Scottish Salmon Exports Soar from Prestwick 2026

Key points

• Glasgow Prestwick Airport has handled over one million kilograms of Scottish salmon exported to overseas markets since 1 January 2026, according to the airport’s own figures reported by several outlets.
• This milestone has been reached via Prestwick’s dedicated Scotland‑to‑China seafood export service, launched in late 2025 with a reported £1 million investment in cool‑chain infrastructure and personnel.
• The airport’s seafood‑export hub features high‑volume metal‑detection systems, temperature‑exposure and tracking kits, and 87 tonnes of dedicated chiller capacity, designed to keep perishable seafood at optimal conditions.
• Air China Cargo moved its Prestwick–Chengdu freighter service from four weekly flights to a daily service in March 2026, increasing Prestwick’s direct scheduled cargo‑flight count to and from mainland China to 15 per week.
• Four of these weekly China flights are operated by China Southern Logistics, alongside the 11 operated by Air China Cargo.
• Ethiopian Airlines has also added three weekly cargo services between Prestwick and Hong Kong, reinforcing the airport as a gateway for Asian trade and access to markets such as South Korea and Vietnam.

Glasgow (Glasgow Express) May 18, 2026, several industry and airport‑affiliated outlets report. The achievement underlines the Scottish seafood sector’s growing reliance on air‑freight routes from the airport, particularly to China, where demand for premium salmon has driven rapid volume growth.

As reported by Fish Farming Expert,

“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 same outlet notes that the milestone follows the launch of Prestwick’s Scotland to China seafood export service last September, backed by a one‑million‑pound investment in equipment, dedicated cool‑chain staff, and temperature‑controlled facilities for time‑sensitive seafood.

How has the airport’s seafood‑export hub been equipped?

According to ITJ / Transport Journal, the airport’s seafood‑export operation at Prestwick includes high‑volume metal‑detection systems, temperature‑exposure and tracking systems, and 87 tonnes of chiller capacity.

These features are designed to ensure that salmon remains within the required temperature band from farm to loading‑bay, thereby preserving quality and shelf life during long‑haul flights.

The airport’s own press release, covered by Meantime Global, describes the facility as a 

“Scotland to China seafood export service” 

that gives Scottish producers a faster, more resilient route to market, especially for high‑value, short‑shelf‑life goods.

What has the airport’s chief executive said?

Ian Forgie, Chief Executive Officer of Glasgow Prestwick Airport, told the airport’s news channel that the one‑million‑kilogram mark

“is an important marker for the airport and for the Scottish seafood sector.”

As quoted by Meantime Global and ITJ, Forgie stated:

“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.”

He added that

“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.”

How have cargo‑flight frequencies shaped the trade route?

Fish Farming Expert reports that Air China Cargo increased its Prestwick–Chengdu service from four flights a week to a daily service in March 2026, in response to rising demand for Scottish salmon and other perishables.

This expansion raised Prestwick’s direct scheduled cargo flights to and from mainland China to 15 per week, with 11 operated by Air China Cargo and four by China Southern Logistics.

ITJ / Transport Journal notes that the new frequency is expected to support more than £250 million of cross‑border trade in 2026, including significant volumes of Scottish salmon.

How has Ethiopian Airlines expanded Prestwick’s Asian reach?

According to ITJ, Ethiopian Airlines has added three new weekly Hong Kong‑bound cargo flights from Prestwick earlier in May 2026, strengthening the airport’s role as a gateway for Asian trade.

These services open up onward connections to high‑growth export markets, including South Korea and Vietnam, as Ethiopian operates broad Asian‑services networks.

How does this fit into Scotland’s broader seafood‑export picture?

An article in STAT Times notes that Scotland has seen a surge in seafood exports to China, helped by the Prestwick–China route, which the air

“a game‑changer for time‑sensitive fish exports.”

The report adds that the new facilities at Prestwick can cut “farm‑to‑flight” time significantly, giving salmon producers an extra 18 hours of shelf life compared with older routing options.

Meanwhile, BBC News has reported that Scottish salmon exports increased in tonnage by 9% in 2025, making salmon the UK’s largest food export even as other categories such as Scotch whisky saw a decline. HMRC figures cited by the BBC show that Scottish salmon exports to China rose in value by 28% and in volume by 55% in 2025, reflecting the strength of the Asian market Preston seeks to serve.

What role does Prestwick now play in e‑commerce and air cargo?

