- Prestwick Airport has launched a new direct cargo route to Shanghai, boosting Scotland-China trade.
- The service will support faster exports of Scottish seafood and other perishable goods.
- The move comes as Scottish exports to China continue to grow strongly.
On Thursday, 28 May, Glasgow Prestwick Airport confirmed the launch of a new direct cargo route to Shanghai Pudong International Airport, projected to boost Scottish exports into China.
In June 2025, the Scottish airport and the Shanghai Airport Authority had agreed to explore direct routes. This had come just a month after Prestwick and China Southern Air Logistics announced their scheduled freight services connecting Guangzhou and Prestwick, marking the first direct, scheduled China-Scotland cargo route.
With the recent launch, Air China Cargo will maintain its 11 weekly flights to Prestwick, but redirect three out of four of its weekly Boeing 777 services from Guangzhou to Shanghai. The agreement is anticipated to support UK electronic commerce (e-commerce) imports, while increasing the exports of time-sensitive Scottish goods, particularly seafood.
At the moment, Prestwick enables 15 mainland China services weekly. It has processed 25 million e-commerce parcels since May 2025, and over one million kilogrammes of Scottish salmon exports since January 2026.
Shipping via air safeguards perishable goods. Traditional maritime routes between the two nations can take anywhere from six to nine weeks, depending on the port, whereas air freight takes around six to 16 days, door-to-door.
Additionally, Prestwick has been investing in specialist equipment and services, including cool chain personnel – supply chain professionals dedicated to maintaining cool temperatures. They also operate temperature control facilities with 87 tonnes of chiller capacity.
Regarding the new air route, it “opens up a valuable new trade lane for Scottish exporters, including producers moving premium seafood and other time-sensitive goods into Asia,” said Ian Forgie, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
Scottish exports to China have been on an upward trajectory, reaching £407.5 million in 2024, with its seafood exports surging by 128.9% in the same year. It was also among the countries with the fastest growth in exports to China.
This comes as the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper is visiting China this week for the 11th round of the China-UK Strategic Dialogue. The visit is aimed at discussing trade and economic cooperation regarding shared interests such as renewable energy technologies and artificial intelligence (AI).
Although it lacks foreign policy and national security powers, Scotland’s Holyrood, separate from Westminster, upholds targeted commercial diplomacy and has control over economic development. Through its China Engagement Strategy, Scotland’s relationship with China focuses on sustainable economic growth, rather than sensitive geopolitical issues.
