The report, entitled connecting today and tomorrow, details the Group's commitment to responsible and sustainable growth by outlining the progress it has made in mitigating its impact on the environment and its neighbours, as well as clearly demonstrating the social and economic benefits that the airport brings to the regions it serves.

The Manchester Airports Group contributes £3.5 billion to the UK economy annually and provides direct employment for around 26,000 people with a further 50,000 jobs created to support the business. Available on the Group's website magworld.co.uk, the report demonstrates the importance MAG places on growing a sustainable business for the future.

East Midlands Airport's reduction in emissions also contributes to the wider aviation industry's own stringent targets. The aviation industry, as a whole, contributes 2-3% to global emissions and 6% towards UK emissions and is the only sector to have set its own targets to reduce climate change, with a commitment to carbon neutral growth from 2020.

The airport, along with the other airports in the Group, was the first airport to commit to all its operations being carbon neutral by 2012 and has led the way for many years by implementing innovative projects.

Penny Coates, Group Board Director responsible for Sustainability said: "We are proud to be launching our first sustainability report and to be setting out some of our achievements to date. We have a strong track record in innovative environmental performance and in supporting the local communities around our airports. We know how critical our airports are to the economic and social development of the regions and the people that they serve, but we must balance the benefits against the need to minimise the effects that our operations have."

Highlights from the report include:

• UK firsts for East Midlands Airport including; receiving planning permission to install wind turbines on site, planting of a willow farm to provide bio-fuel and in a world first, launched a trial to run an airport passenger transfer bus powered by Liquid Biomethane fuel (LBM), a carbon neutral fuel.
• The airport has incorporated environmentally friendly and carbon reducing techniques into all new buildings, since 2006; including an energy efficient pier, which obtains heat from boreholes, uses rain water in toilets and natural and low energy lighting, in addition, the newly launched on site hotel will deliver a 87% reduction in CO2 and supply up to 90% of the consumed energy from a renewable source.
• The airport achieved the highest of any UK airport for waste recycling. 84% of all waste collected was recycled, which well exceeding the original 50% target.
• East Midlands Airport contributes heavily to the local communities and has awarded £63,323 in grants to local community groups, supporting over 101 projects.
• The airport has maintained its ISO14001 Environmental Management accreditation for the seventh consecutive year
• East Midlands Airport has a specially designed envirozones, where passengers, the community and staff can read more about what the airport is doing to protect the environment and a newly opened education centre, which encourages schools to visit and learn about the airport, alongside their normal curriculum.
• The airport promotes environmentally sound choices amongst customers, by encouraging passengers to offset their journey on the airport's website and by ensuring good transport links to and from the surrounding areas.

The full MAG Sustainability Report is available to download from www.magworld.co.uk/ sr2009

The bus uses gas produced by the decomposition of biomass (ie. organic waste, such as food byproducts) which is created by extracting the natural gas produced by biomass in landfill or by digestion of the biomass byproducts of industries, such as food manufacture and retail.

The production of LBM takes potentially environmentally damaging gases, known as 'greenhouse gases', and converts them into an environmentally friendly fuel that can be directly substituted for both Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).

The airport is over half way towards its commitment to carbon neutrality by 2012 and the trial of Biomethane is the latest in a line of innovative environmental projects it is implementing. The airport's carbon neutral ambition targets all aspects of operation within our direct control, namely our ground support vehicles and the energy used in our buildings. The Biomethane trial is just one of a number of projects taking place at the airport to reach this target.
It is expected the benefits of using this carbon neutral fuel will include; significant improvements to air quality, a reduction in CO2 emissions and a reduction in costs. Following the six month trial period that will test vehicle performance compared to the performance of a similar vehicle fuelled with diesel, the airport will consider progressively increasing the number of vehicles using this environmentally friendly fuel on the airport site.
Neil Robinson, Director of Sustainability, East Midlands Airport said: "We have always put the importance of our local community and the environment around us at the centre of our plans. We have made significant efforts in recent years to mitigate the environmental impacts of our operations and we are really proud to be launching another airport first."

The airport already has a wide range of environmentally friendly projects in place including; an energy efficient pier which obtains heat from 27 boreholes, a source that is five times more efficient than other heating sources, the use of rain water (known as grey water) in toilets and incorporating natural and low energy lighting throughout the building.

Ground transport has been a key area that East Midlands Airport has focused heavily on and one that has seen the airport invest in alternative fuels for on site vehicles including bio-diesel (chip fat) and electric. In addition to these carbon friendly initiatives, the airport was also the first in the UK to propose plans for four wind turbines to generate 10% of the airport's electricity supply. In the coming months we plan to install the wind turbines on site and further reduce the impact of our buildings and vehicles.

Neil Robinson continued: "In addition to trialing alternative fuel use on the airport site, we have recently made further positive steps towards achieving our goal of carbon neutrality and significantly reducing the carbon emissions from our operation. These steps include; drawing up plans for new green energy and technology, continually working to drive down noise and excessive fuel use through working with our airline partners and improving green transport options for passengers and staff."

There is video clips available to accompany this press release in the media centre of the East Midlands Airport website.

For three consecutive years, East Midlands Airport has secured the 'Star Regional Airport' title at the Travel Bulletin 2009 Star Awards.

Last night, East Midlands Airport was crowned winner over Stansted Airport, Bournemouth International Airport and Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Voted for exclusively by UK travel agents, the annual Travel Bulletin Star Awards is one of the most prestigious events in the travel industry calendar, designed to celebrate the achievements of the travel trade.

"We are extremely proud to have secured this award which recognises the airport's achievements over the last year", said Caroline Plant, East Midlands Airport's Marketing Director.

"As well as highlighting the successes of the airport, the award clearly demonstrates the confidence, trust and respect our travel partners place in the airport."

East Midlands Airport places a strong focus on working with and improving relationships with the travel agents across the region. Last night, the airport was commended for using innovative systems and approaches to supporting travel agents and tour operators, and praised for the implementation of recent initiatives such as, a new facility which offers travel agents the chance to give their feedback on all types of travel issues.
Caroline Plant attended the awards ceremony and received the award on behalf of East Midlands Airport.

Business leaders from across the East Midlands have come together to learn about managing their environmental impacts at a special event held at East Midlands Airport earlier this week.

Following the airport's success at the Business in the Community Big Tick Awards for Excellence earlier this year, Neil Robinson, the airport's Director of Sustainability, was asked to lead this visit as a leader in environment. Fifteen business delegates from a broad range of local businesses were invited to learn about the airport's successful approach to managing climate change and share best practice to reduce their own environmental impacts.

Business leaders were given a tour of the airport's facilities including Air Traffic Control to look at the team's continued work to drive down noise and excessive fuel use through working with pilots to adopt the Continuous Descent Approach. Other focus areas for the day included alternative fuel use on the airport site and low carbon initiatives in the new departure lounge extension. Delegates also learnt about East Midlands Airport's continued community investment programme which includes a focus on managing the local environment.

Neil Robinson, Director of Sustainability, East Midlands Airport, said: "At East Midlands Airport we take our corporate social responsibility extremely seriously, integrating environmental and social commitment as a key component in all business areas. We are continually working to reduce environmental impacts whilst operating an expanding business and it is paramount that we look to other businesses to share experiences and develop a low carbon future for the region."

David Cooke, East Midlands Regional Director, Business in the Community, added: "I am grateful to East Midlands Airport for leading this visit on behalf of His Royal Highness. Members of Business in the Community make a commitment to sharing their best practice with others. There is no better example of this than the Airport offering a 'behind the scenes' look at how they have achieved so much on the environmental agenda."

Business in the Community, one of The Prince's Charities, is a membership organisation which inspires, engages, supports and challenges business for good. Following the visit, each delegate submitted a summary of lessons learnt and ideas to take forward with their business to HRH Prince of Wales, demonstrating the commitment of businesses both realising and managing their environmental impacts.

In addition to the eight new routes, a key part of the expansion plan sees a significant increase in the number of flights to popular winter and summer destinations - please see the table below:

bmibaby now offer 24 European destinations from East Midlands Airport: Alghero (Sardinia), Alicante, Almeria, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bastia (Corsica), Belfast International, Cork, Dubrovnik (Croatia), Edinburgh, Faro, Geneva, Glasgow International, Grenoble, Jersey, Malaga, Malta, Menorca, Newquay, Nice, Palma, Paris (CDG), Prague and Venice.

Crawford Rix, managing director, bmibaby, said:

"Our rapid expansion programme at East Midlands Airport is fantastic news for the Midlands. It not only further demonstrates our commitment to the airport, but also to the people of the region, as we continue to offer low fares to a range of exciting new European destinations.

"As well as announcing eight new routes today to Sardinia, Barcelona, Corsica, Cork, Croatia, Malta, Newquay and Venice, we have also increased our capacity on key winter and summer routes to meet the extra consumer demand.

"We are confident that the services will prove extremely popular and we will make sure that everyone who wants to fly can, whether it's for a sunshine holiday, a city break or for an important business trip.

"We continue to be a champion of the consumer market - currently we are offering no credit and debit card fees on all flights, and skis and snow boards fly free of charge on bookings to any of our ski destinations. Plus all passengers travelling with us are allocated a seat, so there is no need to dash for seat, and customers can enjoy the benefits of the UK's most generous frequent flyer programme - bmi diamond club.

"bmibaby and bmi have operated from East Midlands since the airport opened in 1965 - and is an embedded part of the local community. We recognise the size of the East Midlands market and its future potential, and we will continue to offer the people of the East Midlands low cost flights with a high quality service. bmibaby is here to stay!"

Penny Coates, managing director, East Midlands Airport, said:

"This is fantastic news for our passengers because bmibaby are not only adding new routes but also extra destinations for summer 2010, a significant increase in the number of flights to popular winter and summer destinations, and the addition of three based aircraft, meaning an even greater choice.

"The bmi group have served the East Midlands region for 45 years; they are a local, long term operator that is committed to the growth of the East Midlands region. bmibaby has continued to go from strength to strength with their East Midlands Airport operation by providing a comprehensive range of business and leisure destinations combined with competitive low fares.

"Offering 24 European destinations shows that bmibaby is committed to the airport and the region and we are looking forward to working with them to make these new routes a great success."
For more information please visit www.bmibaby.com

"Although two destinations could be lost, we've already had very positive indications from other low cost airlines that they will fill this small gap, including bmibaby who have served the East Midlands region for 45 years.

"The impact on jobs is regrettable but easyJet staff who want to work around East Midlands Airport can take some comfort from the creation of 250 new jobs with Jet2.com and from our announcement today of a free scheme via two local colleges which arms local jobseekers with the latest skills to find work".

Marking the start of the airports busiest period, Jet2.com has today announced it will begin operating flights direct from East Midlands Airport in time for summer 2010. The introduction of the new operator will result in a Boeing 757 aircraft based at the airport with further investment and growth planned for the next three years. East Midlands Airport will now be the only UK airport to have bases for Jet2.com, bmibaby, Ryanair and easyJet.

As the bank holiday weekend begins, East Midlands Airport is expected to handle approximately 75,000 passengers between Friday 28th and Monday 31st August, with around 19,000 passengers travelling in and out of the airport on the weekend's busiest day, Saturday 30th August.

Euro destinations are emerging as the clear favourites with the British traveling public this weekend, with Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife and Dublin thought to be the most popular destinations.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said; "Despite the economic downturn many people are still keen to enjoy a holiday in the sun. With the continued unpredictability of the British weather, we are expecting many people to be making the most of the last few weeks of summer by jetting off this weekend".

Penny Coates continued; "The news that Jet2.com will open a brand new operation from East Midlands Airport next year is extremely encouraging for the airport and the region as a whole. This news is a positive indicator for the future and puts East Midlands Airport in a strong position as we continue to extend and develop our route network".

While regular flyers have become used to the security restrictions in place, the airport reminds all passengers to check the latest security information on eastmidlandsairport.com before travelling.

East Midlands Airport also offers a large range of last minute holiday deals on its website, so if you haven't yet booked a holiday just visit the Travel Shop at eastmidlandsaiport.com to grab a great deal.

With car parking forming an essential part of the holiday experience, the airport has recently introduced its new Meet and Greet Valet parking service with the aim of improving the customer experience.

The facility which can be pre-booked on-line or booked using a dedicated call centre, means that customers can now drive to the specific drop off point outside departures, where they will be greeted by a member of airport staff who will then park their car in a safe and secure, ParkMark awarded car park, for the duration of their holiday.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said, "We are continuously looking for ways in which to improve the customer experience and we are confident that the new car parking system will provide the customer with a more convenient option.

"As an airport that offers passengers choice and flexibility, we believe that the new parking system will make a real difference to the customer experience.

"With a wide range of summer destinations on offer and improved car park and retail facilities, the airport is well placed to offer its customers an even greater start to their holiday experience."

The service has carried two million passengers since it was launched in May 2004. In its first year the service carried 99,399 passengers from Nottingham, compared to 540,000 in the last year.

Kelly McHugh, Skylink's Marketing Manager, said, "We are extremely pleased that the service has continued to grow year on year and would like to say a big thank you to the two million passengers that have travelled on Skylink in the last five years, helping to make the service a great success."

Readers can take part in the competition by registering online at skylink.co.uk and following the link for Club Skylink. The 200th new member of Club Skylink will win two flights to Knock in the west of Ireland.

Skylink operates every 30 minutes during the day and hourly at night, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from Friar Lane.

For timetable and route information visit skylink.co.uk

Shortlisted in the category of Airport of the Year, East Midlands Airport joins its sister airports, Bournemouth and Manchester in the same category, making it an even greater achievement for the Manchester Airports Group as a whole.

Lucy Huxley, editor of TTG, said: "We had a record number of entries this year, demonstrating the resilience of the travel industry in this recession, so any firm which is shortlisted can feel very proud. Entrants are rated by the travel agents they work with, before being judged by panels of industry experts. Winners truly deserve to be named the best in our industry."

Caroline Plant, Director of Marketing, East Midlands Airport said, "We are delighted to have received Individual and Group recognition for the prestigious TTG Awards, regarded as a universal benchmark of quality within the travel industry,

"Reaching the shortlist is a tremendous achievement and is a true reflection of the airport's drive and determination to be the best."

