the nearest station is East Midlands Parkway (about 4 miles away), connected by the Skylink bus.

By bus / coach

Skylink runs frequent bus services to Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Loughborough. National Express runs longer-distance coaches.

Also worth knowing

EMA is one of the few UK airports easier to reach by car than by rail — most travellers drive.

The parking landscape

How parking works at East Midlands

Official car parks at EMA are graded Short Stay (next to the terminal, ideal for drop-off), Mid Stay (5-minute walk) and Long Stay (5-minute shuttle). All three are operated by the airport.

Off-airport operators are concentrated along the A453 and A6 in Castle Donington and Kegworth, with a few sites further afield in Sutton Bonington. Independent rates are typically 30–50% cheaper than the airport's own long-stay, especially for stays of 4+ nights.

Pro tips

Tips travellers wish they'd known

Mid Stay is good value for 1–3 night trips and within walking distance — often overlooked.
Off-airport meet-and-greet is unusually cheap at EMA; operators frequently undercut on-airport short-stay even for 1-day trips.
There's no rail station at the airport — factor in the Skylink bus or a taxi if you don't drive.
Forecourt drop-off costs £4–£6; the Mid Stay car park offers 15 minutes free with a short walk to the terminal.
Avoid Sunday afternoons in summer — Jet2 and TUI return arrivals peak and shuttle queues lengthen.

Frequently asked

EMA questions, answered

The questions our 24/7 team gets asked most about flying from East Midlands.

Is there a train station at East Midlands Airport?+

No — the closest station is East Midlands Parkway, around 4 miles away. The Skylink bus connects the two.

Is parking cheap at EMA?+

Yes — it's consistently one of the lowest-priced major UK airports for parking, with both official and independent options well below London-airport equivalents.

Why is EMA so busy at night?+

It's the UK's largest dedicated cargo hub. DHL operates a major sorting centre and runs flights through the night, but passenger flights are restricted overnight.

How early should I arrive?+

90 minutes for short-haul Europe is comfortable. Security is rarely a long wait outside school holidays.

Can I be dropped off without paying?+

There's a £4–£6 drop-off fee at the front of the terminal. The free option is the Mid Stay car park, a 5-minute walk away.

Is there long-haul from EMA?+

No scheduled long-haul services run from EMA at present. Most travellers connect via Manchester or Birmingham for long-haul.