Chinese carrier Beijing Capital Airlines, part of Hainan Airline Group, has launched a regular freighter service between Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport (CGO).
The first flight, operated by an Airbus A330-243 (P2F), arrived at Glasgow Prestwick Airport on Thursday 16 October, marking the start of a four-times-weekly schedule.
Each flight will carry e-commerce goods and general cargo inbound to the UK. Premium produce including Scottish salmon, whisky and other high-value goods will also be sent outbound to China.
The agreement represents another milestone in Glasgow Prestwick’s long-term cargo development strategy, aimed at building sustainable, high-frequency routes that connect UK exporters with major global trading centres.
Beijing Capital is the third cargo airline to realise an opportunity at Glasgow Prestwick in the last six months.
In May, China Southern Air Logistics and Glasgow Prestwick Airport started scheduled cargo flights to China, while Air China Cargo introduced a freighter service from PIK to Guangzhou in June.
“This third scheduled service underlines Prestwick’s position as one of the United Kingdom’s leading cargo hubs and demonstrates the strength of our e-commerce solution,” said Ian Forgie, chief executive officer, Glasgow Prestwick Airport.
The new partnership with Beijing Capital “expands capacity, increases frequency and offers exporters throughout the UK a new destination in mainland China,” Forgie added.
Glasgow Prestwick offers more than 12,000m2 of warehouse space, new cold storage facilities and a dedicated live animal team. The airport recently invested more than £1m in a new Scotland to China seafood export service, which launched in September.
China was the third-largest market for Scottish salmon in 2024, with 8,175 tonnes worth £76m exported.