Judges for the awards include managing directors and chief executives of some of the biggest names in the travel industry, including Abta, Thomson and Virgin Holidays, in addition to leading figures from the worlds of commerce and retail.

This year's winners will be announced at a spectacular ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on 22 September 2009.

All passengers, however, should check with their tour operator or airline before travelling to the airport.

Cyclescheme, a government green transport initiative which provides employees with the benefit of purchasing a bike and safety equipment over a 12 month pay back period, was launched at East Midlands Airport last month.

Twenty employees from East Midlands Airport have taken advantage of tax-free bikes and are now enjoying a greener and more environmentally friendly way of travelling to work.

Kelly McHugh, Travel Plan Marketing Manager, said, "The Airport's rural location means that staff are less inclined to cycle to work, however, the scheme is a fantastic way to encourage more people to take up cycling for leisure and commuting purposes. Over the last few years, we have made a number of steps to encourage cycling, with a safe access crossing point on the A453, cycle storage and showers for cyclists and we hope this is a step further to encouraging cycling to the site."

Stuart Ralphs, Commercial Support Manager, East Midlands Airport who purchased his bike through the Cycle to Work scheme said, "My new bike is great, it's much lighter so I can cycle to and from work much quicker. I can do the 11 mile journey in about 50 minutes compared to a 35 minutes car journey. It's a great feeling to pass queuing traffic! This scheme has encouraged me to exercise more and cycle further."

To encourage employees to cycle to work and promote the benefits of cycling, last month the airport organised a series of events as part of National Bike Week. During the week, cyclists were provided with a free MOT service from Dr Bike, cycle maps and journey planning advice. Employees were also invited to attend a try before your buy session and offered pool bikes for journeys on the Airport site. As part of the national campaign, employees at East Midlands Airport cycled over 350 miles on their journeys to and from work during the week.

For more information about the scheme, visit cyclescheme.co.uk

All roads leading to this venue are likely to be busy from Friday 24th July to Sunday 26th July 2009. The three day event is expected to attract 55,000 people, with the majority of visitors travelling on 26 July for the main race day. A traffic plan has been implemented to make it easier for spectators to get into Donington Park, and to reduce delays experienced by other road users in the area.

Kelly McHugh, Transport Manager, East Midlands Airport, said "The Motorcycle Grand Prix is a popular event therefore traffic congestion is unavoidable. Passengers should allow more time when planning their journey to the airport, we recommend at least an extra hour on top of the two hour check-in time for a flight in case of delays. In addition, on Sunday there will be several one-way traffic management schemes in place so it is essential that passengers follow diversion signs and instructions by traffic management personnel on the day and stick to motorway routes wherever possible".

On Sunday 26th July all airport traffic is advised to travel on the main motorways and avoid the surrounding villages. Passengers can access the airport by using A50, M1 (J23a) and A42.

The traffic plan:
Friday 24th and Saturday 25th July - A one way system will be in place on Melbourne Lane between the Paddocks entrance and Isley Walton.

Sunday 26th July - A one way system will be in operation on the A453 between Pegasus roundabout and DHL roundabout.

One way system from 0600 to 1400 (from Pegasus to DHL, ie westerly traffic flow)
The main entrance of the airport will be closed to exiting traffic. All traffic exiting the airport will be via either the DHL or Pegasus roundabouts

One way system from 1400 to 2100 (from DHL to Pegasus ie easterly flow of traffic)
The main entrance of the airport will be closed to right turn (westbound) exiting traffic. Traffic wishing to head west out of the main entrance is advised to use the internal road system to the Pegasus roundabout and on to the A453/A50 or A42.

From 1600 to 1900 the DHL roundabout will be closed to both inbound and outbound traffic.

• Diseworth Heritage Centre, 14 July 2009
• Melbourne, Bill Shone Leisure Centre, 21 July 2009
• Castle Donington Village Hall, 25 August 2009
• Kegworth Parish Council Rooms, 29 September 2009

The Airport already has a wide range of noise management and mitigation measures in place including; Noise Preferred Routes which requires aircraft to fly specified departure routes, a Sound Insulation Scheme for local residents affected by aircraft noise, Noise Penalties for aircraft breaching the airport's stringent noise levels and restrictions on the noisiest aircraft operating at night.

Commenting on the consultation, East Midlands Airport's Director of Sustainability, Neil Robinson said: "The Airport is an important part of the region, employing more than 7,000 people and providing travel opportunities to over 90 destinations. We take the negative impact of our operations very seriously, particularly the impact on our closest neighbours, which is why we have some of the strictest controls of any UK airport. In recent years we have been successful in reducing aircraft noise around the airport by the increased use of quieter aircraft and techniques such as continuous descent approach.
"The draft plan sets out a comprehensive package of noise controls and demonstrates our commitment to manage and where possible, reduce the impact of aircraft related noise. We hope this consultation will allow the local community another valuable opportunity to feed back their views and help the Airport strike the right balance between reducing the negative impact and the substantial benefits the Airport brings to the regional economy."
For people wishing to take part in the consultation copies of the action plan are available online at www.eastmidlandsairport.com/environment

The Investment Report was developed in line with the airport's 2006 Master Plan, detailing charitable funding and donations, partnership projects and continued engagement with the local community, in addition to awards obtained, developments to the airport's extensive bus network and work towards the airport's 2012 carbon neutral target.

Highlights from this year's report include:

• The EMA Community Fund supported 109 projects at a cost of £118,198.45. This is a 38.2% increase on the 2007/08 financial year.
• The airport offered an interesting gallery space for Sally Sheinman's piece, 'Count Me', raising awareness and funds for local charity, Rainbows Children's Hospice.
• 13% increase in passengers using the Skylink bus services, totalling 1,304,962 passengers.
• A record 46% of recycled waste amounting to 408 tonnes, smashing our 40% target.
• EMA held and supported a number of sustainability events, improving internal awareness of climate change.
• The airport has collected three environmental awards at local, national and European ceremonies.
• A 63% reduction in noise related complaints.
• Continued developments to the airport's Perimeter Trail, including the installation of eight information boards.
• EMA has maintained its ISO14001 Environmental Management accreditation for the sixth consecutive year.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, said:"The Community and Environment Investment Report is a great communication tool, providing our stakeholders with a comprehensive account of sustainable actions taken by the airport in the last financial year. This corporate community investment is more important in the current economic climate than ever before, demonstrating the airport's continued commitment and investment in local community and environment activities."

Neil Robinson, Director of Sustainability, said: "Throughout the previous financial year, we continued to invest in the local community and environment as well as introducing alternative fuels and recycling facilities on site. We are committed to maintaining our role as a key part of the local community and working towards our 2012 carbon neutral target."

Download the Community and Environment Investment Report 2008/09

The East Midlands Airport Community Fund Management Committee has once again been hard at work discussing applications and awarding grants to five worthwhile groups in the Derby area.

Totalling over £4000, these grants demonstrate just one of the ways in which the Airport continues to support its local communities, providing funding to projects, groups and organisations in neighbouring areas.

Since its inauguration in 2002, the Airport's Community Fund has supported over 500 groups, bringing lasting benefits to the Airport's neighbouring communities. Applications are considered six times a year by a Management Committee, chaired by local Councillor Marie Males.

April's successes were:

The Community Fund consists of an annual donation from the Airport, which increased to £50,000 in 2006 as a commitment of its Master Plan. Additionally, further revenue is gained from the Airport's Noise Penalty Scheme which was introduced in 2002, fining aircraft which exceed the Airport's stringent night noise levels. All fines raised are added to the Community Fund and distributed in the areas most heavily affected by the Airport's operations.

Sammie Swain, Albert Village Football Club, said: "Thanks to the grant from East Midlands Airport Community Fund, we are now able to buy new equipment for the club. This will be great for all of the Club's teams, offering them new ways to train and getting them prepared for next season."

Marie Males, East Midlands Airport Community Fund Chair, added, "Having been involved with the Community Fund since its inception in 2002, I have been fortunate to see a huge variety of groups benefit from grants given. It is important for businesses to support their local communities and EMA has excelled here proving its commitment as a good neighbour. I look forward to seeing many more successes in the future."

The Community Fund supports initiatives that demonstrate a lasting community benefit within a designated area of benefit. Priority is given to applications that demonstrate that they bring the community closer together through sport, recreation or other leisure activities, environmental improvement, heritage conservation, environmental education or those that encourage and protect wildlife.

Alison Cresswell, West Bridgford Infant School Home School Organisation, said: "The generous grant awarded from the East Midlands Airport Community Fund will allow us to create a sensory area for the school's pupils. This will enable the children to actively participate in learning about what they can find in the garden and let them really get stuck in!"

The Community Fund consists of an annual donation from the Airport, which increased to £50,000 in 2006 as a commitment of its Master Plan. Additionally, further revenue is gained from the Airport's Noise Penalty Scheme which was introduced in 2002, fining aircraft which exceed the Airport's stringent night noise levels. All fines raised are added to the Community Fund and distributed in the areas most heavily affected by the Airport's operations.

Marie Males, East Midlands Airport Community Fund Chair, added, "Having been involved with the Community Fund since its inception in 2002, I have been fortunate to see a huge variety of groups benefit from grants given. It is important for businesses to support their local communities and EMA has excelled here proving its commitment as a good neighbour. I look forward to seeing many more successes in the future."

The Community Fund supports initiatives that demonstrate a lasting community benefit within a designated area of benefit. Priority is given to applications that demonstrate that they bring the community closer together through sport, recreation or other leisure activities, environmental improvement, heritage conservation, environmental education or those that encourage and protect wildlife.

Hilary Williams, Kegworth Primary School Supergrounds Project, said: "Thanks to a generous grant from the East Midlands Airport Community Fund, Kegworth Primary School has been able to purchase a shed and greenhouse. This superb gift will enhance the RBS Supergrounds project which is currently transforming the School's grounds and will allow the children to enjoy learning about growing and nurturing plants and let them really get stuck in!"

Simon Parr, Loughborough Scouts, said:"The Oaks in Charnwood Campsite is a hugely popular venue for Cubs, Scouts, Brownies and Guides in the local area, hosting a huge number of events each year. Thanks to the grant received from the Airport's Community Fund, we can buy new tables for the groups to enjoy the activities available to them."

Bruce Townsend, Castle Donington Local History Group, said: "It's really important that we preserve our local history for generations to come, with so many exciting stories and pictures of the area. Thanks to the dedication of the Group and generous funding from the East Midlands Airport Community Fund, we have been able to pull all this history together into a printed book on the past and present drinking houses of the village, helping towards producing a comprehensive history of the area for everyone to enjoy."

The Community Fund consists of an annual donation from the Airport, which increased to £50,000 in 2006 as a commitment of its Master Plan. Additionally, further revenue is gained from the Airport's Noise Penalty Scheme which was introduced in 2002, fining aircraft which exceed the Airport's stringent night noise levels. All fines raised are added to the Community Fund and distributed in the areas most heavily affected by the Airport's operations.

Marie Males, East Midlands Airport Community Fund Chair, added, "Having been involved with the Community Fund since its inception in 2002, I have been fortunate to see a huge variety of groups benefit from grants given. It is important for businesses to support their local communities and EMA has excelled here proving its commitment as a good neighbour. I look forward to seeing many more successes in the future."

The Community Fund supports initiatives that demonstrate a lasting community benefit within a designated area of benefit. Priority is given to applications that demonstrate that they bring the community closer together through sport, recreation or other leisure activities, environmental improvement, heritage conservation, environmental education or those that encourage and protect wildlife.

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) no longer advise against travel to Mexico.

In light of this updated advice, Thomson and First Choice will begin operations to Mexico once again. Weekly flights to Cancun from East Midlands Airport are due to operate from 27th May 2009.

Thomson and First Choice's Customer Services team will contact passengers due to travel from 24 May 2009 onwards in advance of their date of travel should there be any changes to their original itinerary, accommodation or flight date and/or time.

Booking Conditions

Those passengers travelling on 27 May 2009 may amend their holiday free of charge and select a different destination or alternative date up to the same value already booked. Should they wish to cancel, a full cancellation fee will apply as per Thomson and First Choice's terms and conditions.

Those travelling from 28 May to 30 June 2009 may amend their holiday at a reduced amendment fee of £50 per person (including children). Should they wish to cancel, a full cancellation fee will apply.

Changes that are driven by the tour operator (ie. a flight time differential of 12 hours plus) will be viewed as a major change as per Thomson and First Choice's terms and conditions. Accordingly, customers may amend their holiday free of charge and select a different destination or alternative date up to the same value already booked or cancel at nil amendment fee.

Normal booking conditions apply for travel from July 1 2009 onwards.

Latest information is available on www.thomson.co.uk and www.firstchoice.co.uk

Day trips to Rome start at £429 including stadium transfers and fans can now purchase directly from Thomas Cook Sport for the crucial game on 27th May at www.thomascooksport.com. Before travelling, fans should take advantage of Thomas Cook's excellent exchange rates on the euro, which can be pre-ordered online at www.thomascook.com. Those who buy a flight to Rome from Thomas Cook will benefit from a one per cent cashback offer on currency purchases.

Danny Talbot, managing director at Thomas Cook Sport, said: "We understand football fans and we're committed to providing them with competitive travel prices from East Midlands Airport so they can experience the live games that matter."

If Manchester United win the game, to be played at neutral ground Stadio Olimpico in Rome, they will be the first ever team to win the Champions League in two consecutive years.

Thomas Cook Sport is an official provider of sports travel packages for fans and teams, operating a fleet of 97 aircraft. Packages for sporting fixtures are available from www.thomascooksport.com or by calling 0870 752 0924, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.

During May, the Airport and its partners have been celebrating its success - one lucky passenger has already won two return flights to Knock in Ireland courtesy of Ryanair. To continue the celebrations, families can travel for just £5 return between 23 and 31 May 2009. Tickets are valid for one month and can be purchased from the driver on the day of travel.

Since its launch in May 2004, the Nottingham Skylink has carried 1,901,275 passengers. In the first year 113,000 passengers used the service, compared to 553,000 passengers in the fifth year - an impressive 389% increase.

Dave Astill Commercial Manager for Nottingham City Transport stated "Skylink forms part of our integrated city network of buses for Nottingham and has become a blue print for other Skylink services from EMA and the brand "Skylink" is now well known and established across the East Midlands."

Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Area Working at Nottingham City Council said: "Skylink has been meeting the needs of holidaymakers and commuters by offering a cheap and green alternative to travel to work. The dedication and commitment of everyone involved in Skylink is rewarded with increasing passenger numbers which shows how popular the service is."

Kelly McHugh, Skylink's Marketing Manager, East Midlands Airport said, "The Nottingham Skylink started as a trial project and has developed into a flagship service that meets the needs of our passengers - operating 24/7 and providing a cheaper and greener option for travelling to the Airport. The service has been developed through a partnership including the Airport, Nottingham City Council, and East Midlands Development Agency and through hard work and determination, the service has gone from strength to strength, each year exceeding passenger target levels. Many thanks to everyone involved and Happy Birthday Skylink!"

Nottingham Skylink operates half hourly during the day and hourly at night between Friar Lane in Nottingham and East Midlands Airport, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For timetable and fares visit skylink.co.uk

Winners of two sustainability awards in 2009, East Midlands Airport (EMA) is proud to add the 'Best Business' Award to the collection. The accolade, judged by Councillor Alison Smith, Director of Facilities Management Loughborough University, Andrew Burgess and Sustainability Officer Gillian Squires, recognises the Airport's long term commitment to sustainability, including work to reduce noise and air quality impacts on the local community, along with environmental projects involving the Wildlife Trusts and continuous developments to the Airport's perimeter Trail.

Neil Robinson, Director of Sustainability, East Midlands Airport said: "It is a great honour for East Midlands Airport to be the first winner of the business category in the Footprints Challenge Awards. We continually work hard to reduce the impacts on our neighbouring communities; receiving a local award demonstrates that we really are having a positive impact on those most heavily affected by our operations."

Leader of North West Leicestershire District Council, Cllr Richard Blunt, said: "The Footprints Awards have been a fantastic success and something we are extremely proud to be involved with. It was an honour to have the opportunity to congratulate the short-listed nominees and share their inspirational projects with a wider audience. The winning entries in each category were all hugely impressive and extremely worthy winners in this, the first year of the awards. Congratulations to each and every one of them. Thanks must also go to our sponsors and award judges, to whom we are enormously indebted."

This award further highlights the many projects the Airport is implementing towards achieving its goal of carbon neutrality by 2012.

East Midlands Airport was the first UK airport to be certified to the international environmental standard ISO14001, which demonstrates the Airport's commitment to operating to the highest environmental standards. The Airport has successfully retained this standard since.

In 2006, the Airport became the first airport in Europe to make public radar recordings of its operations, using WebTrak and the first UK airport to commit to make its ground operations carbon neutral by 2012.

In 2007, the Airport demonstrated it's commitment to green energy by extending the departure lounge with a new green pier. The energy efficient pier obtains heat from 27 boreholes, each 100 metres deep, which is five times more efficient than other heating sources. In addition, the toilets in the low carbon pier use rain water (known as grey water) for flushing and all lighting is natural or low energy, reducing the impact on the environment.

In addition to these carbon friendly initiatives, the Airport is also the first in the UK to propose plans for four wind turbines to generate 10% of the Airport's electricity supply and has recently invested in alternative fuels for on site vehicles including bio-diesel (chip fat) and electric.

This year the Airport has also been awarded the Ruban d'Honneur at the 2009 European Business Awards for its continued commitments to drive down environmental impacts and the Environmental Awareness Award at the Derbyshire Business Awards.

The latest statistics show that a remarkable 1,304,962 passengers used a Skylink service from April 2008 to March 2009, compared to 1,150,970 in the previous year (07/08).

Statistics just published show that Skylink passengers saved approximately 1,800 tonnes of CO2 by travelling by bus instead of single occupancy car travel. This amount of CO2 is enough to provide energy to 1,500 homes for one year, based on the average usage of 1.2 tonnes of CO2 per household.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that the UK Bus Passenger market has increased on average 3.8% year on year.

Airport bus services currently run 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, Loughborough and Coalville - the most frequent and direct public transport to East Midlands Airport.

Kelly McHugh, Skylink Marketing Manager, East Midlands Airport said: "Skylink's 24 hour operation and 30 minutes daytime frequency is helping to drive the impressive passenger growth and demonstrates that passengers are embracing public transport to travel to the Airport.

"Our greatest achievement has been a 22% increase on the Derby and Loughborough Skylink, which has recently changed to a 24 hour service. We have also seen many more families using the Skylink services in the last year, due to the introduction of a £10 family return ticket. We are hopeful that there will be continued growth this year as more people turn to greener travel options".

For a chance to win, all you have to do is travel on the 12:05 service departing from Friar Lane in Nottingham city centre on Tuesday 5 May - Skylink's Birthday!

Since its launch in May 2004, the Nottingham Skylink has carried 1,901,275 passengers. In the first year 113,000 passengers used the service, compared to 553,000 passengers in the fifth year - an impressive 389% increase.

Kelly McHugh, Skylink's Marketing Manager, said, "The Nottingham Skylink started as a trial project and has developed into a flagship service that meets the needs of our passengers - operating 24/7 and providing a cheaper and greener option for travelling to the Airport. The service has been developed through a partnership including the Airport, Nottingham City Council, and East Midlands Development Agency and through hard work and determination, the service has gone from strength to strength, each year exceeding passenger target levels. Many thanks to everyone involved and Happy Birthday Skylink!"

Dave Astill Commercial Manager for NCT stated "The Skylink concept was developed over 5 years ago and we are delighted at its success. It now forms part of our integrated city network of buses for Nottingham, linking the airport with the city and other communities on route. It has become a blue print for other Skylink sevices from EMA to other destinations around the airport and the brand "Skylink" is now well know and established across the East Midlands" He continued "We look forward to another five years of expansion and development of Nottingham Skylink to make the airport even more accessible to Nottingham residents"

Cllr Jane Urquhart, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Area Working at Nottingham City Council said: "Skylink has been meeting the needs of travellers in Nottingham for over five years and has proven to be a successful bus service connecting Nottingham with East Midlands Airport.

"As well as serving holidaymakers, the Nottingham Skylink also provides a valuable service to commuters by offering a cheap and green alternative to travel to work.

"The dedication and commitment of everyone involved in Skylink is rewarded with passenger numbers increasing year on year which shows how popular the service is."

Nottingham Skylink operates half hourly between Friar Lane and East Midlands Airport, 24 hours 7 days a week.

The timetable and fares can be found on www.skylink.co.uk

Caroline Plant, Marketing Director, East Midlands Airport, said, "We are delighted to have launched our new service to Guernsey, extending our destination portfolio to include another Channel Island.

"With a flight time of just over an hour from East Midlands Airport, the new service is proving popular with our passengers, offering the perfect mix of relaxation and great leisure facilities. The new daily service also means that Guernsey as a destination is more accessible for business passengers from the region"

Malcolm Hart, Aurigny's Managing Director says: "We believe that flying to Guernsey will prove to be extremely popular as the island has some of the best beaches, and restaurants in the whole of the British Isles",

"Guernsey and the nearby islands of Alderney, Sark and Herm are an unusual hybrid of British and French as they nestle just a few miles off the French coast. The flight time will be just over 1 hour on brand new ATR aircraft and travellers are starting to recognise that you can experience a European style destination without leaving Britain."

Aurigny has just celebrated 40 years of service to the Channel Islands and was recently voted as third best short haul airline in a 2008 survey with the consumer magazine Which?

"We also hope that this new route will strengthen connections for business men and women who need to travel to Guernsey as it is an extremely important offshore finance centre".

The daily service will leave the UK at 15.30 and arrive in Guernsey at 16.45. The return journey will depart Guernsey at 13.45, arriving at EMA at 15.00.

The new taxi concession, based opposite the Airport's arrivals area, will improve taxi facilities for over 5.3 million customers each year.

The company which operates over 600 cars, boasts one of the UK's most modern fleets. Arrow Cars has invested over £3/4 million in the latest state of the art taxi management system, allowing real time tracking throughout the country of all its fleet, using global satellite technology.

Stephen Turner, Commercial Director, East Midlands Airport said: "We are delighted to be able to offer such a reputable and efficient service to our customers and are confident that Arrow Cars will add to the overall passengers experience."

The service provided by Arrow at East Midlands Airport is a pre paid service allowing customers to pay before they travel, with all costs calculated by mileage based upon their destination.

Arrow is widely regarded as the UK's leading operator of Airport taxi services and will look to expand its operation to many other UK airports as part of a multi million pound expansion plan.

Daniel Graham, Sales Director, Arrow Private Hire said: "Our customers are our business. We pride ourselves on offering a professional, seamless service with polite smart uniformed drivers, clean modern vehicles and customer service agents on hand at all times."

"We believe in investing in the business, both in terms of people and technology and we very much look forward to working closely with East Midlands Airport and providing customers with the most efficient taxi service around."

For further information please visit www.arrowprivatehire.co.uk

The Games, now in their eleventh year and seventh year sponsored by East Midlands Airport, got off to a flying start by celebrating the first successes of the year. Eight pupils from Nottingham Bluecoat School and Technology College in the city visited the Airport, having won the badminton competition; the first event of this year's Youth Games.

The City will be hoping for another victory in the sportshall athletics competition which is the next Youth Games event on 29 April 2009.

The 2009 Youth Games will see a wide range of events taking place over the summer months, recognising enthusiasm, talent and fun in 14 sports, from football to angling and boccia to table tennis.

The Nottinghamshire Youth Games is just one part of the Airport's continued community relations commitments, encouraging sport within its surrounding communities.

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager, East Midlands Airport, said, "East Midlands Airport is proud to once again be the headline sponsor of the Nottinghamshire Youth Games. The increasing number of sports on offer in the Games demonstrates how far the competition has developed over the years and how young people are becoming more engaged in fun, competitive, physical activity."

Chris Rolle from the Youth Games organising group, said, "The Youth Games is an opportunity for young people all over the county to come together and to celebrate sport. The Games is also a sign of the strength of sports development activity in the county. It is proof of the wonderful work done by local authorities, schools, clubs, governing bodies and volunteers to give our youngsters a brighter sporting future. Due to the format of this year's event, we have the chance to move the sports around the county and let even more people share the fun."

On Saturday 28th March dozens of stalls throughout the check in hall will offer everything from aviation books, models and photos to timetables, stickers, binoculars, flight simulator software, DVD's and games. Dixon's will also be exhibiting some great deals on photographic equipment.

Steve Gensler, Event Organiser and Owner of Aviation Gift Centre, East Midlands Airport said, "We have had great interest in previous years and we are expecting 2009 to be an exceptional year in terms of visitor numbers. This year stallholders and exhibitors have come from all over the country offering a wide range of collectibles and practical items."

Visitors can enter a raffle to win a break to Cologne for two people for three nights, flying with bmi and staying at the Holiday Inn, Cologne. Tickets can be bought on the day from the Information Desk. Tickets are £1 with all proceeds being donated to the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA). The raffle draw will take place on Saturday 28th March at 17:00.

The Aviation Fair will take place on Saturday 28th March from 10am to 5pm. Admission is free and car parking is available in the short stay car park at a cost of £3.00.

For more information on the event, contact the Aviation Gift Centre on 01332 852915.

This is an ideal opportunity for people living in the village and surrounding areas to come and talk to representatives from the Airport. The Airport team will be on hand to answer questions on anything from local bus timetables to community activities and offer environmental advice.

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager, East Midlands Airport said, "The Airport takes its responsibilities to the communities, in which we operate, very seriously and is committed to being a good and responsible neighbour. This event is a great opportunity for the Airport to listen to the concerns of local people and respond positively. We hope people living locally will take this opportunity to ask questions and learn more about the Airport."

The Outreach Surgery is taking place on Tuesday 24 March between 16:30 and 19:30 at Kegworth Primary School, High Street, Kegworth.

The service will operate hourly, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from St Margaret's Bus Station. Standard fares will remain the same; £6 for an adult single ticket, £10 for an adult return ticket and £10 for a family return ticket. Regular travellers can purchase an easycard from the Skylink driver which is priced at £21 and is valid for 10 single journeys.

Kelly McHugh, Travel Plan Marketing Manager, East Midlands Airport said, "The new 24 hour service will provide passengers with better access to the Airport making their journey easier. We hope the new improved service will be welcomed by passengers and we apologise for any inconvenience caused by the route changes."

For timetable and route information, please visit skylink.co.uk or call Kinchbus on 01509 815637.

East Midlands Airport joined forces with Nottingham based rural touring theatre company, New Perspectives in September 2008. The project will run for a three year period, encouraging talented, young and emerging theatre makers unique opportunities to develop their skills with expert support and guidance.

The first of three projects, Dream Up, seeks the regions best writing flair and has already unveiled local talent. Brian Mitchell and Monika Johnson from the East Midlands, have both been awarded bursaries; allowing them to further develop their projects. Writers are currently being encouraged to submit ideas for short monologues, in the theme of Arrivals and Departures. As well as cash prizes being up for grabs, a selection of entries will be recorded and broadcast on the internet, with further possibilities for live performances.

Daniel Buckroyd, Artistic Director, New Perspectives, said, "Dream Up has already unearthed some great East Midlands writing talent. I am working closely alongside these writers to build on their ideas and develop them into successful performances. We really look forward to receiving similar, promising submissions for the Dream Up monologues competition."

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager, East Midlands Airport, added, "New Horizons offers a great wealth of opportunities for people wishing to develop skills in the arts. It is great to be working in partnership with such a flourishing theatre company and we look forward to being involved in New Horizons' continued success."

For more information on New Horizons or for more information on how to submit a monologue entry, visit www.newperspectives.co.uk

Every year Robert Wiseman Dairies hosts its annual 'Neighbourhood of the Year' awards to recognise excellence in the convenience retail sector and pay tribute to the key role that convenience stores and milkmen play in the local communities they serve. The winner of milkman of the year for 2009 was Tony Fowler, however, due to his unwavering dedication to the job he has done for over 20 years he was unable to attend the ceremony. Therefore, Wiseman Diaries will be awarding Tony Fowler with 'Milkman of the Year' and a cheque for £1000 at East Midlands Airport on 4th March. Tony has decided to donate his prize to the DLRAA (Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance) based at East Midlands Airport.

A spokesman for Robert Wiseman Dairies said: "Tony is totally dedicated to his work. At the height of the recent problems the country had with snow, he delivered when everything else was at a standstill.

