Glasgow Prestwick Airport Marks One Year of Air China Cargo Operations

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has marked one year since Air China Cargo launched scheduled freighter operations at the airport, with the partnership growing from three to 11 weekly services across mainland China.

Air China Cargo, which established Prestwick as one of its UK cargo hubs in June 2025, now connects the airport with Chengdu, Shanghai, and Guangzhou, supporting inbound e-commerce and export capacity for Scottish producers.

“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 cargo milestones at Prestwick, including daily Chengdu flights, the launch of a scheduled Shanghai service, and more than 25 million e-commerce parcels processed through its dedicated e-commerce warehouse.

Prestwick has also marked more than one million kilograms of Scottish salmon exported since 1 January 2026, supported by specialist handling, dedicated cool chain personnel, and 87 tonnes of chiller capacity.

The wider cargo growth has contributed to more than 250 direct jobs and expanded freighter options.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport now handles 15 scheduled services a week to and from mainland China, alongside additional Hong Kong capacity, reinforcing its role in e-commerce, perishables, and high value exports.