Hong Kong Air Cargo has extended its global network to include Prestwick Airport in a potential boost to Scottish exports and the Ayrshire airport’s revenue stream.

Initially, the airline will carry shipments into Scotland from three of the top four e-commerce platforms in Hong Kong: Shein, Temu and TikTok.

Prestwick is being seen as a strategic pitstop on already established cargo routes between the US and Europe. Its business development team is now focusing on securing cargo for the return leg to Hong Kong.

The airport is collaborating with Scottish export associations to increase exports flying out of Prestwick directly to the Far East to avoid trucking goods to London Heathrow.

It posted a fifth consecutive year of operating profit last year as ministers remain open to offers from buyers and they will be hoping this latest deal may encourage more interest.

In a social media post, HKAC said: ”Thrilled to announce that we will be inaugurating flights to Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) starting from 10 Feb 2025, marking the first Far East airline to operate to Glasgow Prestwick.”

The first flight to the Ayrshire airport will be via an Airbus A330-200 freighter operating from Hong Kong, with additional flights already planned for 18 and 25 February.

Each flight will carry up to 60 tonnes of cargo, which will be processed and sorted at Prestwick before final mile delivery by Royal Mail Group and EVRI.

“PIK [Prestwick] is our first new destination for 2025 and is the ideal choice to support our growing operations into the UK as we will benefit from fast turnaround times and an experienced cargo team,” said Tony Ma, chairman of Hong Kong Air Cargo.

“The hub’s location is ideal for our e-commerce flights, with easy access to road and rail connections, as well as by sea to Ireland, and we are looking to fill our return leg with two of the UK’s biggest exports to the Far East by weight.

“We look forward to working closely with the team at Prestwick to develop this new route.”

The airline expanded its route network last year in order to capitalise on growing e-commerce traffic. 

It has services connecting Birmingham, Budapest,Liege, London Stansted, Milan and Riyadh. It operates a freighter service to Oslo in order to benefit from demand for seafood products in Asia.

Air Cargo News reports that the latest move comes as Prestwick has been building its e-commerce cargo operations.

Nico Le Roux, business development director at the airport, said: “The arrival of Hong Kong Air Cargo’s flights is a clear sign that our efforts to develop Prestwick as a leading e-commerce hub are delivering results.

“We have made significant investments over the past year to improve our cargo handling capabilities and attract traffic from the Far East, with new equipment and the appointment of a dedicated airport representative based in Greater China.

“This comes on top of expansion based on our recently announced partnerships with Royal Mail Group and Chicago Rockford Airport in the US.

“The next step is ensuring that the return flights to Hong Kong are fully utilised, presenting a major opportunity for Scottish exporters.

“Scottish salmon and whisky are highly sought-after in Asia, and this new route provides a direct and efficient means of getting these premium products to the Hong Kong and mainland Chinese market.”

HKAC currently has five A330-200Fs that are dry leased from its parent company Hong Kong Airlines, plus an EFW-converted Airbus A330-300P2F that is on ACMI lease.

By 2027, HKAC aims to have 15 aircraft – comprising owned and aircraft, crew, maintenance and insurance (ACMI).

Prestwick airport posted a £3.2m operating profit for the year to the end of March from from £2.1m in the previous 12 months. Pre-tax profit came in at £1.5m, from £800,000 last time. Revenue fell to £54.1m from £58.1m.