Salmon exports take off from Prestwick after extra flights to China added
Glasgow Prestwick Airport has seen seafood volumes soar, with one million kilograms of Scottish salmon exported through the airport since the start of the year.
The milestone follows the launch of Prestwick’s Scotland to China seafood export service last year and investment in new equipment, dedicated cool chain personnel, and temperature-controlled facilities for time-sensitive exports.
The airport’s seafood export operation includes high-volume metal detectors, temperature exposure and tracking systems, and 87 tonnes of chiller capacity, Air Cargo News reported.
Important marker
“This is an important marker for the airport and for the Scottish seafood sector,” said Ian Forgie, Glasgow Prestwick Airport CEO.
“It shows that exporters are using the new service at scale, and that the investments we have made in cool chain facilities, people, and specialist handling are giving producers a faster and more resilient route to market.
“Every hour saved between the catch and final market helps protect quality, shelf life, and value for exporters, and that is exactly where Prestwick can make a difference.”
Rising demand
Air China Cargo increased its Prestwick to Chengdu service, launched in June 2025, from four flights a week to daily in March to meet rising demand, bringing Prestwick’s direct scheduled cargo flights to and from mainland China to 15 a week, with China Southern Logistics also operating out of the airport.
Ethiopian Airlines also added three weekly cargo flights to Hong Kong last month, strengthening Prestwick’s role as a gateway for Asian trade.
“New routes to South Korea and Vietnam also give Scottish exporters more direct access to high growth markets and a more efficient routing model for global logistics partners,” said Forgie.
China was the third most valuable export destination for Scottish salmon last year, increasing by £21.1m (28%) to £97m. France (£337.6m) and the United States (£300.6m) were the biggest consumers of Scottish salmon.
