Aviation Editor Doug Maclean
We have kept you up to date with exciting developments from Prestwick airport and now their policies of shrewd investment, clever partnerships and downright hard work look as if they are about to pay off big style.
In what is probably Scotland’s biggest-ever new air freight service announcement Ayrshire Daily News can exclusively reveal that next week, on February 11th we will see the first flight of Hong Kong Air Cargo arrive at Prestwick. Flight RH396 will be a sparkling red and gold Airbus 330-200F from Hong Kong to Prestwick.
The new service from Hong Kong will be the first of 3 development flights on 11th, 18th and 25th February. Thereafter we expect to see 3 or even 5 flights per week operating on this new route.
I spoke to Nico le Roux, Prestwick’s Business Development Director today and Ayrshire Daily News can now reveal that the new flights are a direct result of the work done over the last year by Mr Le Roux and his team. His message was short and enthusiastic to his new customer – “We welcome Hong Kong Air Cargo and we assure you of our market leading service. See you soon! ”
The flights will carry freight from some of the world’s biggest trading companies – TikTok, Temu and Shein. All 3 of those massive companies have world wideoperations based in Hong Kong.
The cargo will arrive at Prestwick with up to 60 tonnes on each flight. It will then be sorted at Prestwick and final delivery will be by Royal Mail Last Mile Service and EVRI.
Mr Le Roux said:
“This is a massive opportunity for all Scottish producers and manufacturers to get their premium products direct to China through the vibrant hub of Hong Kong. We are rich in natural products like salmon and our whisky is the premium drink around the world. Our aviation companies based around Prestwick will now be able to fly high value products to the heart of the far east market.“
We have now entered the Chinese Year of the Snake and we know that red in Chinese culture is universally known as a harbinger of good luck and gold represents wealth and prosperity.
The beautiful red and gold aeroplanes of Hong Kong Air Cargo will soon be landing at Prestwick and could be a foretaste of prosperity for all involved in this very exciting air cargo development.
More details to follow.
