Air China Cargo is expanding its scheduled freighter network at Glasgow Prestwick Airport with a new service linking Scotland with Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport in northwest China.
The service, which began on 13 September, is scheduled to operate twice weekly, according to Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The addition gives Scottish exporters a direct cargo connection to a new region of mainland China and further expands Air China Cargo’s presence at Prestwick.
The new Ürümqi operation follows the carrier’s expansion at Prestwick over the past year. Air China Cargo established the airport as a UK cargo base in 2025 and has since built a network linking Prestwick with Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai.
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In June, Prestwick said Air China Cargo had grown its operation from three to 11 weekly services across mainland China, with the network supporting both inbound e-commerce and exports from Scottish producers.
The latest route is expected to provide additional capacity for Scottish exporters, particularly producers of salmon, seafood and whisky. Prestwick has been developing its temperature-controlled cargo infrastructure alongside the growth of its China network, including dedicated cool-chain personnel and 87 tonnes of chiller capacity.
The airport reported in May that more than one million kilograms of Scottish salmon had been exported through Prestwick since the start of 2026. The figure followed the launch of its Scotland-to-China seafood export service and investment in specialist handling and temperature-controlled facilities.
Colin Dai, regional director for Asia at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said the Ürümqi connection would create opportunities for Scottish and UK exporters, particularly in salmon, seafood and whisky.
For Prestwick, the expansion adds another China trade lane to a cargo operation that has recorded substantial growth over the past year. The airport reported a 372% increase in cargo tonnage in the year to March 2026, while also adding scheduled cargo services and expanding its cool-chain capabilities.
The airport has positioned its cargo operation as a gateway for both imports from Asia and time-sensitive Scottish exports. Its cargo facilities operate around the clock and include temperature-controlled infrastructure for perishables and pharmaceuticals.
The Ürümqi service also extends Prestwick’s geographic reach within China beyond the major eastern and southern gateways already served from the airport. Ürümqi, the capital of Xinjiang, is a major logistics centre in northwest China and provides access to markets across the region.
With the new service, Prestwick is continuing to build its role as a UK cargo gateway for China while seeking to increase outbound capacity for Scottish producers.