In parallel with the seafood push, Glasgow Prestwick Airport has developed into a major e‑commerce and air‑cargo hub, as reported by International Transport Journal and the airport’s own communications. ITJ notes that the airport has handled over 25 million e‑commerce parcels, with more than 600 cargo flights, over 10,000 pallets, and 23,000 tonnes of imports processed since May 2025.

The airport’s cargo page states that Prestwick offers 24/7 operations, no curfews, and full‑time ground‑handling services, enabling continuous air‑cargo throughput to Europe, the US, and Asia.

How might this affect exporters and markets?

For Scottish salmon producers, the one‑million‑kilogram threshold at Prestwick signals a maturing, high‑volume air‑freight corridor to China and other Asian markets, rather than just a pilot service.

The expanded Air China and China Southern frequencies, plus Ethiopian Airlines’ Hong Kong link, give exporters more options to align flight schedules with harvest cycles and supermarket delivery windows.

For Asian buyers, the increased frequency and dedicated seafood‑handling infrastructure at Prestwick may translate into shorter sea‑air transit times, more stable quality, and potentially more predictable pricing, as airlines and forwarders gain experience with Scottish salmon as a regular cargo line‑haul product.

Background of this development

Glasgow Prestwick Airport launched its Scotland to China seafood export service in late 2025, following a £1 million investment in new equipment and a dedicated cool‑chain team, as reported by STAT Times and Yahoo Finance. The service was designed specifically for perishable Scottish seafood, including salmon, to reach Chinese markets with minimal temperature fluctuation.

Industry outlet Fish Farming Expert notes that the airport’s seafood‑export hub began handling commercial salmon volumes from early 2026, with producer Mowi cited in Salmon Business as one of the first exporters to ship salmon via Prestwick to Chengdu.

According to Salmon Business, 144 metric tonnes of Scottish salmon had reached Chengdu by early February 2026, marking the first commercial volumes under the new service.

The airport’s expansion into sea‑to‑air freight slots alongside rising e‑commerce flows has positioned Prestwick as both a para‑postal and high‑value perishable‑cargo hub, according to the airport’s own communications.

How has Scots salmon export data evolved?

Statistical coverage by BBC News indicates that Scottish salmon exports rose in tonnage by 9% in 2025, even as the overall export value fell slightly due to price pressures. The same report notes that 2025 volumes reached around 111,000 tonnes, with the product remaining the UK’s largest food export.

Crucially, Scottish salmon exports to the USA surpassed £300 million in value, reflecting a 34% increase, while shipments to China rose by 28% in value and 55% in volume, reaching 12,700 tonnes. These figures suggest that the Prestwick‑China route is being built against a backdrop of already strong demand, rather than creating demand from scratch.

Prediction: How this development could affect exporters, airlines, and Asian buyers

For salmon producers and exporters in Scotland, the one‑million‑kilogram milestone at Prestwick suggests that air‑freight via Prestwick is becoming a core channel rather than a niche option. With Air China Cargo flying daily to Chengdu and China Southern operating four weekly flights, exporters gain more flexibility to match flight schedules with processing windows and retail‑order deadlines.

The airport’s 87‑tonne chiller capacity and dedicated cool‑chain staff reduce the risk of temperature breaches and product write‑offs, which can directly affect export margins, especially for high‑priced whole‑fish or premium cuts. Over time, this may encourage more Scottish producers to price and contract for air‑freighted salmon into Asia, rather than relying solely on longer‑haul sea or less‑frequent air routes.

What this could mean for Glasgow Prestwick and other UK airports

For Glasgow Prestwick Airport, the salmon milestone strengthens its positioning as a specialist hub for perishable cargo and high‑value e‑commerce freight, rather than a generic UK cargo node. The airport already promotes its 24/7 operations, no curfews, and full‑service cargo handling, which are attractive to time‑sensitive exporters.

If the Scottish salmon volumes continue to grow, neighbouring airports and competing UK hubs may look to differentiate by offering similar cool‑chain capacity or by targeting other perishable categories, such as shellfish or high‑value fruit and vegetables.

What this could mean for Asian buyers and Asian‑air‑cargo networks

For Chinese and broader Asian buyers, the expanded Prestwick route could mean more consistent supply of Scottish salmon during peak‑demand periods, such as Chinese New Year or major retail promotions. The ability to ship salmon via a daily Air China Cargo service, plus onward Ethiopian‑linked options into South Korea and Vietnam, may reduce reliance on single‑hub routing through larger cargo‑meteropolises such as Hong Kong or Singapore.