Glasgow Prestwick Airport is celebrating a transformative year in cargo operations with the announcement that Air China Cargo will significantly expand its freighter schedule, doubling weekly flights into the Scottish gateway. The development reinforces Prestwick’s fast-growing role as a key UK–China logistics corridor.
The airport confirmed that Air China Cargo will increase its operations from four to eight weekly freighter services by adding a new route from Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) to its existing Guangzhou (CAN) link. The carrier will deploy an Airbus A330F on the expanded operation, with flight-tracking data indicating a westbound stopover in Stockholm.
Ian Forgie, chief executive of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, said the decision represents a major endorsement of the airport’s capabilities and recent investments.
“Air China Cargo’s decision to double its flights from Prestwick is a strong vote of confidence in our team and our cargo capacity,” he said. “The past six months have been among the busiest in Prestwick’s history, as we have welcomed three new scheduled cargo operators and expanded our facilities to support sustained growth. 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 UK and the rest of the world.”
Air China Cargo first launched services into Prestwick in June with freighter flights from Guangzhou and has since established an on-site operational and commercial team to support its activity. The airline’s rapid expansion follows a broader uplift in Chinese cargo presence at the airport.
This year, Prestwick has also welcomed new scheduled services from China Southern Air Logistics and Beijing Capital Airlines, while Hong Kong Air Cargo has operated flights carrying high-volume e-commerce shipments. The sustained increase in traffic has driven a significant economic impact, including the creation of 200 new jobs and a £1 million investment in modern cargo-handling equipment.
In a further boost to Scotland’s export economy, Prestwick has also launched a dedicated Scotland–China seafood export centre, enhancing the speed and reliability of temperature-sensitive shipments bound for Asian markets.
As Chinese carriers continue to scale up their European operations, Prestwick’s expanding cargo footprint positions it as a strategic hub for long-haul freight flows between East Asia and the UK.
