…to the Scottish taxpayer!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-business-24446591
Seems like the Scottish government have chosen to do a similar thing to the Welsh government and bought an airport.
It’s not a done-deal as yet, and no details have been released as to how much it will cost, however this has to be seen as a positive step forward for the airport, which has been up for sale for a considerable amount of time.
Infratil have not been able to make the improvements to the infrastructure that it wants to due to the fact that no other major airline flies to/from the airport other than Ryanair who want to pay as little as possible for landing/handling fees. Plus the coup by Glasgow Airport when Wizz chose to move their flights didn’t help either. Ryanair have committed themselves to the airport, however this is understandable as they have established a major maintainence facility there. They’ve also launched some new routes, however the problem is that other airlines do not seem to want to fly from it.
Whilst I know Prestwick is further away from the city centre compared to the main Glasgow airport, it is already connected to the rail network so my first suggestion would be to to look into introducing a new high-speed rail service between the airport and the city as this could help increase the number of people using the airport.
By: Portagee - 13th October 2013 at 03:21
A really wacky thought is … If there was a Yes vote, Prestwick becomes a joint commercial and military field perhaps in the style so US Regional airports that are also Air National Guard bases. It could formalise Prestwick as a favoured (which it seems to be already) refuelling or night stop for foreign airforces jumping the Atlantic.
By: cloud_9 - 12th October 2013 at 22:15
Ok so here’s a wacky idea/thought…why doesn’t Ryanair buy the airport?
By: Robert Pittuck - 12th October 2013 at 15:12
Just to set the record straight the SG have an interest in the WHOLE of Scotland, to say little or no investment outside Edinburgh is made is factually untrue, Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdeen_Western_Peripheral_Route,
Glasgow Commonwealth Games ?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014_Commonwealth_Games with up to £2 billion spent on transport infrastructure, completion of the M74? Regeneration of the EastSide of Glasgow? There’s a lot being spent all over the country to say there is no investment outside Edinburgh is factually incorrect.
By: Tartan Pics - 10th October 2013 at 19:13
It is a veiled bit of good news for those working at Prestwick, unfortunately, this is seen by most up here as a political posturing vote winning exercise by Alex Salmond’s snp government (The Scottish govt have had PLENTY time to save PIK before now,and before Wizz felt forced to switch operations)with the referendum in under a year. I would be EXTREMELY surprised for the Holyrood govt to send ANY money Prestwick’s way, the Scottish Govt only have an interest in Edinburgh with little to no investment being seen outside the capital, unfortunately, after the referendum next year regardless the outcome Prestwick will then be dropped like a red hot poker. Ryanair …perhaps would be more accurately described as holding PIK to ransom, they pay extremely low rates for what they get, and everytime PIK makes any sort of demand they cut/reduce a route. It’s a sad state of affairs but PIK as an operating airport’s days are very clearly numbered. But if a political chest beating exercise keeps folk in a job for a little bit longer then all good.
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October 9, 2013 at 8:21 pm