Prestwick signs MoU with Guangzhou Baiyun to expand China-UK trade

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport to strengthen cargo links between China and the United Kingdom, as the Scottish airport seeks to expand its role in handling Asian e-commerce imports and Scottish exports.

The agreement was signed during the International Air Transport Association (IATA) North Asia Cargo Day in Guangzhou, China, on June 10. It comes after a year in which Prestwick increased its presence as a gateway for cargo moving between Asia and the UK, handling growing volumes of e-commerce shipments from China while supporting exports including Scottish salmon and whisky.

Under the MoU, the two airports will work together on cargo development initiatives, operational knowledge sharing and improving network connectivity between their respective markets. The partnership is aimed at supporting trade flows in both directions at a time when air cargo networks are adapting to changing supply chain requirements, rising e-commerce demand and the need for faster access to overseas markets.

Jules Matteoni, Executive Director, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said the agreement creates a direct framework for cooperation with one of Asia’s largest cargo gateways. “This agreement gives Prestwick a direct platform to work with one of Asia’s most important cargo gateways at a time when e-commerce growth, capacity pressure, and demand for faster export routes are reshaping trade between China and the United Kingdom,” said Matteoni.

He added: “Prestwick’s value is its ability to turn available runway capacity into reliable cargo handling, fast landside access, and direct trade lanes that work in both directions, supporting Asian goods moving into the United Kingdom and Scottish exports moving into high-value overseas markets.”

The partnership reflects Prestwick’s efforts to build a cargo model that combines inbound e-commerce traffic from Asia with outbound export volumes from Scotland. Airport officials said the approach is designed to create more balanced cargo flows while offering airlines, freight forwarders and shippers direct access to trade lanes between the UK and Asian markets.

Prestwick currently handles 15 scheduled cargo services each week to and from mainland China, including flights linked to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport. The airport also serves three weekly cargo flights connecting with Hong Kong, underscoring its growing role in trade between the UK and Asia.

The agreement with Guangzhou marks another step in Prestwick’s strategy to strengthen international cargo partnerships and deepen its position within transcontinental supply chains. By aligning with one of China’s major air cargo hubs, the airport aims to support increased movement of e-commerce shipments into the UK while providing exporters with improved access to overseas markets.

Prestwick operates cargo services around the clock and has positioned itself as a specialist freight gateway with facilities that include warehousing, cold-chain infrastructure and handling capabilities for a range of cargo categories. Its location and connectivity have helped attract air cargo operators seeking alternatives to more congested UK gateways while supporting trade routes linking Asia, the UK and other international markets.