Prestwick Airport has reported an increase in its financial performance as well as its cargo operations in the last year.

The Scottish government-owned airport recorded a £3.5m operating profit for the year to 31 March 2025 – an increase of £300,000 from the previous year.

The report said it has already achieved its annual operating target in the first six months of the financial year.

It marks the sixth consecutive year of profit for the airport, known officially as Glasgow Prestwick.

Prestwick has reinvested around £10m in its airfield, ground services equipment and security in the last 18 months.

But the growth in cargo operations has been driven by the airport’s success in attracting e-commerce flights from China.

Chief executive Ian Forgie said cargo volumes at the airport are expected to treble in the financial year to March 2026.

He said the base is currently handing 21 wide-bodied freighters a week and more than 3,800 tonnes of cargo a month, which has created more than 150 new jobs.

“This positions Prestwick Airport as a first-class export gateway for Scottish exports such as high value seafood and whisky which are in high demand in mainland China and Hong Kong,” he added.

The airport currently employs more than 500 people, but budget airline Ryanair is the only main commercial airline that uses it. The majority of flights come from cargo services and trans-Atlantic military flights using Prestwick for stopovers.

Earlier this year, both Air Force One and Air Force Two used Prestwick to land during visits to Scotland from President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance.

Last financial year also saw Ryanair celebrate 30 years of passenger operations at the airport, as the airline completed a £5m investment in their training facility on the campus in November 2024.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes said Glasgow Prestwick is a “valuable economic asset” for both Ayrshire and Scotland.

She added: “This strong performance would not have been possible without the work of the management team, the board and the workforce, which has established an excellent reputation for service quality in a competitive international market.

“I am determined to see Glasgow Prestwick Airport continue to grow and prosper.

“The fact the airport has already achieved its revenue targets for 2025/26 six months early is testament to the strengths and strategic direction the airport is developing in an incredibly competitive market.”