Military flights boost revenue for airport

Trans-Atlantic military flights using Prestwick Airport for stopovers helped boost revenue at the Ayrshire base from £35m to £58m last year, new figures show.

Prestwick, which is owned by the Scottish government, is used by several countries' air forces, including the UK military facility at HMS Gannett.

As well as the US Air Force, Prestwick is marking the 80th anniversary of its relationship with the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Traffic during the financial year to March was boosted by supplies destined for Ukraine, and it was an important supply point for Nato exercises in Europe.

The biggest of these, German Air Defender 2023, took place in summer this year.

As a refuelling stop, the higher price of oil also boosted turnover at Prestwick. Operating profit was up by 10% to £2.1m.

The Scottish government bought Prestwick Airport from its previous New Zealand owners 10 years ago to avoid its closure, and funded its loss-making operations with more than £50m of loans.

Airport managers attracted more cargo flights, which were boosted during the pandemic when passenger flights were grounded, removing cargo capacity.

That has helped the Ayrshire airport turn a profit for the past four years.

Passenger traffic more than trebled to 459,000 last year, but it remains a relatively small part of operations at the airport.

The annual report confirmed a partnership with Ryanair has been continued for five more years, both with a maintenance facility and with limited passenger flights.

Managers hope to see the return of more passenger flights, for which there is to be investment in food and retail outlets at the air terminal.

They have invested in new cold storage for cargo and specialist x-ray equipment, while planning a new building providing facilities for stopover air crew.

Another focus is a plan to "establish the airport as a supply point for sustainable aviation fuel".

Forsyth Black, chairman of the board, said: “Our shareholder, the Scottish government has a long-term stated aim of returning Glasgow Prestwick Airport to private ownership and the board is of the firm belief that in order to so at the greatest benefit to the Scottish taxpayer, it ensures that the business is set up the best it can be for a bright future”.