AIR ONE celebrates first-ever scheduled freighter service

AIR ONE has successfully launched its first scheduled freighter service with the arrival of a Boeing 747-400F at the UK’s East Midlands Airport (EMA) from Hong Kong. Operated by its affiliated airline One Air, the inaugural flight landed at 05:45 on 4th September, ahead of schedule, carrying a full payload of 109,484 kilos across 39 pallets

The new four-times-weekly service marks the start of a new chapter for AIR ONE and strengthens its long-standing presence in Hong Kong. With late evening departures from Hong Kong, the service is tailored for time-sensitive cargo such as e-commerce and electronics, arriving into EMA early the next morning. From there, cargo is distributed across the UK through Swissport’s nationwide road feeder services, providing fast and reliable access to key hubs including London Heathrow, Manchester, and Birmingham.

From January 2020 until August 2025, AIR ONE has operated more than 3.000 B747 charter freighter flights from Hong Kong to 35 destinations worldwide, transporting over 300 million kilos of cargo. Establishing a permanent Hong Kong office, led by Director Far East Spencer AuYeung, demonstrates the company’s long-term commitment to the market and its investment in building a strong local team.

“Launching scheduled services is a significant step in AIR ONE’s development and adds a third pillar to our service portfolio alongside wet lease and charter operations,” said Peter Scholten, Chief Commercial Officer of AIR ONE. “We are proud that our first scheduled flight departed with a full payload, and grateful for the strong customer support from day one.”

He added: “Hong Kong has always been a vital market for us, and this new route provides the foundation for a broader scheduled operations strategy. By 2026, AIR ONE plans to expand frequencies from Hong Kong and add further routes to its network.”

As the UK’s prime cargo airport and a leading freighter hub, East Midlands provides AIR ONE with an ideal base to serve the UK market thanks to its 24/7 operations and central location with fast nationwide connection.