Warning for East Midlands Airport passengers flying during Download

The event will bring about 75,000 into the Castle Donington area

Passengers flying from East Midlands Airport at the same time as nearby Download Festival are being warned to allow extra time to travel.

Last summer the Donington Park festival caused "unprecedented" congestion on major roads including the M1, A42, A50 and A453, with passengers missing flights.

Download has this year put new traffic management measures in place.

But as significant traffic is expected, the airport has issued an alert.

The three-day event is expected to attract about 75,000 people from 14 to 16 June, with campsites opening from 12:00 BST on Wednesday 12 June.

Passengers could again face delays, warns the airport

An airport spokesperson said: "EMA has more than 300 flights arriving and departing over the course of the festival's three days and 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."

An inquiry by North West Leicestershire District Council found the festival did not breach noise and traffic licence conditions in 2023.

New measures this year to help traffic flow include a review of vehicle entrances and moving ticket scanning points further into the festival site.