East Midlands Airport customers urged to allow more travel time next month when Download festival is on

The three-day music festival takes place at Donington Park next to the airport from 14-16 June.

Passengers flying from East Midlands Airport (EMA) are being advised to allow extra time for journeys to and from the airport next month when Download Festival is taking place.

The three-day music festival takes place at Donington Park next to the airport from 14-16 June, with campsites opening from midday on Wednesday 12 June.

As the UK’s largest rock festival, it is expected to be attended by around 75,000 people.

Significant traffic is expected during the event, affecting all roads around the airport including the M1, A42, A50 and A453.

More than 300 flights are arriving and departing over the festival’s three days and so the airport has arranged for airlines to alert their passengers to potential delays.

Airport representatives have been in regular dialogue with festival organisers to understand their traffic plans.

Airport users are advised to check latest traffic and travel reports before they set off and follow East Midlands Airport on social media for latest flight information East Midlands Airport (@EMA_Airport) X (twitter.com) and https://www.facebook.com/EastMidsAirport

EMA is also reminding anyone planning to film the festival that it is illegal to fly drones close to the airport. This follows a successful prosecution last year when a drone was used to film the festival. Flying drones puts the airport operation at risk, potentially leading to passenger flights being diverted and causing delays to air cargo flights.