Ryanair announces extra flights from Prestwick

Feb 26 2010 by Lisa Boyle, Ayrshire Post (main ed)

RYANAIR has announced extra flights to its sunshine routes from Prestwick.

The boost comes hot on the heels of the news that the bucket airline will invest in a multi-million pound hangar at the airport.

The busy airport already has low-cost flights to Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro and Carcassonne.

But from May this year, Europe’s largest low fares airline will add extra flights on all five destinations.

It means Malaga now has seven low-cost flights a week, Alicante six flights a week, Palma seven flights a week, Faro six flights a week and Carcassonne goes to three flights a week.

New chief executive of the airport Iain Cochrane said: “This is more excellent news for the airport.

“As well as these welcome extras, we have new Ryanair routes starting to Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands and Ibiza next month, plus summer flights to Jersey and Turkey with other airlines.”

Ryanair now has six aircraft at Prestwick serving 29 European routes.

Central Ayrshire MP Brian Donohoe works closely with bosses at Prestwick Airport.

He is pleased at the latest announcement.

Mr Donohoe said: “This is an enormous surge in business, it’s very, very good news and I am absolutely delighted.

“Of course, linked with the news last week about Ryanair’s investment in Prestwick Airport it’s just first class.

“I’ve always been optimistic about Prestwick Airport, even last year when they went through a really tough time.

“It’s a 365 day operation when airports at Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen frequently have to close due to the weather.

“We have a great facility here and I’d like to congratulate everyone who is involved with it.”

Last week, Ryanair announced that they were set to build a second maintenance hangar at Prestwick.

The £8 million investment, supported by £1.5 million from the Scottish government, will house Ryanair's fleet of more than 200 aircraft to be serviced.