"He has provided the local community with help, reassurance and support over many years, and it is to his enormous credit that he wants to donate his prize money to the air ambulance fund."

Barbara Parish, Regional Fundraising Manager, DLRAA said "We are so very grateful to Mr. Fowler for the wonderful donation, it is unbelievable that having won Milkman of the year he has decided to donate his prize to the Derbyshire Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance.

Every year we have to raise £1.5 million to keep the service operational. We don't receive any money from the Government and neither do we qualify for Lottery funding - every penny comes from charitable donations."

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said "As a long term customer of Tony Fowler it comes as no surprise to me that he has won this national title from Wiseman Dairies. Tony is truly a great citizen in the community as well as being professional in his work. I am aware of Tony's contribution to reducing crime prevention, helping the elderly and always making time for people in a way that is far beyond just doing his job well. The fact that Tony is donating his £1000 prize to the Air Ambulance charity at East Midlands Airport speaks volumes about Tony. He is selfless and a deserving winner. Congratulations to Tony and his family from all at East Midlands Airport."

Formally unveiled today (Friday 27th February 2009) by the Rt Hon Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Transport, the iconic feature is part of an initiative funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda). The tree symbolises creative roots in the past, morphing into an innovative and successful future. The tree has also been declared a 'kissing zone', where meeters and greeters are welcome to celebrate being reunited with their loved ones.

The tree has been created by design company, Can't Dance and constructed by Terance Dickson of Dickson Associates. It includes three LCD screens depicting some of the region's most renowned places to visit, with a further two screens located elsewhere in the terminal.

The main objective of the project is to provide overseas visitors with more detailed information on the region's attractions and grow interest and awareness of what the region has to offer international visitors. The Airport's Information Desk has been transformed into a tourist information centre; providing visitors with a range of informed literature on local tourist attractions. Visitors can also book local sightseeing trips using a newly installed interactive kiosk.

Working on behalf of East Midlands Tourism, Leicester Shire Promotions was the lead Destination Management Organisation (DMO) involved in the set up of the new tourist information service at East Midlands Airport. Leicester Shire Promotions was responsible for training Information Desk staff based in the arrivals area and produced a comprehensive operational manual to help airport staff with local knowledge, regional contacts for localised tourism information, appropriate complaints procedures, and the availability of visitor brochures and websites.

This summer, foreign language pages will be available on the Airport website, pages are being developed in French, German, Spanish and Dutch, to help inbound visitors with information on the Airport and the region.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said: "The tree symbolises not only how far the region has come in terms of innovation and growth, but also signifies the dynamic future for tourism in the East Midlands."

"The project's aim is to both inform and inspire passengers by highlighting the region's unique qualities and strengths, also giving them the opportunity to instantly access more detailed information on many of the local attractions."

Ruth Hyde, Tourism Director, East Midlands Tourism, the tourism arm of East Midlands Development Agency said: "Around one million overseas visitors come to the region annually contributing around £350 million to the local visitor economy, so it's important that we provide the best welcome possible. For many people arriving at East Midlands Airport this will be their first time in the region, so we want to create a positive impression and get their break off to a good start. With the introduction of these new features, in particular the iconic tree and tourism information centre, visitors will now have access to a wealth of information and inspirational ideas to help them get the most out of their time here."

The Rt Hon Geoff Hoon, Secretary of State for Transport said: "East Midlands Airport has made a major contribution to the local and regional economy, creating greater choice for air passengers and hundreds of jobs for people in the region.
"The new facilities opening today will further enhance this contribution by inspiring people to both visit and invest in the East Midlands while co-ordinating the promotion of the region to both leisure and business visitors."

Passengers can now enjoy an Indian summer with East Midlands Airport's latest connection to the exciting destination of India. Daily flights (except Saturdays) depart from East Midlands Airport to Brussels with bmi, where passengers can then make convenient connections with Jet Airways to Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore in India.

Also new for 2009 is Almeria and Mahon with bmibaby, Ibiza with Ryanair, Oslo (via Aberdeen) with Eastern Airways, Skiathos with Thomas Cook and Guernsey with brand new operator Aurigny. More information on summer routes, retail and car parking at the airport can also be found in the airport's summer 2009 Flight Guide, which will be handed out to visitors at the show.

In keeping with the desire for passengers to fly the easy route from their local airport, East Midlands Airport has done the hard work and found ten of the best deals around from all inclusive holidays to Turkey to long haul luxury in Florida and Mexico. As well as offering great deals to Greece and the Canary Islands, customers will also be able to pick up information on shorter city breaks to popular destinations such as Prague and Glasgow.

In a bid to relieve passenger stress and make our customer's journey through the Airport even easier, three new 'you are here' boards have been added to the terminal building. The new back lit information boards which have been posted before security search and in the shopping areas after security, aim to clearly inform passengers of what they can expect to find once they have passed through the security process.

The Airport is also introducing the familiar holiday scent of Coconut which will be pumped into the terminal to calm passengers during the check-in and security process and to excite their senses before take off.

Caroline Plant, Marketing Director, East Midlands Airport, said, "We are delighted to be exhibiting at one of the most high profile travel shows and are excited about the great routes and offers we have in store for our customers in 2009.

"As well as the welcomed addition of the popular Mediterranean routes of Almeria and Mahon, we are pleased to be extending our long haul offering with our new regular connection to India, providing convenient access for business passengers and offering passengers in the region an even greater choice when it comes to booking a holiday.

"With the arrival of our more detailed 2009 Summer Flight Guide, along with the introduction of stress relieving aids into the terminal, we hope that this will help to ease the passenger journey through the airport, giving them an even greater start to their holiday."

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said "These figures are a great achievement for us and are evidence that the efforts we have made to improve the East Midlands Airport experience for our customers have been successful."

East Midlands Airport performed well during the first three quarters of 2008, benefiting from further growth in routes. Seven new destinations have been introduced for 2008/09 by operators; bmi, bmibaby, Manx2 and Ryanair.

However, following over 30 months of consecutive growth, the recession led to a decline in passenger numbers during November and December 2008. This trend is anticipated to continue throughout 2009 and East Midlands Airport, like most businesses, will be affected.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport continues "Despite the anticipated decline in passenger numbers during these challenging times, which affect both the Airport and our airline partners, we remain committed to improving the customer experience and our facilities, whilst managing a consolidated business with tight control."

"Maintaining our commitment to improving the customer experience and developing a well controlled, sustainable business will leave East Midlands Airport well placed to take full advantage of the economic recovery."

The Derby and Loughborough Skylink service will alternate its route from Hathern, serving Long Whatton and Diseworth on an hourly basis, to serve Kegworth.

This new service provides the village with an important link to the Airport for international travel and furthermore provides residents with easy access to job opportunities on site and vital public transport links to Derby and Loughborough.

Kelly McHugh, Travel Plan Marketing Manager, East Midlands Airport, said, "This new development makes it easier for passengers to access the Airport and even more convenient for employees to use public transport to travel to work. We hope residents in Kegworth will embrace public transport when travelling to the Airport."

For timetable and fare information go to www.skylink.co.uk

The new service has been created and funded by a close working partnership between East Midlands Airport, East Midlands Trains, Nottingham City Council, East Midlands Development Agency (emda) and East Midlands Regional Assembly, making it easier for passengers to access the Airport by rail and bus.

Funding was also secured from Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Lincolnshire County Councils and Leicester City Council.

Operated under contract by Premiere, the 'Railink' service will run every 30 minutes, 7 days a week from 7am to 11.30pm, using low floor vehicles supplied by Nottingham City Council. The 'Railink' timetable coincides with train arrivals and departures, reaching East Midlands Airport in up to 15 minutes. The new dedicated shuttle service will complement the existing Skylink bus services which connect the Airport to Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Loughborough.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said, "We are delighted that the Airport will be served by a dedicated bus link from East Midlands Parkway Station, from the first day of opening. This new service will help deliver our promise of ease for the passenger and create better commuter links between the airport and the rest of the UK. We hope this will encourage more passengers to reach us by rail."

East Midlands Regional Assembly member Nick Rushton, deputy leader of Leicestershire County Council, said, "I'm delighted that this new bus link and rail station are being launched, to help more people travel to the airport on public transport. The regional assembly helped to secure agreement on this service and get the funding together."

David Horne, Commercial Director for East Midlands Trains, said, "The opening of the new station on 26 January really will represent a significant milestone for the East Midlands region. For a new station to be successful and to attract new passengers it is vital that good transport links are available. We are therefore extremely pleased to be working with partners in the region to deliver this vital new bus link between the station and the airport."

Penny is the first Regional Airports Executive to be appointed to the Group Board since MAG was formed in 2001.

In addition to her responsibilities for East Midlands, Bournemouth and Humberside Airports, Penny will also bring an additional focus to the Group's customer experience and sustainability agenda at Board level.

Geoff Muirhead CBE, Group Chief Executive, commented: "Penny has made a tremendous contribution to the development of MAG, driving forward the performance of the Group in many areas. Penny's appointment brings a greater balance of executive representation to the Board in line with best practice corporate governance and I look forward to her expanded contribution as a member of the Group Board."

Penny Coates said: "I am delighted to accept this exciting and challenging opportunity and look forward to contributing to the delivery of our commercial and sustainable development objectives."

It is expected that approximately 160,000 people will be travelling to and from the Airport between Friday 19th December 2008 and Friday 2nd January 2009, compared to approximately 170,000 in 2007. The busiest days for the Airport are predicted to be the 19th, 26th, 27th and 2nd January, with over 13,000 passengers jetting off on each of these days.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said "These are tough times for everyone and we fully expected a drop in passenger numbers in the short term. Christmas is traditionally a busy time for the Airport and although this year we are not seeing the growth in passenger numbers, we are confident about 2009."

Winter sunshine in the Canaries is attracting the majority of travellers looking to jet away at this time of year, closely followed by the ever popular city break destination of Dublin. On Christmas Day, the Airport will have three arrivals and three departures to Las Palmas, Lanzarote and Sharm el Sheikh.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said "In the run up to the festive period we are asking customers to prepare well in advance and check hand baggage restrictions before arriving at the Airport. Passengers can reduce stress levels by arriving in plenty of time and checking travel documents before coming to the Airport. We recommend that passengers arrive at least two hours prior to departure to allow for poor weather and heavy traffic".

In the run up to the festive period, the Airport is advising all passengers travelling over the Christmas period to check security restrictions before arriving at the Airport. Passengers travelling with Christmas gifts and decorations are advised to check security restrictions before travelling. Gifts such as perfume and alcohol should be placed in hold baggage as liquids of more than 100mls are not permitted in hand baggage. Passengers are also advised that party poppers and crackers are prohibited items.

Passengers carrying presents in their hand luggage are advised to leave them unwrapped as they may need to be inspected as part of the security screening process.

Passengers using public transport before flying are reminded that the Skylink bus services from Leicester, Nottingham, Derby, Loughborough and Coalville to East Midlands Airport will be operating reduced hours during the Christmas and New Year period and will not operate on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Years Day. For more information on reduced operating hours please visit www.skylink.co.uk

At East Midlands Airport, environment staff have tested a 20% mix on Toyota vehicles that are already operating airside. Tests have shown that there have been no major faults and the vehicles maintain their existing high performance on the apron.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said: "There are environmental impacts that come with the operation of an airport, but how we deal with them is part of our strategy towards becoming carbon neutral by 2012. The Airport's forward thinking approach will ensure that we meet our environmental commitments in the long term."

East Midlands Airport is cutting emissions from on site buildings and ground support vehicles to help reach its target of becoming carbon neutral by 2012. These are the operations directly under the Airports control. The use of bio-diesel is just one of the many projects that East Midlands Airport is implementing.

This current trial has been running since April and plans are now afoot to increase the percentage of bio-fuel used in these vehicles and to progressively increase the number of vehicles using this environmentally friendly fuel.

A significant amount of carbon associated with the operation of the airport is the passenger and staff transport made to the airport and is an area that the operator is looking to influence so East Midlands is looking to lead the way by moving its fleet to zero carbon.

The Smart Car has been allocated to East Midlands as part of a Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform-funded partnership in conjunction with the Centre of Excellence for Low Carbon and Fuel Cell Technologies and Daimler Fleet management. The Government gave a £100 million boost to the sector at the end of October by pledging £100 million to kick start a revolution in low emission and electric vehicles, with charging points expected to be provided on the streets of the UK.

100 vehicles have been made available for corporate entities in the trial, as the vehicles are not yet readily available on market. To qualify to be able to use the vehicles, companies must be purchasing green electricity to power vehicles, something the Manchester Airports Group is committed to now and for the long term. At the moment the group sources 30% of its electricity from renewable sources with ambitions to source 100% by 2010.

The airports group, which owns airports in Manchester, East Midlands and Bournemouth, has leased three of the vehicles, one for use at each site.

Penny Coates is the Managing Director of East Midlands and the executive board member responsible for the environment at the Manchester Airports Group (MAG). She says: "It might look like small steps at first but the range and scope of environmental projects we are unveiling across our airports will mean we are able to make significant savings on carbon dioxide. What the Smart Cars provide us with is a very visible example to our passengers and staff of how our operation needs to take advantage of innovation and new thinking to deal with the carbon issue at our airports."

The vehicles will assist in the path to carbon neutrality by releasing zero carbon dioxide tailpipe emissions and in an added bonus, zero noise pollution. In contrast to the petrol version of the Smart the electric version emits zero emissions if powered by energy from renewable sources. Approximately 7.2 tonnes of C02 are saved over the four-year or 40,000 mile lease of the vehicle.

The car has an automatic gearbox and all the regular safety equipment on the regular smart. The car has a top speed of 60 mph and a range of up to 70 miles. Staff at the airport will be able to use the car to access the airport site and this will be the first of many vehicles to emit low or no carbon at the airport.

For three consecutive years the Airport has been recognised nationally by the Green Apple Organisation for environmental best practice.

