Consolidate?...How big an operation do the big three mentioned have in Scotland?

Currently, not really big enough to warrant consolidation. I think DHL have a 757 at EDI and Fedex an ASL 737 at EDI and ATR42 at GLA. Not sure about Amazon, but they might use some of the capacity of the West Air 737s at EDI. DHL and Fedex seek to transport low-volume high-value packages to and from mainly businesses quickly, so it makes sense for them to maximise the length of the quick bit of the journey (flying) and minimise the length of the slow bit of the journey (road transport). I would imagine that in Central Scotland the bulk of their business is from companies located in or adjoining the M8/M9/M80 triangle and EDI is perfectly located for them at one of the vertexes of that triangle. I'm not sure that moving to an airport about a 45-minute drive from another vertex of that triangle would be a great move. As for Amazon, their two current Scottish distribution centres are in Dunfermline and Greenock about 90 and 60-minute drives from PIK respectively. So again, PIK isn't particularly well-suited for either of their locations. (Although the Royal Mail have run a West Air 737/ATP into PIK on weekday mornings during the pandemic, so clearly they think it usefully-located).

That said, given the projected growth in online commerce, I suppose it's plausible that one of them would be interested in operating from an airport where they would have space to build a bespoke facility which would be the case at PIK, but perhaps not at GLA or EDI. Whether they would be interested enough to buy it though is another matter - I'm not sure any of them own any other airports outright?

Anyway, I'm not sure any of those three meet the definition of "huge European transport firm" referred to in the article (DHL might I suppose, and perhaps there's a Europe-incorporated entity of Amazon or Fedex that would too). Given the Scottish Government went through a procurement process to identify the preferred bidder, presumably they would, in the first instance, seek to sell it to a party that was involved in that process. The Scotsman reported that, after the Expression of Interest stage, Vinci and a foreign consortium (https://www.scotsman.com/news/transp...-group-1399214) were invited to bid (along with the then-preferred bidder). If the 'huge European transport firm' referred to in the Daily Record article isn't Vinci (who would qualify for that description) or the foreign consortium then why did this huge firm not bid during the sale process?

In 2018 The Times reported that 20 firms had expressed an interest in buying PIK (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/c...fers-mfkw2fxm2) since it was sold by Infratil, yet nobody has successfully concluded a sale. I'd love to be proven wrong but can't help thinking that this 'huge European transport firm' might end up being another to add to that list.

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/s...rport-22897217

What a bunch of hypocrites the SNP are. All the things SNP brass have said about Trump and hes essentially the reason Prestwick is still in business!

Wasn't this a refuelling contract between the USAF / USN and PIK's Management? Usual Daily Record twisting of the facts to rouse those gullible enough to jump to conclusions in order to satisfy their own prejudices by the looks of it.

This is complete political bonkers. The US is one of our main allies. So you don’t like the current President - tough. I am no cheerleader for PIK or the SNP but to criticise PIK for providing fuel to USAF aircraft is beyond stupid.

Totally agree - pathetic nonsense

The fact the Scottish Government are being attacked for this, when they don't have any control over who can land at the airport or indeed any control over Scottish airspace is laughable too. Thai story is nothing more than hysterical nonsense by all involved. There have been plenty of international military visitors to PIK over the years as well as EDI and other Scottish airports too.

I think that PIK was damned no matter what they did. If they didn't do anything they'd be slaughtered for bleeding the taxpayer dry. Now that they've diversified and got more business coming in they're being slaughtered in the media for it.
No win situation there.

Living in England I don’t get a lot of exposure to Scottish politics but when you read the comments in the Record article from the Labour Deputy leader and the Green leader you wonder how these people got to be MSPs? In comparison, no wonder Nicola is so popular.

With the current Holyrood inquiry it's possible Nicola may not be around much longer..

If you believe that you’re reading the wrong newspapers. Don’t think any correspondent believes that will be the case (in this context anyway)...

Not really sure this is a discussion for 'Airlines, Airports & Routes' but it's here so I'll join in: I can't remotely see anything wrong with our most important military allies using one of our airfields. But the politicos can't have it both ways. They can't slag off a regime, and then provide it with an air base, without expecting someone to point out the inconsistency.

It’s hardly an “airbase”. That conjures up images of squadrons of based military aircraft and, unless I’ve missed something, that‘s worlds away from what is actually happening at PIK i.e. some fuel stops.

I deliberately used melodramatic language :) But the point remains that it seems like to a large extent the US government is keeping a Scottish government-owned business in business. Like I say, no real problem for me, but I'm not the leader of a government who spends a lot of time not just criticising but slagging off the US Government.
Anyway, JetBlast beckons...

Some of these children would have their wee heads explode with outrage if anyone explained why PIK used to see independent US 3rd level airlines flying passengers with shiney shoes on a regular basis to and from Bradleyfield, CT. Or how about the visit every second day of the 437 MAW from Charleston, SC?
Perhaps the Holy Loch was once more than a tourist attraction? Anyway, enough context, let's all get angry and lose our minds, it's the spirit of the age after all. #2020

You’re making me all nostalgic, Skipness. Trans Caribbean, American Flyers, Saturn, World Airways, Universal, Flying Tigers etc etc all, as you said, moving US Military personnel in and out. And for quite a lot of that period we had a Labour Government (which I only mention because of the ranting of Labour MSPs)

Seems that KlasJet started a 737F mail service to and from LGW this morning. Pleasing bit of additional mail business to add to the existing West Atlantic 737/ATP operation.

If at first you don't succeed: 'Scottish government launches fresh bid to sell Prestwick Airport' https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-54830349

touch and barge pole spring to mind in current climate...

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....f619872d16.jpg


£80m investment that will position Ayrshire as one of the UK’s leading centres of Aerospace and Space activity

Looks like a new terminal for PIK. Although if it's for space travel, then it appears to be about 1000x the size it needs to be, given that SpaceShipTwo only carries 8 people!

Not sure why it needs to be separate from the main terminal.. surely either re-using the existing terminal, or moving ryanair to the new facility would make more sense?

You were saying..

I can't believe that the artist missed the opportunity to get this in:

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/6D...-no?authuser=0

(One for PIK aficionados of a certain age.)

FFS 2040 and still only one airline !

FFS Its not just about airlines. The airfield is much bigger than just relying on airline PAX operations. In fact these have been one of the key reasons for the losses incurred over the years. The recent positive financial results have shown that the deficit can be turned around with a focus on developing a strong mix of fuel stops, Military stop overs and exercises, FBO activity, Maintenance and Training. The Ayrshire Growth Deal investment hopefully will not only strengthen the present profit generating activities but develop other areas. As for the Spaceport - it's hanging on in there but I remain to be convinced.