Prestwick expands China cargo links one year after Air China entry

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has marked one year since Air China Cargo launched scheduled freighter operations at the airport, with services expanding from an initial three weekly flights to 11 scheduled services connecting mainland China. The growth reflects the airport’s efforts to strengthen cargo connectivity between Scotland and key Chinese markets while supporting both imports and exports.

Air China Cargo established Prestwick as one of its UK cargo hubs in June 2025, launching operations with services from Guangzhou. Over the past year, the carrier has expanded its network to include Chengdu and Shanghai, creating direct links between Scotland and three major Chinese cities. The network supports inbound e-commerce shipments while also providing export capacity for Scottish producers seeking access to Asian markets.

The expansion comes amid rising demand for trade links between the UK and China, particularly in sectors such as e-commerce, perishables and time-sensitive goods. Prestwick said the wider network has increased scheduling options for freight forwarders and shippers while improving resilience across cargo supply chains.

“Air China Cargo’s first year at Prestwick shows how runway capacity, specialist cargo handling, and direct access to major Asian markets can work together to create reliable trade lanes,” said Ian Forgie, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

“The partnership has moved from a single Guangzhou service to a wider mainland China network, giving shippers more resilience, more schedule choice, and a faster route for e-commerce imports and time-sensitive exports.”

The anniversary follows a series of cargo milestones recorded by the airport over the past 12 months. These include the introduction of daily Chengdu flights and the launch of a scheduled Shanghai service, both of which have strengthened links with Chinese manufacturing and consumer markets.

Prestwick has also processed more than 25 million e-commerce parcels through its dedicated e-commerce warehouse since the start of the partnership. The volumes highlight the airport’s role in handling cross-border online retail shipments entering the UK market from Asia.

Alongside e-commerce growth, the airport has expanded its position in the perishables sector. Prestwick reported that more than one million kilogrammes of Scottish salmon have been exported through the airport since January 1, 2026. The exports have been supported by specialist cargo handling services, dedicated cool chain personnel and 87 tonnes of chiller capacity designed to maintain product integrity during transit.

Airport officials said the increase in cargo activity has contributed to the creation of more than 250 direct jobs while also broadening freighter options available to customers operating in the UK market.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport now handles 15 scheduled cargo services each week to and from mainland China, in addition to cargo capacity linked to Hong Kong. The airport said the expanded network strengthens its position in sectors including e-commerce, perishables and high-value exports, while supporting trade flows between Scotland and Asia.