The airport's winning entry outlined the extensive developments to the six mile perimeter trail, which is surrounded by woodland, wildflower meadow and grassland. The dedicated trail includes art and sculptures, picnic benches and newly installed interpretation boards, which provide information on plants and wildlife found along the trail.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said, "We are delighted to have been awarded a Green Apple Award for the third consecutive year. The Airport's perimeter trail provides an exhibition platform for local artists, whilst encouraging environmental education for local children. "

To download the trail map, visit www.eastmidlandsairport.com/community or for a hard copy, contact community@eastmidlandsairport.com

The Fund, which was set up in 2002, awards funding to groups and organisations based within a specified area around the airport. With strong emphasis on bringing the community closer together and enhancing the local environment, Community Fund applications are reviewed on a bi-monthly basis.

The following organisations were awarded grants;

Marie Males, Community Fund Chair, commented, "The East Midlands Airport Community Fund continues to support a huge range of groups and organisations in the local area. It is a pleasure to help such worthy causes to support their communities."

To check if your group qualifies for a grant, please visit www.eastmidlandsairport.com/community or contact the Community Fund Administrator on 01332 818414, prior to completing an application form to ensure that your project meets the fund criteria.

Kelly McHugh, Skylink Marketing Manager, East Midlands Airport said, "Skylink's good value fares and frequent operation are helping to drive the impressive passenger growth. The increase in passengers using the service demonstrates that passengers are embracing public transport before travelling aboard."

Leicester Skylink operates hourly from St Margaret's Bus Station during the day and every two hours from Gravel Street during the night, 7 days a week.

All timetables, fares and routes can be found at www.skylink.co.uk

Following a 1.7% increase in July, August saw an impressive 5.1% rise. As the busy summer period draws to a close, latest figures also reveal a 1.3% rise for September. The top three hotspots were Palma, Alicante and Malaga.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said "We've now experienced 30 months of consecutive growth. Our challenge is to continue to offer a quality travel experience for our passengers as they begin their holiday and to continue to expand the Airport's portfolio of destinations. "

The Airport's range of winter destinations has increased with five new routes from Ryanair including; Turin, Paris (Beauvais), Faro, Fuerteventura and Prague. The Airport has also seen increased services to destinations further afield such as the Gambia with Gambia Experience and additional Caribbean cruise departures with P&O Cruises. Thomson has also added Goa to its winter route network.

A full programme of events focusing on recycling, gardening, composting, energy saving and transport were organised for staff to encourage more people to make green choices.

Staff have been finding out about local and organic produce, fair-trade and natural products, as well as getting their hands dirty in the staff garden. The Airport's Environmental Advisor, Jan Nowakowski has joined forces with the Wildlife Trust to create 'Bug Hotels' and 'Wildlife Stacks' in the Airport's grounds offering a new habitat for the extensive amount of wildlife found on the airport site.

Staff geared up for the week by making green pledges to make a small change to their lifestyle, which have included car sharing, taking the bus to meetings, recycling more and buying from local farmers. A series of 'drop in' sessions promoting energy saving and recycling were also provided for staff to educate and promote the small changes that can be made at home and in the workplace.

Organisations that have taken part in 'Big Green Week' include the local authorities' environmental teams, e-on, The Chantry Farm Shop, Freecycle, the Wildlife Trust, National Forest and Dr Bike who provided airport staff with free bike maintenance.

Kelly McHugh from the Big Green Week team, said, "The Airport is working hard to make its ground operations carbon neutral by 2012, and 'Big Green Week' is a fun and interactive way to get staff involved in the issues surrounding climate change and how we can all make a big difference by making small changes to the way we do things."

The first success came last week as East Midlands Airport was named 'Airport of the Year' ahead of Luton and Birmingham Airport at the Travel Trade Gazette (TTG) Awards. The TTG Awards are one of the most credible events in the Travel calendar , voted for by the travel trade they aim to honour only the very best in the industry.

East Midlands Airport went on to win a second award, 'Star Regional Airport' ahead of Liverpool John Lennon, Birmingham and Bristol Airport at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards, held at a prestigious ceremony in London on Monday 15 September.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said "We are delighted to have won two prestigious and highly acclaimed awards in less than a week and see this as a reflection of our hard work and dedication."

"These awards show the confidence, trust and respect our colleagues in the travel industry have for the Airport and we are delighted that this has been recognised in a very competitive marketplace."

East Midlands Airport won five top travel awards in 2007; 'Best Regional Airport' at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards, 'World's Leading Eco Friendly Airport' at the World Travel Awards, 'Airport of the Year' at the prestigious British Travel Awards, 'Best UK Regional Airport' at the Travel Bulletin 2007 Star Awards and 'Best Airport' at the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) Awards 2007.

XL Leisure Group operates flights from East Midlands Airport under the XL Airways (XL.com) brand.

The Company was due to operate two departing flights from East Midlands Airport today.

XL have 14 flights a week from East Midlands Airport;

• Monday: Corfu, Lanzarote
• Tuesday: Palma, Heraklion
• Wednesday: Rhodes,Larnaca, Sharm el Sheikh
• Thursday: Lanzarote
• Friday: Kavalla/ Skiathos, Tenerife
• Saturday: Palma, Sharm el Sheikh
• Sunday: Kefalonia, Zakinthos

Unfortunately, all XL Leisure Group customers who have not yet travelled are being advised to make alternative arrangements.

A helpline for passengers who have booked holidays or flights with XL Leisure Group and its subsidiaries has been set up by the administrators, Kroll. UK customers are advised to call 0800 068 8991 and overseas customers should call +44 020 8242 4783.

The Civil Aviation Authority has also published information about XL Leisure Group on www.atol.org.uk and has also established an emergency helpline - +44 208 242 4783 - for their customers who are in particular distress.

The East Midlands Airport New Horizons project will run over three years, encouraging talented, young and emerging theatre makers unique opportunities to develop their skills. Activities will take place through the three strands of the project, Dream Up, Step Up and Curtain Up. The project aims to provide emerging writers, directors, designers and performers with expert mentoring from New Perspectives, who have had a run of successful productions. These include The Hired Man, which recently stunned audiences as the headline production of the 'Brits Off Broadway' festival in New York.

New Horizons will launch with Dream Up, as part of the Momentum Festival organised by the Theatre Writing Partnership at The Lakeside Arts Centre, Nottingham in September. Dream Up will offer new and emerging writers the chance to pitch their ideas for a new play, with the opportunity to win a £1000 bursary and a package of mentoring and support that could assist one lucky writer to develop their idea into a finished script.

This programme demonstrates just one of the ways that East Midlands Airport exercises its strong Community Relations arts strategy.

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager, East Midlands Airport said, "This is a great way for young people to develop skills that cannot be taught ordinarily. These talents should be nurtured and developed to pave the way for theatre makers of the future. New Perspectives is a widely recognised theatre company and it is a pleasure to be working closely with such a committed team."

Daniel Buckroyd, New Perspectives Artistic Director, added, "The New Horizons partnership will enable us to offer a range of fabulous new opportunities to talented, up-and-coming theatre makers across the East Midlands. It is only through the support of companies like East Midlands Airport that a company like New Perspectives can really nurture this talent and contribute to a healthy future for theatre making in the region."

Three Shires Food Market has been awarded the Red Tractor plaque of recognition for its commitment to working with the Red Tractor certified farming and food producing community close to the airport. The Red Tractor logo can only be used on food that has been inspected and found to meet high production standards at every point along the supply chain from farm to shelf.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said "We are delighted to be opening the Three Shires Food Market. This is the latest investment in the facilities at East Midlands Airport; providing our customers with traditional favourites from local suppliers. We are proud of the region's local businesses and are pleased to be showcasing produce from local suppliers."

"We are extremely excited about the launch of this custom-designed, high quality location that offers a wide variety of local and international products with a strong emphasis on freshly made items. This concept-in combination with the Red Tractor endorsement-fits well into our strategy of 'Making the Traveller's Day Better', said Andrew Guy, Managing Director HMSHost UK & Ireland. "A visit to Three Shires Food Market will surely enhance the traveller's experience at East Midlands Airport."

The design of this contemporary style Food Court mixes warm colours with modern materials, creating a welcoming environment for both the business and leisure traveller. The Food Court incorporates a variety of selections, including an Asian stir fry buffet, a deli with locally produced favourites of bacon, sausages, black pudding, pastries, and the famous regional pork pie. A new bar serves teas, coffees and soft drinks as well as an extensive international drinks assortment. This fresh new Food Court, with its sophisticated variety, will definitely appeal to all manner of passengers and offer an exhilarating dining experience at the Three Shires Food Market.

Walter Seib, HMSHost's Managing Director Europe and Middle East said, "The UK airport market represents a huge opportunity for growth for HMSHost Europe. We have exciting plans for expansion within the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and our current operations in those countries are an excellent platform from which to move forward."

The Three Shires Food Market follows a £10 million investment by the Airport to improve the facilities in the terminal building. In the last 18 months East Midlands Airport has undergone a significant redevelopment program, providing high quality customer experience as well as offering a greater range of shops and catering outlets for our increasing number of passengers. The redevelopment has so far included a new mini bus station, improvements to the departure lounge and a newly constructed, energy efficient gate lounge.

The busiest day is expected to be Friday 22 August and passenger numbers are predicted to reach 22,000. With a mixture of sunshine and showers forecast for the East Midlands region over the coming weekend, passengers are trying to escape to sunnier climates, with Majorca the Costa Blanca, Tenerife and Turkey thought to be the most popular destinations.

The August forecast follows yet another rise in passenger figures for the month of July which peaked at 21,864 on July 28th, the Airport's busiest day last month. A total of 583,938 passengers flew in and out of EMA last month, an increase of 1.7% on July 2007.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said, "We have enjoyed another month of overall growth and despite the tough economic climate, the predicted figures for the bank holiday suggest we'll break yet another Airport record."

"The investment in facilities in the passenger terminal over the past 18 months is clearly paying dividends, providing an even better experience for passengers, helping them to unwind, relax and shop before they travel."

While regular flyers have become used to the baggage security restrictions in place, the Airport reminds all passengers to check the latest security information on www.eastmidlandsairport.com before travelling.

Count Me consists of hundreds of small blocks. Each one characterises a symbol of hope, taken from ancient and modern world languages. The blocks will be interspersed with individual's messages of hope. Airport staff encouraged Sally to allow Rainbows Children's Hospice to benefit from Count Me following its tour. The Hospice has cared for local children and young people with life-limiting conditions since it opened its doors in 1994.

With additional funding from Arts Council England and the Richard Attenborough Centre in Leicester, the piece will be touring a number of galleries throughout the East Midlands. These include the Richard Attenborough Centre and Sudbury Hall & The Museum of Childhood, following its launch at East Midlands Airport.

Passengers, staff and public alike can visit Count Me at East Midlands Airport from 6 August to 26 October 2008.

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager, East Midlands Airport enthused, "East Midlands Airport is proud to be able to support a wide variety of community projects, including art projects and valuable charities such as Rainbows. Count Me is a colourful and innovative piece, which will help to make our passengers' experience both exciting and unique."

Sally Sheinman, creator of Count Me said, "Count Me has been a pure pleasure to paint - I had to stop because it was time to prepare for the installation but if time permitted I would have loved to have made more."

Kate Golding, Corporate Fundraiser for Rainbows Children's Hospice added, "We are delighted to be involved with the Count Me project and very grateful to Sally for deciding that Rainbows Children's Hospice will benefit from the piece following the tour. The piece is so vibrant and will be a wonderful opportunity to raise the awareness of the charity."

Non-EU destinations saw the biggest increase in passengers (+17%) reflecting the fact that more and more holidaymakers are choosing to jet abroad to more value-for-money destinations outside the eurozone such as Dalaman in Turkey.

East Midlands Airport has celebrated the announcement of three new routes with Ryanair this month, with flights starting at the end of October 2008. The new destinations of Faro, Fuerteventura and Prague have strengthened the Airport's growing portfolio of scheduled routes, offering customers an even greater choice.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, EMA said, "We're delighted to have exceeded half a million passengers for the second month in a row. We are certain that the additional three Ryanair routes will prove very popular and help the Airport to continue to outperform the rest of the UK aviation market."

Statistics just published show that between April and June 2008, 15,897 passengers travelled to and from East Midlands Airport on the Skylink bus, compared to 11,733 during the same months in 2007.

This is due to the introduction of a better value family ticket priced at £10 return for a family of five, maximum two adults. The ticket is valid for one month and can be purchased from the driver on the day of travel. Families are realising the savings that can be made by using the service, compared to travelling to the Airport by taxi which costs approximately £35 each way.

East Midlands Airport Bus Partnership Spokeswoman, Kelly McHugh said, "We're really pleased that the Leicester Skylink service is doing so well. The new figures show that more people are choosing public transport as a good, environmentally friendly way of getting to the Airport and back. The service is also widely used by many people working at the Airport and has made job opportunities more accessible for people living in Leicester".

The Leicester Skylink departs from St Margaret's Bus Station, and stops at Hinckley Road, New Parks Way, and Groby Road, before arriving at the Airport

For more information call Skylink visit www.skylink.co.uk

The awards, which were held in London, were attended by the Transport Secretary Ruth Kelly, transport organisations and local authorities across the UK.

Skylink's Marketing Executive, Kelly McHugh, said, "Skylink has been recognised for its strategic approach to boost passenger numbers by 44% in the last year. Over 50 submissions were made nationally for this category and Skylink was one of nine organisations including Stagecoach and National Express to make the short-list. I am very pleased that the project has been recognised, it is a fantastic achievement!"

The Travel Information and Marketing Award was won by Merseyside Traveline.

Now in its eighth year, the National Transport Awards offer a tremendous opportunity to recognise excellence across the transport industry in the UK and Ireland, rewarding innovation and progress for transport initiatives which are really working.

For more details visit www.skylink.co.uk

The Community Fund, established in 2002 was designed to award funding to a range of initiatives that aim to bring lasting benefit to the communities around the Airport.

The Community Fund Management Committee meets six times a year. At the latest meeting 24 applications were considered and 18 grants were awarded to local organisations throughout Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Chairman of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said, "It is wonderful to be able to recognise such worthy recipients. We continuously award grants to a huge variety of initiatives which fit the fund criteria, offering further support within their localities."

This meeting's recipients were;

Sharon Brown, Director of the Melbourne Festival said: "The new lightweight display boards, funded by the East Midlands Airport Community Fund, will enable us to display work in local schools, halls and public spaces throughout the year .The Melbourne Festival has gone from strength to strength since it began in 2005 and has now established itself as a key date in the East Midlands Arts Calendar, continued grants such as this will ensure that this success can develop even further."

