Prestwick doubles Air China Cargo flights, adds new Chengdu service

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has expanded its China network after Air China Cargo doubled its weekly freighter services from four to eight and added Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport to its existing Guangzhou route. The move strengthens the airport’s position as a key cargo hub for links between Scotland and China.

The extra flights to Chengdu, operated with an A330 freighter, began on 22 November. The airport said the development reflects sustained demand from Chinese carriers and growth in scheduled cargo operations through Prestwick this year.

“Air China Cargo's decision to double its flights from Prestwick is a strong vote of confidence in our team and our cargo capacity,” said Ian Forgie, Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Forgie said the past six months have seen some of the busiest activity at the airport, following the arrival of three new scheduled cargo operators and facility expansion to support rising throughput. “This has been a transformational year, and we expect this momentum to continue into 2026 as we deepen our role as a strategic gateway between the United Kingdom and the rest of the world,” he said.

Air China Cargo selected Prestwick as its UK cargo hub in June. The airport also handles regular scheduled services from China Southern Air Logistics and Beijing Capital Airlines. Airport officials said about 200 jobs have been created as a result of the expansion, supported by a £1 million investment in new equipment and a dedicated cool chain team. This allowed the launch of a Scotland-to-China seafood export service in September.

Prestwick operates 24-hour cargo services with no restrictions on inbound or outbound flights. Its operations cover cargo handling, fuelling and ground services, supported by uncongested air and ground paths. The airport said this allows shorter taxi times and fewer delays, making the site suited to e-commerce operations.

The airport reported an average two-hour turnaround time for widebody freighters, with the ability to offload a full B747 palletised shipment onto trucks bound for Manchester within six hours of landing. Its warehouse infrastructure includes more than 12,000 square metres of space, cold storage facilities ranging from -30°C to +25°C and dedicated facilities for live animals.

Security screening capacity includes a Rapiscan X-ray machine with 7.5 mm steel penetration and canine options, enabling the handling of seven classes of dangerous goods and oversized shipments for sectors such as oil and gas, aerospace and touring.

Prestwick features the longest commercial runway north of Manchester and has direct connections to the motorway network, a cargo rail siding and access to ferry services to Ireland. The airport’s position on the Great Circle route between the Middle East and the United States supports long-haul planning for cargo operators.