Glasgow Prestwick: already 1000 t salmon exports

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has reached a significant milestone this year: Since January 1, 2026, over one million kg of Scottish salmon have been exported. This success is the result of the seafood export service from Scotland to China introduced last September, supported by extensive investments in new equipment and temperature-controlled facilities.

The export operations at the airport include high-volume metal detectors as well as temperature monitoring and tracking systems. Additionally, cooling capacity for 87 tons of fish is available to ensure the quality of time-sensitive exports. Ian Forgie, Managing Director of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, emphasizes the importance of this development for the airport and the Scottish seafood sector. “It shows that exporters are utilizing the new service on a large scale and that our investments in cold chain facilities and specialized personnel are enabling producers to access the market more quickly and reliably,” explains Forgie.

Achieving this export volume coincides with a phase of sustained growth in the airport’s cargo sector, supported by new, regular cargo capacities. For instance, Air China Cargo increased the frequency of its flights from Prestwick to Chengdu from four to daily in March, raising the number of direct cargo flights between Prestwick and mainland China to 15. Currently, eleven flights per week are operated by Air China Cargo and four by China Southern Logistics.

Additionally, Ethiopian Airlines introduced three new weekly cargo flights to Hong Kong in early April, further strengthening Prestwick’s role as a gateway for Asian trade and opening new export opportunities in high-growth markets such as South Korea and Vietnam.

The developments at Glasgow Prestwick Airport underscore the strategic importance of the location for international trade, particularly in the perishables sector.

www.glasgowprestwick.com