Prestwick Airport Blog

Staff cuts feared at Prestwick

Tue, 10 Feb 2009 13:17:50 GMT

It seems as if news of massive job cuts makes the headlines every day at the moment. The credit crunch simply keeps claiming new victims and it seems like there is no end in sight. Now Prestwick Airport, which is located in Ayrshire, has announced that approximately 240 members of staff could be made redundant as part of a drastic yet necessary cost-cutting scheme.

This figure may seem negligible compared to the thousands of staff members in large companies made redundant within days during the past few months. However, the figure is actually rather shocking since the overall number of people working at Prestwick Airport is 500. This means that airport officials are considering sacking almost half of their members of staff.

The plans have been necessitated by a decline in both passenger and freight numbers. The decline in freight figures has hit the airport particularly hard, since Prestwick used to be the largest freight handler in the United Kingdom prior to FedEx’s move to Stansted airport. However, the chief executive of the airport, Mark Rodwell, has stated that the officials are doing all they can to seek alternative options before making the job cuts.

Officials will look closely at the “workload of the airport” over the months to come and will assess the “number of employees who are needed to deliver that workload”. Ultimately, Mr. Rodwell believes, like many other chief executives involved in the aviation industry, that 2009 will be an extremely tough year but the aim of the airport is still to “avoid job losses where possible”.

Numbers at Prestwick rise as airport expansion starts

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 13:54:50 GMT

Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire may not be a household name south of the border (although it does have the surprising claim to fame as being the only part of the UK ever to have been visited by Elvis Presley) but things are looking decidedly rosy for the Scottish airport.

Unlike many of its more well-known competitors, passenger numbers for September 2008 rose for the fifth consecutive month and work has recently started on a £1.7 million expansion plan for the airport.

The collapse of Seguro Holidays in September meant a drop in charter traffic but the airport remains a firm favourite with budget airlines such as Ryanair, Aer Arann, and Wizz Air. The £1.7 million is to be spent on expanding and refurbishing the departure lounge, a move which will be welcomed by the passengers using the airport. John Scott, MSP for Ayr, is delighted by the expansion and the benefits which it will bring to the region’s economy. Prestwick is the main employer in the area.

The airport predicts that passenger numbers will more than double in the next ten years. As Scotland’s fastest growing airport, it expects to take more of the Scottish market in the future and believes that if its rail service can be improved, it will do even better. Currently 20% of its passengers arrive and depart from the airport by train but with a restricted service in terms of operating hours this is not always an option for holiday makers and business travellers.

Prestwick Airport receives new routes

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 12:11:41 BST

Prestwick Airport is to receive new flights to Tenerife, Malaga and Faro as part of the biggest expansion in budget airline Ryanair’s history.

The huge expansion is taking place all across the UK and Europe, with 12 new flights from the UK and 40 new routes across the continent expected to be up and running by the time winter sets in.

The new additions mean that Ryanair will now run 29 routes out of Prestwick Airport. This also includes a new additional flight to Belfast every day, adding to the one that already departs daily from the airport.

Mark Rodwell, chief executive of Prestick Airport, said that the new routes to Spain and Portugal demonstrate “Ryanair’s commitment to expand and offer the best choice of European routes from Glasgow Prestwick Airport”.

He also said that the new destinations had “always been popular among Scots” and that the low fares offered by Ryanair will make them doubly attractive for holidaymakers.

Ryanair has been offering special £10 seats throughout June and July to celebrate their expansion of new routes, although the flights from Prestwick will not be available until the end of October.

The new flight details are as follows:

Destination: Tenerife
Days: Mondays and Fridays
Flights begin: 27th October 2008
Price: between £50 and £75 (one way with fees)

Destination: Malaga
Days: Mondays , Wednesdays and Saturdays
Flights begin: 27th October 2008
Price: £44.06 (one way with fees)

Destination: Faro
Days: Mondays and Wednesdays
Flights begin: 29th October 2008
Price: £50.06 (one way with fees)

All flights are available to buy now from Ryanair.

New flight to Turkey from Prestwick Airport

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 14:55:56 BST

May 26th 2008 saw the announcement of a new holiday option for travellers from Prestwick Airport, as Scottravel Holidays officially launched a new route to Turkey.

The flight will take place once every week during the summer months, and many people are expected to take advantage of the new route. For a long time now, Turkey has been viewed as a great holiday destination. However, for many people, it has not been a viable option due to a limited number of flights departing from smaller airports.

Travellers will arrive at Dalaman, and from here they will be able to reach the popular and lively resort of Marmaris, a town steeped in history but one which also caters for the package holiday crowd, with a large number of restaurants, hotels and nightclubs. For those searching for a quieter break, the nearby İçmeler is a relaxing choice.

However, the choice is not limited to these locations as Ovacık and Ölüdeniz, located in the Fethiye region, will also be easily accessible to tourists taking advantage of the new route. Indeed, Serkan Aydin, Managing Director of Scottravel Holidays, has said that “we can create the perfect Turkish adventure to suit all tastes and budgets”.

Turkey offers a great alternative to other European destinations. It has a fantastic climate, the temperature soars in the summer and it is steeped in history and culture. Typically known as the point where East meets West, it has Iraq on one side and the rest of Europe on the other.

Mark Rodwell, Chief Executive of Prestwick Airport, focused on the benefits of travelling to Turkey when he said: “Many holidaymakers are now turning their attention away from the more traditional European destinations, due to a very unfavourable exchange rate from the pound to the Euro”.

Flight prices vary but as a guide, Thomas Cook offers a one-way flight for £43.99, including all taxes and charges.

Polish connections

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:16:32 BST

November 2005 will see the commencement of services between Glasgow Prestwick airport and Krakow, Poland.
The service, which will operate three times a week, is to be one of the few services flying direct to Krakow from the UK, meaning that it is expected to be popular.
For latest news and developments check the <a href="http://www.gpia.co.uk/general/news.asp" target="_blank">official news
pages</a>.

Passenger figures soar

Fri, 06 Jun 2008 14:15:13 BST

Passenger numbers were up 15% in June this year, compared to June 2004.
The overall figures show that the passenger numbers are up by 10% for the year.