Jane Dawn, Funding Officer for the Gresley Colliery Brass Band said: "The Gresley Colliery Brass Band has been an intricate part of the local community since 1850. It is only with generous grants like the East Midlands Airport Community Fund that we are able to continue to provide enjoyment to band members and audiences. With our band now having a new Cornet, the youth band can also benefit by receiving older instruments."

Since the scheme was established six years ago, over 350 projects have received awards. The Community Fund consists of an annual donation by the airport; this contribution has increased to £50,000 since inception. In addition to the airport's annual donation, proceeds from fined aircraft are also passed to the independently administered Community Fund. These fines are from aircraft that do not comply with the airports stringent noise procedures. The Noise Penalty Scheme was first introduced in 2002; the scheme's main aim is to set challenging but achievable noise limits for aircraft operating from the airport at night. The fining regime has been devised to act as a deterrent, not an income generator.

The Community Fund supports initiatives that demonstrate a lasting community benefit within a designated area of benefit. Priority is given to applications that demonstrate that they bring the community closer together through sport, recreation or other leisure activities, environmental improvement, heritage conservation, environmental education or those that encourage and protect wildlife.

Councillor Marie Males added: "We encourage groups from all areas of the Community Fund area of benefit to apply for grants. The scheme is open to a wide variety of initiative types and it is a pleasure to support them."

To check if your group qualifies for a grant, please visit www.eastmidlandsairport.com or contact the Community Fund Administrator, on 01332 818414, prior to completing an application form to ensure that your project meets the fund criteria.

The Community Fund, established in 2002 was designed to award funding to a range of initiatives that aim to bring lasting benefit to the communities around the Airport.

The Community Fund Management Committee meets six times a year. At the latest meeting 24 applications were considered and 18 grants were awarded to local organisations throughout Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Chairman of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said, "It is wonderful to be able to recognise such worthy recipients. We continuously award grants to a huge variety of initiatives which fit the fund criteria, offering further support within their localities."

This meeting's recipients were;

Michael Ellwood, Chairman of Ravenstone Youth Football Club said: "The Ravenstone Youth Football Club is a new organisation, using the limited playing fielcilities offered by the Parish Council. The grant donated to us by the East Midlands Airport Community Fund will ensure that despite this, the teams can play competitively in their own kit, creating a real sense of pride."

Mick Wells, Representative of the Ratcliffe on the Wreake Village Hall Committee said: "The facilities within Ratcliffe on the Wreake village hall have been in decline over the past few years resulting in less activities taking place here. Thanks to the generous grant from the East Midlands Airport Community Fund for the purchase of new village hall tables, we will now be able to offer an extended range of events in the hall, once full renovation has been completed."

Since the scheme was established six years ago, over 350 projects have received awards. The Community Fund consists of an annual donation by the airport; this contribution has increased to £50,000 since inception. In addition to the airport's annual donation, proceeds from fined aircraft are also passed to the independently administered Community Fund. These fines are from aircraft that do not comply with the airports stringent noise procedures. The Noise Penalty Scheme was first introduced in 2002; the scheme's main aim is to set challenging but achievable noise limits for aircraft operating from the airport at night. The fining regime has been devised to act as a deterrent, not an income generator.

The Community Fund supports initiatives that demonstrate a lasting community benefit within a designated area of benefit. Priority is given to applications that demonstrate that they bring the community closer together through sport, recreation or other leisure activities, environmental improvement, heritage conservation, environmental education or those that encourage and protect wildlife.

Councillor Marie Males added: "We encourage groups from all areas of the Community Fund area of benefit to apply for grants. The scheme is open to a wide variety of initiative types and it is a pleasure to support them."

To check if your group qualifies for a grant, please visit www.eastmidlandsairport.com or contact the Community Fund Administrator, on 01332 818414, prior to completing an application form to ensure that your project meets the fund criteria.

The Community Fund, established in 2002 was designed to award funding to a range of initiatives that aim to bring lasting benefit to the communities around the airport.

The Community Fund Management Committee meets six times a year. At the latest meeting 24 applications were considered and 18 grants were awarded to local organisations throughout Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire and Derbyshire.

Chairman of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said, "It is wonderful to be able to recognise such worthy recipients. We continuously award grants to a huge variety of initiatives which fit the fund criteria, offering further support within their localities."

This meeting's recipients were;

Jane Singleton, Chairperson of Pyramid Acrobatic Gymnastics Club said: "Since the Pyramid Acrobatic Gymnastics Club began nine years ago it has gone from strength to strength. With the generous donation made by the East Midlands Airport Community Fund, we will now be able to offer our members better, safer practice mats, which will ensure future success for the club."

Allan Pearson, Chairman of Gotham Village Cricket Club said: "Thanks to the generous grant from the East Midlands Airport Community Fund for the purchase of a bowling machine, we are now able to ensure more constructive and enjoyable coaching sessions. The machine will be used by both youth and senior teams alike, helping us to continue being a leading club in the South Nottinghamshire District."

Since the scheme was established six years ago, over 350 projects have received awards. The Community Fund consists of an annual donation by the airport; this contribution has increased to £50,000 since inception. In addition to the airport's annual donation, proceeds from fined aircraft are also passed to the independently administered Community Fund. These fines are from aircraft that do not comply with the airports stringent noise procedures. The Noise Penalty Scheme was first introduced in 2002; the scheme's main aim is to set challenging but achievable noise limits for aircraft operating from the airport at night. The fining regime has been devised to act as a deterrent, not an income generator.

The Community Fund supports initiatives that demonstrate a lasting community benefit within a designated area of benefit. Priority is given to applications that demonstrate that they bring the community closer together through sport, recreation or other leisure activities, environmental improvement, heritage conservation, environmental education or those that encourage and protect wildlife.

Councillor Marie Males added: "We encourage groups from all areas of the Community Fund area of benefit to apply for grants. The scheme is open to a wide variety of initiative types and it is a pleasure to support them."

To check if your group qualifies for a grant, please visit www.eastmidlandsairport.com or contact the Community Fund Administrator, on 01332 818414, prior to completing an application form to ensure that your project meets the fund criteria.

Among the community and environmental achievements highlighted in the report are:

• 99 local groups and organisations awarded a total of £85,488 from the Airport's Community Fund
• Continued support for arts and sports initiatives spanning three counties
• The success of the Skylink and Airlink bus services, which have seen a threefold increase in passenger numbers since 2005
• 79% of aircraft using Continuous Decent Approach to reduce noise levels - a 4% increase on the previous year
• A 11% fall in the number of complaints and a 49% decrease in the number of people complaining
• 20% of the Airport's electricity from renewable sources, an increase of 5% on the previous year
• 30% of waste recycled amounting to 249 tonnes
• The retention of the ISO14001 environmental management standard for 5 years - the only UK airport to do so

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said, "The report demonstrates the important part the Airport plays in community life. We're particularly proud of the support we've been able to give to so many groups and organisations who improve the quality of life in their local community. I'm also particularly pleased with the commitment of staff who invest their time and energies in local projects."

"The report shows the significant progress we've made on a number of important environmental initiatives - further evidence that we are honouring the commitments we made in the Master Plan."

The full report is available for download.

534,690 passengers travelled through the Airport in May, the first month in the Airports history to achieve over half a million passengers, making this the 26th month of consecutive passenger growth.

In May 2008:

International scheduled traffic grew 10.3% year-on-year
Domestic scheduled traffic grew by 16.6% year-on-year
Inclusive Tour & Charter grew by 9% year-on-year

The growth follows the seasonal increases enjoyed in the first quarter; as a result of an early Easter. Passenger figures continued to increase in May, with over 65,000 passengers travelling over May Bank Holiday weekend, a 14 % increase on last year's figures. Also during Spring Bank Holiday, over 77,000 passengers travelled through the Airport, a year-on-year increase of 4%. The most popular destinations for these two bank holiday weekends were Palma, Alicante, Malaga, Dublin and Faro.

Penny Coates, East Midlands Airport, Managing Director said, "This is a remarkable achievement given the current industry trends. It's evidence that passengers choosing to fly from East Midlands appreciate the convenience, comfort and ease that we offer to get their journey off to a great start."

While regular flyers have become used to the baggage security restrictions in place, the Airport reminds all passengers to check the latest security information on www.eastmidlandsairport.com before travelling.

The East Midlands Airport Bus Partnership, consisting of the Airport, six neighbouring county and city local authorities and four bus operators, has been nominated for the Transport Team/Partnership of the Year Award. Over 50 submissions entered this category with seven making the shortlist, including Gatwick and Stansted Airport Bus Partnerships.

The Skylink project has also been short-listed for the Travel Information and Marketing Award for its strategic approach to boost passenger numbers by 44% in the last 12 months. The project was chosen above 40 other submissions and is one of eight short-listed nominees, including Centro, Stagecoach, National Express and First South.

The National Transport Awards, now in its eight year, recognise excellence across the transport industry in the UK and Ireland.

Kelly McHugh, Bus Marketing, East Midlands Airport, said "This is a great achievement to be nominated for two prestigious awards. The National Transport Awards acknowledge the innovation and progress of transport initiatives and we are delighted that all our hard work has been recognised."

The winners will be announced on 15 July at the awards ceremony held at the Grosvenor Hotel London.

For more details visit www.skylink.co.uk

Pupils at St Edwards C of E Primary School in Castle Donington were the first to benefit from the Airport's new initiative. The book is available to download and uses interactive white boards installed in the school's classrooms. The book is designed to supplement existing travel related lessons within the National Curriculum. Children are encouraged to take part in numerous quizzes and games looking at areas such as check-in, security and cargo. Pupils can also learn about wildlife and the environment on and around the Airport site. The book's target group encompasses both children who have flown out of an airport and those who have not yet experienced this type of exciting setting.

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager for East Midlands Airport enthused: "Due to interest in the airport and what goes on behind the scenes, the airport decided to produce a tool that teachers can use in their classroom as strict security measures mean we are no longer able to accept school visits. The interactive book offers children the opportunity to learn about the airport in a classroom situation and is a great enhancement to existing travel lessons".

Mary Robinson, Head Teacher at St Edwards C of E Primary School, Castle Donington, added: "This is a great educational resource. It fits really well with the Key Stage 1 Curriculum and we will definitely be introducing it into future travel related lessons".

For more information regarding the interactive book, visit www.connectingwitheducation.org.uk

Over the weekend 20 - 22 June the British Motorcycle Grand Prix will be taking place at Donington Park. All passengers, visitors and staff are being urged to allow plenty of extra time when travelling to East Midlands Airport (EMA).

All roads leading to this venue are likely to be busy from Friday 20 June to Sunday 22 June. The three day event is expected to attract 50,000 people, with the majority of visitors travelling on Sunday 22 June for the main race day. A traffic plan has been implemented to make it easier for spectators to get into Donington Park, and to reduce delays experienced by other road users in the area.

Colleen Hempson, Surface Access Manager at East Midlands Airport, said "The Motorcycle Grand Prix is a popular event therefore traffic congestion is unavoidable. Passengers should allow more time when planning their journey to the airport, we recommend at least an extra hour on top of the two hour check-in time for a flight in case of delays. In addition, on Sunday there will be several one-way traffic management schemes in place so it is essential that passengers follow diversion signs and instructions by traffic management personnel on the day and stick to motorway routes wherever possible".

On Sunday 22nd June all airport traffic is advised to travel on the main motorways and avoid the surrounding villages. Passengers can access the airport by using A50, M1 (J23a) and A42.

The traffic plan:

Friday 20th and Saturday 21st June (There will be no one-way systems in place on Friday and Saturday).

- No right turn at Hill Top (Castle Donington) onto the A453.
- Traffic lights at the junction for Melbourne Lane and the A453 apply

Sunday 22nd June (A one way system on the A453 between Pegasus Business Park roundabout and DHL roundabout will apply on Sunday 22nd June only. All traffic to and from EMA will be directed via the DHL and Pegasus Business Park roundabouts).

- There will be a one way dual carriage way from Pegasus Business Park roundabout to DHL roundabout (for westerly traffic) from 0500 - 1400. The roundabout at the main entrance to the airport will be used for traffic entering the site only.
- There will be a one way dual carriage way from DHL roundabout to Pegasus Business Park roundabout from 1400 - 2000 (for easterly traffic). There will be no right turn out of the Airport's main entrance during this time, all traffic wishing to head west should use the Airport's internal roads.
- A one-way system will be in place on the A453 between the junction to the A42 (after Breedon on the Hill) and the junction for Castle Donington. This system will operate inbound to Donington Park from 0500 - 1400 and outbound from 1400 - 2000.
- Airport traffic using the A42 are advised to continue to J23a on the M1 to avoid the diversion on the A453.
- A one-way system will be in operation on Melbourne Lane for Inbound Donington Park traffic from 0500 - 1400 and for outbound traffic from 1400 - 2000.

Full information is available on the airport's website www.eastmidlandsairport.com

-Ends-

Notes for editors:

- More information on the traffic management system can be found at www.eastmidlandsairport.com

Major roads and motorways leading to this venue are likely to be busy from Friday 13th June to Sunday 15th June 2008. The Airport has been working with the organisers for several months and a traffic management system has been put in place to minimise delays. The traffic plan is designed to make it easier for spectators to get in and out of Donington Park, and to reduce delays for other road users.

During the weekend it is expected that traffic will be heavier than usual. Passengers should allow extra time and follow the traffic management in place. In order to aid traffic flow from the event on Monday 16th June, there will be no right turn out of the main airport entrance. All passengers wishing to turn right out of the airport's main entrance can do so by turning left and following the short diversion.

Surface Access Manager at East Midlands Airport, Colleen Hempson said "We always recommend that our customers check-in at least two hours before their flight is due to depart. With the extra cars on the road this weekend, we are advising people to allow even more time in planning their journey to and from the airport. We don't want people to miss their flight or aircraft to be delayed, so the more prepared you can be - the better".

Donington Park is located next to East Midlands Airport, four miles west of Junction 23A of the M1 and five miles from Junction 24. The circuit is about eight miles southeast of Derby and 13 southwest of Nottingham.

Families and groups of up to five people can now benefit from the recently introduced £10 ticket when travelling on holiday this summer. Families can make great savings by using the service, compared to travelling to the Airport by taxi.

