Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) has handled one million kilograms of Scottish salmon exports since January 1, 2026, marking a major milestone for its growing seafood cargo operation.

The year-to-date volume follows the launch of PIK’s Scotland-to-China seafood export service last September, supported by investment in new equipment, dedicated cool chain personnel and temperature-controlled facilities for time-sensitive exports.

The airport’s seafood handling operation includes high-volume metal detectors, temperature exposure and tracking systems, and 87 tonnes of chiller capacity.

Ian Forgie, chief executive of PIK, said: “This is an important marker for the airport and for the Scottish seafood sector. 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.”

The milestone comes as PIK continues to report sustained cargo growth, supported by additional scheduled freighter capacity.

Air China Cargo increased its Prestwick-Chengdu service from four flights a week to a daily operation in March 2026, taking PIK’s direct scheduled cargo flights to and from mainland China to 15 per week.

Of these, 11 are operated by Air China Cargo and four by China Southern Logistics.

Ethiopian Airlines also added three weekly Hong Kong cargo flights in May 2026, strengthening PIK’s position as a gateway for Asian trade and opening further export options to high-growth markets including South Korea and Vietnam.

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