Glasgow Prestwick Airport launches scheduled Shanghai cargo service

May 28, 2026

Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) can confirm a new direct cargo route to Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG), diversifying its China network and giving Scottish exporters access to one of Asia’s leading freight hubs.

Air China Cargo is switching three of its four weekly B777 Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport (CAN) services to PVG, opening the new route, while continuing to operate 11 scheduled flights each week to and from PIK.

“Shanghai is a major global cargo hub and an important addition to Prestwick’s scheduled China services,” said Ian Forgie, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Prestwick Airport.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport's Colin Dai (second from left), Regional Director - Asia, and Nico Le Roux (sixth from right) welcome the first Air China Cargo flight from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.

“This new route gives cargo customers more choice across mainland China and strengthens our ability to support fast growing e-commerce traffic into the United Kingdom.

“It also opens a valuable new trade lane for Scottish exporters, including producers moving premium seafood and other time sensitive goods into Asia.”

This follows a year of sustained cargo growth at PIK, with 15 weekly scheduled services now operating to and from mainland China and three from Hong Kong.

PIK has celebrated processing more than 25 million e-commerce parcels since May 2025 with Royal Mail and EVRi and recently marked more than one million kilograms of Scottish salmon exported since 1st January 2026.