A return ticket, which is valid for one month, can be used for a maximum of two adults when travelling together. Children do not have to be travelling with the group, therefore this ticket is also the cheapest way for a couple to travel. All tickets can be purchased from the driver on the day of travel and flight confirmation must be presented to qualify for the family ticket.

Kelly McHugh, Skylink Marketing Executive, said, "The new ticket has been introduced to encourage more family travel on public transport - a market which bus operators nationally struggle to attract. By providing a ticket especially designed for families, we are confident that more people will choose Skylink for their journey to and from the Airport".

Skylink services operate from Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Loughborough up to every 30 minutes, 24 hours, 7 days a week. For route and timetable information visit www.skylink.co.uk.

The Airlink Coalville 155 bus service was officially launched by David Taylor, MP for Coalville 12 months ago. The service has since gone from strength to strength providing important links to local villages for both commuting and international travel to East Midlands Airport. The service also offers employment opportunities to many residents in Coalville and the surrounding villages by providing regular transport links with the Airport.

Passengers can travel from Coalville to the Airport for only £1.80 one way or £3.30 return, which is not only cheaper than taking a taxi but is also a more environmentally friendly way to travel to and from the Airport.

Coalville Airlink operates from 4am to 11pm, 7 days a week. For more details, timetables and fares go to www.skylink.co.uk

Latest statistics show that a staggering 547,996 passenger journeys were made on the half-hourly, 24 hour direct bus service to East Midlands Airport during the last 12 months. Now in its fourth year of operation the Nottingham Skylink provides transport to 10,538 passengers a week compared to the first year of service (2,133).

East Midlands Airport Bus Partnership Executive, Kelly McHugh, said "More and more people are discovering that there is a real alternative to the car and a smarter and greener way to travel. Passengers are choosing public transport as a good, environmentally friendly way of getting to the Airport and back. The service is also widely used by many people working on the Airport site and being 24 hours means that more job opportunities are closer to employees who live in the city".

The latest statistics show that a remarkable 1,091,891 passengers used Skylink to East Midlands Airport between April 2007 and March 2008, compared to 805,106 from the previous financial year.

Figures from the Department for Transport show that the UK bus passenger market has increased on average 3.8% year on year.

Skylink services currently operate day and night, 7 days a week to Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and Loughborough - the most frequent and direct public transport to East Midlands Airport.

Kelly McHugh, Skylink Marketing Executive, said, "Skylink's 24 hour operation and 30 minutes daytime frequency is helping to drive the impressive passenger growth and demonstrates that passengers are embracing public transport when travelling to the Airport."

For timetable and fare information go to www.skylink.co.uk

The Check-in Hall at East Midlands Airport will transform into a hive of sporting activity as young people from Hugglescote Primary School team up with Loughborough MP Andy Reed and Airport mascot Rascal Rabbit to take part in some new age curling and boccia. These are two of the disability sports that are included in the competition that takes place over two days in June, Friday 20th and Sunday 22nd.

Anna Thomson, Community Relations Manager for East Midlands Airport said, "We are delighted to be supporting the Leicester-Shire and Rutland Youth Games for the fifth year running. The Airport recognises the valuable contribution it can make to the community by getting involved in projects like this. The Games is an excellent example of sport for all, getting young people involved in fun but competitive physical activity, which is becoming increasingly more important in today's society".

MP Andy Reed, Chairman of Leicester-Shire and Rutland Sport said, "This year is the 10th Anniversary for Leicester-Shire and Rutland Youth Games. Thank you to our sponsors East Midlands Airport for their continued support and to our sporting partners who ensure the event is a memorable occasion for so many of our young people. I look forward to a fantastic two days of competition in June".

Those interested in taking part in the Youth Games either as a participant, coach or volunteer, should contact their district sports development officer for further details. Team trials are already underway. Contact numbers can be found at www.lrsport.org.uk

The Airport's extensive choice of destinations is helping to drive the impressive passenger growth. Four new routes have been introduced in 2008 including, Goa with First Choice, the Isle of Man with Manx2, Palma with easyjet and Warsaw with bmibaby, making March the 24th month of consecutive growth. The Airport's passenger traffic grew by 11.5% in March with 460,552 passengers travelling to and from the Airport.

The Easter period provided a seasonal 'boost' to the numbers departing and arriving from East Midlands Airport, with a remarkable 95,000 people travelling over the Easter weekend, a rise of 7% compared to 2007.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, EMA said, "The significant increases demonstrate that passengers are embracing the destinations and routes available from East Midlands Airport."

A Traffic Management System will be in operation on the road adjacent to the Airport and temporary traffic lights will operate at the Melbourne Lane Junction onto the A453 on Saturday 5th and Sunday 6th April to minimise delays (Between 07.00 and 19.00).

Major roads and motorways leading to this venue are not affected by the traffic management system however are likely to be busy.

The traffic plan:
Saturday 5th - Sunday 6th April (Between 07.00 and 19.00)

Traffic using the C8214 Castle Donington road approach to permanent traffic signals at the A453 junction will not be able to turn right towards Isley Walton.

Traffic requiring access to Isley Walton should turn left at this junction and continue east to the DHL roundabout and then follow the A453 to Isley Walton.

There will be temporary traffic signals between 07.00 and 19.00 at the Melbourne Lane junction to the A453.

The four turbines are expected to produce up to 225kw each, which is enough to power 503 houses per annum and result in an estimated carbon saving of 850 tonnes per annum.

The location of each turbine has been carefully selected in order to ensure that the turbines are well screened with little impact on local residents. The four turbines will be located more than 800 metres from the closest property and will not be audible from any residential property.

The turbines, which will generate 10% of the Airport's energy, are an important step in the Airports commitment to make its ground operations carbon neutral by 2012. Over the last 10 years the Airport has invested more than £3 million in environmental initiatives and monitoring, from emission control to waste management and surface water management.

In 2007 the Airport demonstrated it's commitment to green energy by extending the departure lounge with a new green pier costing £6 million. The new pier with a high level walkway from the existing departure lounge was constructed to cater for increasing passenger numbers. The energy efficient pier obtains heat from 27 boreholes, each 100 metres deep, this is five times more efficient than other heating sources. In addition the toilets use rain water for flushing and all lighting is natural or low energy, reducing the impact on the environment.

Penny Coates, East Midlands Airport Managing Director said: "We are delighted with the news. The four turbines are a step closer to delivering on the promise we made in our Master Plan. In addition to the four wind turbines, we have increased the proportion of energy that comes from renewable sources and introduced a number of environmental measures such as our 'green pier' to reduce the impact on the environment. The turbines are another very substantial investment in environmental management by the Airport.'

Against the national trend, the Airport experienced a significant increase in passengers who benefited from the destinations operated by low-cost carriers Ryanair, easyJet and bmibaby. The Airport has also seen increased capacity on Thomson, Thomas Cook and XL.com routes as a result of extra demand from customers. Considerable growth has also been experienced in passengers travelling to Egypt and EMA's latest long-haul winter sun destination Goa with First Choice.

Also in February 2008:

• International scheduled traffic grew 18.7%
• Domestic scheduled traffic grew by 12.6%
• Charter traffic grew by 20.5%

These figures account for all business and leisure traffic at EMA although they benefit from the additional leap year day.

Easter is anticipated to be another bumper holiday period for the UK's 13th largest passenger airport. Some 95,000 people will be travelling through EMA between Thursday 19th March and Tuesday 25th March, a rise of nearly 7% compared to Easter last year.

Good Friday is predicted to be the busiest day for the Airport with over 18,000 passengers jetting off for Easter. Dublin, Alicante, Tenerife, Glasgow and Edinburgh are expected to be the most popular destinations during this period.

Passengers are reminded that the one-bag restriction and rules governing liquids are still in force and are urged to check the security information on www.eastmidlandsairport.com before they leave for the Airport.

Caroline Plant, Director of Marketing and Communications, East Midlands Airport, said: "Goa is the Airport's first Indian Ocean destination and we have had an overwhelming response to the introduction of this service. To only have ten seats left for the first month of service is a great achievement for a new destination. We are delighted that people from the region are keen to sample this unique location."

Goa is a tiny emerald land on the west coast of India, covering 3,702 square kilometres, the island is a haven for explorers, adventurers and those looking for a break with a difference and is the latest destination in the Airport's growing list of long haul holidays.

Caroline Plant added: "Goa is a genuine jewel in the Indian Ocean and an incredible place in which to enjoy a winter holiday. The new service is incredibly popular and holidaymakers will have to act swiftly if they are to book their place to fly from EMA and enjoy everything that Goa has to offer."

Blessed with natural harbours, wide rivers and plentiful sunny beaches, Goa is aptly hailed as the Pearl of the Orient.

First Choice Holidays provide a weekly service to Goa from EMA until 17 April, offering 7 and 14 night breaks to this unique part of the world. First Choice have recently announced a full winter programme for 2008/09, starting on 4th November 2008.

Richard, also known as the Milky Bar Kid, retired in 2003 after earning his place in the TT history books after winning the TT in 2002 with three Manx Grand Prix races and one Ulster Grand Prix. The Isle of Man, which lies in the Irish Sea, between England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, is famed for its TT races, attracting thousands of fans to the island every year.

Caroline Plant, Director of Marketing and Communications, East Midlands Airport, said: "We are anticipating a huge demand for the Isle of Man especially around the Islands major sporting event in May. The launch of this new service will provide motorsport fans and holidaymakers from the region with a convenient daily service."

James Filleul, Communications Director for Manx2.com said: "Our research has shown a significant demand for flights to the Isle of Man from the East Midlands region, from both business and leisure customers. Equally, East Midlands airport is in an excellent location for Manx customers, and with low fares and frequent flights, we think this is going to be a very successful route".

Vikki Wellington, the Marketing and Media Sales Manager of Donington Park Leisure Limited said "We are delighted that this route is opening up, as the Isle of Man and Donington Park each have a tremendous pedigree in motorcycle racing - the TT is legend while we are the home of the British round of the World MotoGP Championship and stage both British and World Superbikes and the Motocross of Nations. By using this service, we can enjoy a two way service for bike fans to travel to all of these top events, easing the access from the Island to our circuit, while providing a convenient link from the East Midlands to both the TT and the Manx Grand Prix."

Although motorcycle racing sends crowds of people heading to the Isle of Man, the island is much more than a racetrack. The 33 mile long island, which covers an area of 227 square miles, is packed with coastal towns, ports and resorts and, with 40 per cent of the island uninhabited, an abundance of countryside.

The service is also expected to provide two-way traffic, with Isle of Man residents heading to East Midlands Airport to take advantage of the region's retail, leisure and education facilities and also recognising that EMA is an ideal connection to over a hundred destinations worldwide.

Manx2.com is taking bookings for the flight through its website, www.manx2.com or by phoning 0871 200 0440

The 15-player team consists of current students, Loughborough graduates and regional players and is currently at the top of the Co-operative Netball Superleague.

To celebrate the new sponsorship deal, East Midlands Airport Managing Director Penny Coates will be leading a team of EMA staff in a special training session before one of the team's high profile games on Monday 25 February, 2008.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said: "This is a really exciting opportunity and we're thrilled to be sponsoring Loughborough Lightning. The team is the pinnacle of the netball programme and we are looking forward to working with the University and supporting its commitment to developing elite netball. Support for local initiatives has long been a feature of our work and everyone at EMA wishes Lightning the very best of luck."

Loughborough is home to one of England Netball's National Netball Centres and plays host to a comprehensive netball development programme for both students and non-students.

Loughborough University, with support from East Midlands Netball, owns the Loughborough Lightning franchise which is based at the University. The franchise was a completely new venture for the start of the Co-operative Netball Superleague and shows the University's commitment to developing elite netball.

The team is looking to use the comprehensive training facilities and support structure at the University to attract the best players to the East Midlands and grow the best talent in the region. Lightning's success on court and off-court can be seen in a 40 per cent growth in home crowds and the addition of a National Talent League team to the club structure.
Doors to tonight's game will open at 5pm. The game will be covered by Sky Sports and the 90 minute programme will be shown on Sky Sports 3 at 5pm, 9pm and midnight on Thursday 28 February 2008.

This increase follows the impressive trend of increased passenger figures throughout 2007, which saw an annual increase of 14.5%.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said: "We are pleased to report another successful month of passenger growth. These figures indicate that the Airport is meeting the needs of passengers across the region and beyond. This is a tremendous start to the year and we are hopeful that the momentum will continue throughout 2008".

The Airport has started 2008 by extending its long haul portfolio with the introduction of Goa with First Choice Holidays; the Airports first Indian Ocean destination. EMA launched the new route in February as a three month programme for winter 2008. First Choice has since increased the programme to a full season for winter 2008/09 starting 4th November 2008.

The Airport has also enhanced its services to popular European destinations including Cologne with bmi regional, Palma with easyJet and Warsaw with bmibaby.

bmi regionals new route from EMA to Cologne will operate daily, except Saturday, to the historic German city, providing passengers from the Midlands with a direct link to one of Europe's most metropolitan areas all year round.

Caroline Plant, Director of Marketing & Communications, East Midlands Airport said: "Cologne and Bonn are both historical cities and excellent places from which to explore the rest of the Rhineland and Germany. The direct flights will also prove popular with business users, whether they are conducting business in Cologne, Bonn or elsewhere in Germany. We are anticipating a huge demand for these flights."

bmi regional has been named the UK's most punctual airline by the Civil Aviation Authority, offering passengers great service at attractive prices. All passengers travelling on the new service will be entitled to use the 'fast-track' facility through security at East Midlands Airport.

Seats are on sale at www.flybmi.com with fares starting from £49 each way.

It is expected that approximately 170,000 people will be travelling to and from the Airport between Wednesday 19th December 2007 and Wednesday 2nd January 2007, a rise of 13% compared to the same time last year.

Friday 21st December is predicted to be the busiest day for the Airport with over 8,800 passengers jetting off for the big getaway.

On Christmas Day, the Airport will have 8 arrivals and 9 departures to Alicante, Malta, Copenhagen, Oslo and new route Islamabad via Sharjah.

The ever popular city break destination Dublin and winter sunshine favourite Alicante will attract the majority of travellers looking to get away at this time of year,closely followed by Glasgow, Malaga and Tenerife.

