Glasgow Prestwick Airport invests in air cargo
22 / 05 / 2024
Source: Glasgow Prestwick
Scottish airport Glasgow Prestwick has announced a series of investments in cargo as it looks to speed up handling times.
The airport has recently spent £2.2m on cargo equipment, cold storage solutions and an x-ray machine.
Prestwick’s new equipment includes two high loaders with 20 and 35 tonne capacity respectively, a heavy-duty pushback tractor capable of handling any aircraft type, 12 new dollies, and a new Rapiscan X-ray machine with 7.5mm steel penetration.
The Scottish hub has also invested in new cold storage facilities with a controlled range of -30C to +25C.
The airport is hoping to deliver cargo turnaround times of less than two hours for a 90-tonne load.
“We have one of the fastest turnaround times for air cargo in the UK, no slot requirements, and no restrictions,” said the airport’s business development director Nico Le Roux.
“This investment is part of our ongoing commitment to providing world-class freight services with 24/7 operations.”
Prestwick said it has the longest commercial runway north of Manchester, which can accommodate the AN-124, and offers direct links to the UK’s motorway network, as well as its own cargo railway siding and access to nearby ferry services to Ireland.
It also has more than 12,000 sq m of warehouse space opening onto the cargo apron and has in-house cargo handling.
“We average a two-hour turn around for a wide-bodied freighter aircraft after arrival, and can deliver a B747 full palletised offload onto trucks to arrive in Manchester within six hours of landing,” the airport said.
Last year, UK Civil Aviation Authority statistics showed Prestwick handled 10,673 tonnes of freight.
