The proposed service would further expand Prestwick's growing network of Chinese cargo flights, which are now reported as more than twenty scheduled services each week.
Prestwick currently has direct freight connections with Ürümqi, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Shanghai. Adding Nanjing would provide another important link between Scotland and one of China's major manufacturing regions.
The plans were discussed at a meeting in Nanjing on 27th October between Prestwick's Chief Executive Officer, Jules Matteoni, Regional Director Colin Dai, Vice Governor Ma Shiguang and local government officials.
During the meeting, the provincial government confirmed its support for establishing a new route between Nanjing Lukou International Airport and Prestwick. According to a translation of the Jiangsu Government's account of the meeting:
Ma Shiguang welcomed the visitors and briefly introduced Jiangsu's economic and social development.
He said that Jiangsu is a major economic province, a province with a high degree of openness to international trade, and a major transport centre. Its integrated transport system is among the most advanced in China, while international freight transport is developing rapidly and offers considerable potential.
At present, Jiangsu is continuing to expand its high-level opening-up to the outside world and accelerating the development of an internationally connected hub that supports trade and transport in both directions.
The deepening of relationships with airports is a key element of Prestwick's strategy for the development of two-way trade between the UK and China.
Jules Matteoni said:
“China is an increasingly important part of our cargo network, and a direct link with Nanjing would strengthen the options available to businesses moving goods between the United Kingdom and one of China’s largest provincial economies."
“We are working with our partners in Jiangsu to establish a route that can support long term demand, strengthen trade links, and create economic opportunities at both ends of the connection.”
Nanjing is the capital of Jiangsu Province in eastern China, one of the country's most important industrial and manufacturing regions.
The proposed service could provide additional opportunities for British exporters while also supporting the movement of Chinese manufactured goods into the UK and European markets.
Prestwick's Regional Director, Colin Dai, said:
“Every new connection into China creates another opportunity for exporters to reach customers and supply chains more directly.
“Jiangsu has a substantial manufacturing base, and we see a clear opportunity to build stronger cargo flows in both directions while giving businesses in Scotland and across the United Kingdom greater access to the Chinese market.”
The airport has developed an increasingly important role in handling freight and e-commerce shipments arriving from China, with onward distribution to destinations across the United Kingdom and northwest Europe.
Discussions will now continue on the commercial and operational arrangements for the proposed Nanjing service.
The Chinese Regional Government account specifically calls for:
Further feasibility studies for the Nanjing–Prestwick all-cargo route.
Development of return freight traffic, rather than relying only on exports from China.
A commercially sustainable service supported by the industries of both regions.
This is a significant detail and indicates that Jiangsu's government is interested not simply in adding another outbound Chinese e-commerce route, but in developing enough two-way business to sustain the operation. Prestwick have recruited staff who will be concentrating on building UK exports to China on the return flights.
No airline has yet been named to operate the proposed service. However, my investigations have identified two Chinese freight airlines already operating from Nanjing to Europe.
Suparna Airlines operates Boeing 747 freighters between Nanjing and Katowice in Poland, while China Postal Airlines operates Boeing 777 freighters between Nanjing and Luxembourg.
Both airlines have the aircraft and experience to operate a route to Prestwick, although there is currently no evidence that either has been selected.
Further details of the proposed service are expected in the coming months.