Penny Coates, Managing Director said, "Christmas and New Year has always been a popular time of the year to escape the cold winter weather and see friends and family. The winter flight programme is full of great winter sun destinations, city breaks and ski routes including new winter routes Goa and Innsbruck. This year we are expecting over 20,000 more passengers than Christmas 2006."

Security restrictions at East Midlands Airport are still in place and the Airport reminds people to check the security information on www.eastmidlandsairport.com before travelling.

Passengers carrying presents in their hand luggage are advised to leave them unwrapped as they may need to be inspected as part of the security screening process.

For more information contact:

For more information contact:
EMA Press Office
Tel: 0845 108 8542
Email: pressoffice@eastmidlandsairport.com


Notes for editors:

• Manx2.com operators use nineteen seat aircraft on routes between the Isle of Man, Leeds Bradford, Belfast, Gloucester (M5), East Midlands, Jersey and Blackpool.
• Winners of five prestigious travel awards in 2007, including Best UK Airport at the British Travel Awards and World's Leading Eco Friendly Airport at the World Travel Awards, East Midlands Airport are proud to be the region's gateway, offering over 100 European and long haul destinations.
• In 2006 East Midlands Airport was the first UK Airport to commit to making its site operations carbon neutral by 2012
• The Airport is planning to generate 10% of its electricity by installing 4 wind turbines on site - the first Airport in the UK to propose this type of renewable energy
• East Midlands Airport was the first airport in Europe to offer WebTrak, an online facility to view aircraft operation in the airports airspace
• East Midlands Airport has successfully retained ISO14001 for the past 4 years, the only airport in the UK to do so.

Scheduled destinations enjoyed an18.1% increase for November to the same period last year, due to the increase in destinations from the major low cost carriers; Ryanair, easyJet and BMI Baby.

So far this year (January to November), the Airport has handled 5,036,466 passengers compared to 4,401,014 in the same period last year, a rise of 14.4%.

With the festive getaway starting next week, passengers can expect some festive fun at the Airport with carol concerts and Christmas Fairies on hand to help with last minute holiday gifts as well as a chance to win a fantastic holiday.

John Doherty, Airport Manager, East Midlands Airport said "December is a great time to travel from the Airport as we get into the festive spirit with a Christmas holiday competition as well as our annual carol concert, which is ran by the Airport Chaplaincy team."

A breakdown of passenger figures for November 07 v November 06 is detailed below.

Due to the record number of applications received this year, members of the Fund committee voted to increase the frequency of the meetings in 2008 in order to fulfil project deadlines. Details of the increased meeting dates can be found on our website www.eastmidlandsairport.com

Chair of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said,
"The Committee are very pleased to see the increase in applications and we are looking forward to seeing the latest projects come to fruition."

At the latest independent quarterly meeting, more than £14,000 was donated to a range of organisations across the East Midlands region including nine organisations from Derbyshire and Staffordshire:

Chair of the Church Gresley Disability Group, Mayla Birch said
"I can't wait to tell our members who use wheelchairs the good news. This special bowls wheelchair will mean that members can actually play and fully enjoy the game."

The Committee have also pledged their support to a new Community First Aid project that will benefit all three counties around the Airport. The award for £550 will be used to purchase essential first aid training equipment.

First Aid Community Manager, Richard Morley said
"This funding for vital resuscitation dolls is great news. It will enable us to train more people in local communities with vital life saving first aid skills."

If you think your local group could benefit from a donation from the Fund, then contact the Community Fund Administrator on 01332 818414.

Due to the record number of applications received this year, members of the Fund committee voted to increase the frequency of the meetings in 2008 in order to fulfil project deadlines. Details of the increased meeting dates can be found on our website.

Chair of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said,
"The Committee are very pleased to see the increase in applications and we are looking forward to seeing the latest projects come to fruition."

At the latest independent quarterly meeting, more than £14,000 was donated to a range of organisations across the East Midlands region including five organisations from Leicestershire:

Chair of Barsby Village Charity, John Gordon-Saker said
"This is fabulous news for everyone involved. £1,000 will cover the costs of the planting scheme and ensure that the area will be a credit to the village"

The Committee have also pledged their support to a new Community First Aid project that will benefit all three counties around the Airport. The award for £550 will be used to purchase essential first aid training equipment.

First Aid Community Manager, Richard Morley said
"This funding for vital resuscitation dolls is great news. It will enable us to train more people in local communities with vital life saving first aid skills."

If you think your local group could benefit from a donation from the Fund, then contact the Community Fund Administrator on 01332 818414.

Due to the record number of applications received this year, members of the Fund committee voted to increase the frequency of the meetings in 2008 in order to fulfil project deadlines. Details of the increased meeting dates can be found on our website.

Chair of the Community Fund, Councillor Marie Males said,
"The Committee are very pleased to see the increase in applications and we are looking forward to seeing the latest projects come to fruition."

At the latest independent quarterly meeting, more than £14,000 was donated to a range of organisations across the East Midlands region including two organisations from Nottinghamshire:

Chair of 1359 Air Training Cadets, June Dennis said
"The cadets will be thrilled to get the flight simulator equipment. It will be great for training as well as good fun to use."

The Committee have also pledged their support to a new Community First Aid project that will benefit all three counties around the Airport. The award for £550 will be used to purchase essential first aid training equipment.

First Aid Community Manager, Richard Morley said
"This funding for vital resuscitation dolls is great news. It will enable us to train more people in local communities with vital life saving first aid skills."

If you think your local group could benefit from a donation from the Fund, then contact the Community Fund Administrator on 01332 818414.

Commencing 11 February 2008, the direct service will fly six-times a week from the regions favourite airport into Germany, replacing the Cologne route that used to be served by easyJet.

One of the oldest as well as the fourth largest city in Germany, Cologne has a vibrant art scene, hosting annual carnivals and Europe's largest comedy festival.

Caroline Plant, Marketing Director, East Midlands Airport, said
"We are delighted that bmi regional has chosen to start their Cologne route from East Midlands in February. This is an important destination for the business traveller in the region and I am sure that it will also be a very popular destination for the leisure traveller alike."

Passengers travelling from East Midlands Airport with bmi will also be able to travel onwards to other German cities, including Hamburg, on the flights of bmi regional's Star Alliance partner, Lufthansa.

Seats are on sale today at www.flybmi.com

So far this year (January to October), the Airport has handled 4,662, 987 passengers compared to 4,077, 422 in the same period last year, a rise of 14.4%.

Last month, the Airport handled a total of 475,441 travellers, up 6.2% from the same period last year.

Over 26,000 passengers flew to the Airport's top destination; Dublin in October with Palma continuing to be in the top three hot spots for EMA travellers.

A breakdown of passenger figures for October 07 v October 06 is detailed below:

Recent destinations announced from East Midlands Airport include BMI Baby's new routes to Nice from 1st April 2008, with additional destinations to Gdansk and Warsaw, which also start for the summer season.

The airline introduced a new route to Nice for next summer plus brand new services to Gdansk and Warsaw in Poland.

The new service to Nice, currently un-served from the airport, will commence on the 1st April 2008. The glamorous French destination will prove popular with leisure and business travellers and those wanting to access the beautiful French Riviera. Flights will operate three times a week on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, with fares starting from just £24.99 one way including taxes and charges.

Flights to Gdansk will operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday with Warsaw flights taking to the air on Monday's, Wednesday's, Friday's and Sunday's. Fares start from just £21.99 one way including taxes and charges.

In total the Castle Donington based airline will operate to 14 destinations from East Midlands Airport for the summer season including: Alicante, Amsterdam, Belfast (Intl), Edinburgh, Faro, Glasgow (Intl), Jersey, Malaga, Palma, Paris (CDG) and Prague.

Caroline Plant, Marketing Director,East Midlands Airport, said:
"I am thrilled that our local based carrier has expanded their summer 2008 portfolio from EMA. The introduction of Nice, as well as Gdansk and Warsaw will be popular destinations for next summer for the region's travellers, offering even more choice from their local airport."

Flights have gone on sale today at www.bmibaby.com

Voted for by an independent expert panel, the accolade recognises how we work with and support the Travel Trade, how we encourage growth and support charter operators, how well we process passengers through our terminal and how we are dealing with growth in an environmentally responsible way.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport, said
"2007 has been an incredible year for EMA, winning 'Best UK Airport' this week is an amazing example of how well we are perceived by our peers in the Travel Industry. We are very proud of the titles we have been awarded this year which recognise the hard work and dedication of our great team.

In January this year the Airport was awarded Best Regional Airport at the Travel Weekly Globe Awards and in the same week won World's Leading Eco Friendly Airport at the World Travel Awards. This, in addition to Best UK Regional Airport at the Travel Bulletin 2007 Star Awards and Best Airport at the Baltic Air Charter Association (BACA) Awards 2007, brings the total to a fantastic five!

The Airport handled a total of 483,077 passengers in May 2007, an increase of 8.6% on May 2006 (444,631). This is the fifth consecutive month showing continued growth at East Midlands Airport.

Palma was the regions favourite European getaway destination in May, closely followed by Alicante, Dublin and Malaga.

There were increases in May in domestic and international scheduled travel sectors, with an increase in all travel sectors year to date. A breakdown of passenger figures for May 07 v May 06 is detailed below:

The Airport is looking forward to yet another a busy summer season with new routes in May including Cuba and the Dominican Republic as well as big changes to the terminal building now complete. The raised level pier and walkway from the existing departure lounge provides EMA customers with six additional gates to aircraft as well as a variety of new retail shops.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said,
"It is encouraging to see the continued growth of passengers choosing to fly from EMA, particularly to new routes such as Cuba as well as our popular destination to Palma. Our improvements made to the terminal over the winter period are having a positive effect on our customers to help them unwind, relax and shop before they travel".

*Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) statistics 'Size of UK Airports 2006', published 15 March 2007. Measured Jan-Dec 2006, equal with Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Passenger numbers at East Midlands Airport this year have continued to soar for the ninth consecutive month.

So far this year (January to September), the Airport has handled 4,187,546 passengers compared to 3,629,643 in the same period last year, a rise of 15.4%.

Last month, the Airport handled a total of 536,095 travellers, up 7.6% from September 2006.

Palma continues to be the favourite European getaway destination, closely followed by Alicante, Dublin and Malaga with over 110,000 passengers flying to these destinations.

Commenting on these figures, Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said
"The figures released by the CAA show the fruits of our hard work in offering our customers a wide portfolio of destinations from their local airport. The August bank holiday alone saw one of the highest year-on-year passenger increases in the country."

The growth is expected to continue with the launch of the Airport's newest route to Pakistan last week with new airline UK International Airlines (UKIA) and the Airport is looking forward to welcoming Sterling, Scandinavia's first low-cost airline, when their inaugural flight from Copenhagen arrives on Thursday 25th October, followed by new services from Oslo and Stockholm.

With the assistance of local performers from The Dhol Enforcement Agency based in Leicester, the terminal will become a vibrant and lively atmosphere for passengers travelling on the flight as well as friends and family say goodbye.

Among the hustle and bustle of the inaugural flight will be Penny Coates, Managing Director of East Midlands Airport "This announcement is a fantastic endorsement of our first class facilities here at the Airport and is a real coup for everyone involved in developing this link to a new country. The service has generated positive interest so far and we are sure the people of the East Midlands region and beyond will make good use of this route".

The full service commences twice weekly flights to Islamabad via Sharjah (near Dubai) this Friday and will depart each Tuesday and Friday.

The flights will enable customers to visit their ancestral homes, do business, make connections with other flights, or simply travel for leisure. Passengers from all over the UK are expected to use East Midlands Airport, as its central location makes it a convenient option for travellers wherever they reside.

Mir Zaman, Managing Director of UK International Airlines said, "We're delighted to offer this brand new service from East Midlands Airport. UKIA offers all British Asians and other British communities their own airline with a service they duly deserve. We believe it will appeal to a diverse audience travelling to the region for many reasons, and we know from extensive research that it will appeal to people from the Midlands, Yorkshire and Lancashire".

He continued, "We are employing staff from within the community and will be providing over 200 jobs in the first year alone in the Midlands and Yorkshire regions. These are exciting times not only for the Airport for having its own long haul schedule service to UAE and Pakistan, but also for passengers and UKIA alike. This confirms UKIA's commitment to the markets it serves. We believe in connecting communities and blending cultures and what better way to do this than from East Midlands Airport!"

Seats are still on sale now through UKIA-appointed general sales agents across the UK. For more information please visit www.ukinternationalairlines.com.

FOOTNOTE: UKIA have suspended all operations since December 23, 2007.

In its fourteenth year, the World Travel Awards acknowledge and celebrates those organisations that have made the greatest contribution to global tourism and those who are driving the industry to greater heights and innovation.

For the first time in its history the Green Awards were voted independently by over 165,000 travel agencies and professionals in over 200 countries worldwide. Airports in the same category as East Midlands Airport were Berlin Tegal, Indianapolis, Kansai International and Narita International.

The Airport was recognised for their below initiatives:

• Becoming carbon neutral by 2012.
• Their international environmental accreditation to ISO14001.
• New environmentally friendly pier which contains ground heating pumps, wind catchers and water recycling facilities.
• Its plans to install wind turbines on site to generate 10% of on site electricity.

The award comes just a day after the Airport won UK Best Regional Airport at the Travel Bulletin Awards in London.

Penny Coates, Managing Director, East Midlands Airport said
"This is the second award we have won in the past 24 hours and I am absolutely thrilled that our hard work and dedication has been widely acknowledged by the World Travel Awards. Winning World's Leading Eco Friendly Airport not only puts us on the map with the world but it also highlights the East Midlands region as a whole and it is something that everyone should be proud of."

Neil Robinson, Environment and Safeguarding Manager said
"Winning this award is wonderful recognition of our environment work that we have completed since publishing our Master Plan in 2006. We have already introduced a number of new environmental measures as well as our 'green' pier, such as our on site recycling facility, our recent announcement to install four wind turbines on the airport site and the increased proportion of renewable energy the airport uses."

Wind catchers on the roof of the new pier as well as the use of natural light and low energy light fitments are just some of the environmentally components that are being used by passengers at the Airport. In addition to these carbon friendly initiatives, the toilets within the building use rain water (grey water) for flushing and the hand dryers use 83% lower electricity to help reduce the impact on the environment.