Almost a year on, and CargoForwarder Global’s original title “Glasgow Airport’s China Services are growing at a pace” (See https://cargoforwarder.eu/2025/11/30/glasgow-airports-china-services-growing-at-a-pace/) is still very much relevant. Glasgow’s Prestwick Airport (PIK) celebrated the debut of yet another direct China connection on 13SEP26, when Air China Cargo launched its twice-weekly service to Ürümqi (That’s pronounced Oohroomchi, by the way.) Located in Northwest China, Ürümqi Tianshan International Airport goes by the 3-letter-code URC and is now the fourth Air China Cargo service out of PIK. The other three being Guangzhou Baiyun International (CAN), Chengdu (CTU), and Shanghai (PVG). Altogether, PIK now offers 16 scheduled flights per week to and from mainland China, and can look back on seven consecutive years of profitable operations, with cargo tonnage quadrupling year-on-year. “New links to China’s Northwest will support the airport’s seafood export service, which saw 1.78 million kilograms of Scottish salmon exported in the first six months of the year, with PIK continuing to expand its cool chain capabilities,” the press release states.
Jules Matteoni, Chief Executive Officer, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, detailed: “Air China’s decision to add Ürümqi to its Prestwick network is another important step in a partnership that has grown significantly in a relatively short period of time. We have worked closely with Air China to understand exactly what they need from Prestwick and where we can support the continued development of their operations. The addition of another two weekly flights reflects the trust that has been built between our teams and, importantly, creates a direct trade lane between Scotland and a new region of China.” Colin Dai, Regional Director – Asia, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, added: “Ürümqi opens up new opportunities for Scottish and UK exporters, particularly the salmon and seafood sector and Scottish whisky, where speed, reliability, and specialist handling are critical. We want Prestwick to be an airport where our airline partners can grow with confidence. Air China’s continued investment in its network here shows what can be achieved when we work together to develop routes that make commercial sense for the airline, the airport, and the Scottish and UK businesses that rely on regular uplift and connectivity.”
