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Cargo Airports – Executive Interview Series: Nico Le Roux, Glasgow Prestwick Airport

From capitalising on the rise of e-commerce demand to implementing initiatives that reduce its carbon footprint, Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK) is focused on a strong future. The airport’s business development director, Nico Le Roux, shares insights on these and other strategies to enhance PIK’s cargo capabilities.

How are global economic conditions affecting the air cargo industry in general, and what implications does this have for Glasgow Prestwick Airport (PIK)?

At PIK, we closely monitor global economic trends to ensure we remain adaptable to shifting market demands. Identifying growth sectors in air cargo, and understanding their needs, allows us to serve them as effectively as possible.

A significant disruptor in air cargo at the moment is e-commerce, and we have been focussing our efforts on supporting this industry for over a year and a half now.

Around 80% of our strategic development is currently aimed at attracting e-commerce traffic from the Far East and working with Scottish exporters to fill return flights. The longevity of this trend is uncertain, as it is tied to broader economic fluctuations, but it is undoubtedly the driving force of air cargo at the moment.

Our involvement in e-commerce began in peak season 2023 when a charter operator approached us with a request to handle e-commerce shipments through PIK. After successfully managing the process, we decided to expand our services in this sector, and become a hub for e-commerce coming into the UK. Given our infrastructure and location, we are uniquely positioned to provide this solution for e-commerce operations.

What do you see as the biggest challenges facing air cargo airports/hubs in the next 5-10 years, and how is PIK preparing to address these?

One of the main challenges will be changing regulatory requirements, particularly concerning trade and security. These requirements are constantly altered, and adapting to them swiftly is essential.

We work closely with regulatory bodies to stay ahead of potential shifts, ensuring that our processes remain compliant while still being as efficient as possible – this is paramount to our work within the e-commerce, live touring, live animal transport, and other time-critical industries.

For example, cargo security screening requirements are becoming increasingly stringent, which can impact processing times. To address this, we are collaborating with Global K9 to develop an enhanced screening process that will facilitate the rapid movement of large cargo volumes.

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Glasgow Prestwick Airport closely monitors global economic trends to ensure it remains adaptable to shifting market demands.

What trends are you seeing in cross-border e-commerce, and how is PIK adapting to meet these changing demands?

A key learning from our experience in e-commerce is the complexity of decision-making in this sector. With multiple stakeholders involved, from carriers and forwarders to charter agents and last-mile providers, it can be difficult to pinpoint who has the final say on routing decisions. Understanding this dynamic has been crucial to developing PIK’s position as an e-commerce gateway, and we have established relationships across all these sub-sectors to ensure we remain engaged at every level.

Being aligned with the major e-commerce platforms has been an important step for us – representatives from the top four global platforms have already visited PIK, and we are now working to develop partnerships with the next tier of emerging e-commerce players.

Obviously, another major factor shaping the e-commerce industry this year will be the introduction of new US tariffs.

With the rise of automation and emerging technologies in cargo handling, what impact do you see this having on PIK’s facilities and activities?

Last year, we invested £2.17 million in new cargo handling equipment to further improve PIK’s ability to provide efficient and reliable cargo services.

Specifically, we acquired two high loaders with capacities of 20 and 35 tonnes, a heavy-duty pushback tractor capable of handling any aircraft type, and 12 new dollies. With our enhanced infrastructure, we now achieve turnaround times of under two hours for 90-tonne loads.

Our new cold storage facilities, with a controlled range of -30C to +25C, is an aspect of the airport that we are looking to develop further as we continue to support Scotland’s perishable export market.

While we have not yet implemented full automation, it is something we are exploring – particularly for e-commerce processing, which remains labour-intensive.

We are also considering software solutions to provide greater visibility into package movement through the airport, which is currently tracked manually.

How is PIK addressing sustainability concerns in its cargo operations? What green initiatives are being implemented?

One key initiative we have implemented to reduce our carbon footprint is ensuring that any handling or warehousing equipment that needs replacing is upgraded to electric-powered alternatives. Our overarching goal is to significantly cut emissions by 2030, and we are on track to meet this target.

Given the size of our estate, we are also investing in solar energy. Our cargo warehouses, which are among the largest structures at PIK, will be the first to have solar panels installed. The long-term objective is to achieve self-sufficiency and, ultimately, contribute surplus energy back to the grid.

From an operational standpoint, our airport’s design offers efficiency advantages. Due to PIK’s landing and take-off cycle, our approach and taxiing procedures significantly reduce CO2 emissions compared to busier airports. We can help our clients quantify these savings with our software partner, RDC Aviation, which can calculate the emissions volumes from landing and take-off.

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Glasgow Prestwick Airport has recently invested over £2 million in new cargo equipment, including two high loaders and 12 new dollies, supporting fast turnaround times.

How is PIK balancing the need for increased security measures with the demand for faster, more efficient cargo processing?

We have invested in some of the fastest and most advanced screening technology available in the UK. As part of PIK’s development of its infrastructure in 2024, we also invested in a Rapiscan X-ray machine with 7.5mm steel penetration, allowing us to maintain fast processing speeds while making sure cargo is screened accurately and safely.

What is the relationship like between PIK and its cargo handling companies?

Unlike many other airports, we handle all cargo operations in-house through Prestwick Aviation Services. This simplifies the process for operators – whether it’s warehousing, ground handling, or refuelling, they only need to deal with a single point of contact.

That being said, we also maintain strong relationships with multinational ground handlers, collaborating when needed to provide support at other locations.

Reflecting on your role as a senior leader at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, what significant lessons have you learned about your organisation and the dynamics of the air cargo industry?

One of the key lessons I have learned is that the air cargo industry is constantly evolving. This is actually my second tenure at PIK – I left 13 years ago when the industry appeared to be slowing down. During that time, I moved to Africa to develop cargo airports, but three years ago, as the industry experienced rapid growth – particularly in e-commerce – I was invited back.

What stands out about PIK is the effectiveness of our in-house team. Unlike larger airports where different departments can operate in silos, everyone at PIK is part of a cohesive unit, working together towards common goals. It is this approach that allows us to take on complex projects that others might shy away from; whether it’s handling project cargo or entire flights of livestock, our team consistently rises to the challenge.

I have also been impressed by the foresight of our board in recognising the potential of cargo operations. At many UK airports, cargo is treated as an afterthought, but at PIK, it is a priority. This proactive mindset has positioned us as a leading player in the industry, and I am excited to see how we continue to grow and adapt in the coming years.

READ ANOTHER INTERVIEW IN ABN’s CARGO AIRPORTS SENIOR EXECUTIVES INTERVIEW SERIES:

Hamdi Osman, founder and chief executive of SolitAir

 

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