Prestwick-3

[The Hypnoboon]

That's the 2019/2020 accounts available from the airport website.

​​​​https://www.glasgowprestwick.com/corporate/about-us/performance-and-reporting/

[nighthawk117]

Thanks for the heads up, I look forward to reading those in full later. After a quick glance though, passenger and freight revenue are unchanged, but with a massive uptick in fuel sales, presumably form more transit traffic. Good news short term, but that kind of business can easily switch to another airport at any point. Does anyone know how long the contract with the USAF is due to run?

Hopefully the profits can be invested wisely to help grow other aspects of the business to provide a more stable base in future.

[tartan 201]

Search this (https://cis.energy.dla.mil/ipcis/Ipcis) for Prestwick and it appears that a new contract was in place from 1st May 2020 continuing to 30th September 2024. Downloading the spreadsheet and ranking the airports by contract value shows Prestwick to have the ninth-largest contract by value. That said, there has been a marked reduction in USAF transit traffic since the beginning of the pandemic with a consequent reduction in fuel sales. On the other hand, there has been between three and five USN P8s temporarily based since mid-November who are presumably covered by the fuel contract.

[ScotsSLF]

Good to see the airfield returning to profit in 2019-20 (£5.5m) although like all aviation related businesses the impact of Covid-19 will not be fully felt within these accounts and the 2020-21 figures will be more telling as to future prospects. However there are some positive noises coning from the directors as to the future but time will tell. The following quote from the report regarding the potential sale is worthy of note. . "The coronavirus pandemic continues to have a devastating impact on global aviation, creating challenging circumstances for all businesses operating in the sector. However, despite this the business remains in a strong financial position and an attractive asset and during the past few months have received notes of interest from potential buyers and investors." Let's see what pans out but well done to the PIK Management on the results for 2019-20. They have been maligned at every opportunity by sections of the press and other commentators but they have kept the old lady afloat. I still think the PAX operation is holding the airfield back but let's see what pans out.

[mwm991]

From the Sunday Post:

ScottishPower Renewables (SPR) wants to build 18 turbines 30 miles south of Prestwick but claims the airport is offering to withdraw its objection in return for payments for the next 25 years. The company’s lawyers said the need for the annual payments has not been detailed by the airport, adding: “Prestwick is obviously anxious to apply its standard approach to wind farms: namely to force the applicant to sign a confidential agreement on terms acceptable to Prestwick that will secure a long-term commercial income stream. “We submit that Prestwick’s approach is unlawful.” Documents seen by The Sunday Post show the Ayrshire airport has already received more than £8 million from wind farm companies in the past four years, including £4.4m in the past financial year when profits of £5.5m were reported – the first time the airport had been in the black since being bought by the Scottish Government for £1 in 2013. Prestwick managers claim the proposed Clauchrie wind farm will interfere with the radar system and have refused to withdraw an objection to the plans unless SPR offers an annual compensation payment to the state-owned transport hub. SPR, which has already handed over millions in compensation payments to the airport in exchange for withdrawing an objection to another local wind farm, has so far refused to agree to the latest demands. The Sunday Post View: If this is really the cost of doing business, we’re all paying it The airport says the request is justified because the wind farm will impact on air space in the region. However, operators say cash from developers has already paid for a new £5m turbine-tolerant radar, which will be brought into service this summer. In planning papers, the renewables firm suggested compensation payments from existing wind farms accounted for a substantial proportion of the airport’s profits in 2020. TS Prestwick Holdco – a private company owned by the Scottish Government – issued an upbeat press release in December last year when it posted a profit of £5.5m, with chief executive Stewart Adams claiming it was down to the “development of new revenue opportunities and customers”. However, in evidence to a planning inquiry, Anne MacKenzie, SPR’s senior aviation manager who previously worked at Prestwick, said: “The £4,452,000 received in 2020 would appear to be a significant contributor to TS Prestwick Holdco’s overall profit of £5.5m.” Sources close to the process said: “The airport is using money from wind farm developers to prop up their business and include the wind farm mitigation money as revenue.” With the exception of 2019/20, the airport made huge losses every year since the Scottish Government bought it in 2013 to protect jobs when then-owner Infratil failed to find a buyer. Ministers have propped up the facility with £43m of taxpayers’ money to save it from closure. Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has been trying to sell the airport and announced an unnamed preferred bidder in February, two months after the airport posted a profit, but the deal has stalled. A cargo plane’s jet engines ripped up the asphalt on the runway at the airport last month, prompting a safety alert. Sources claimed an internal management report two years ago flagged the need for remedial work on the runway but some of the repairs have not yet been commissioned and are unlikely to be done before world leaders are expected to fly in to the airport for the COP26 climate summit in November. The airport has objected to SPR’s plans, claiming its existing radar will detect 11 of the 18 turbines. The airport states it will only remove its objection if SPR offers an annual contribution for each of the 25 years Clauchrie operates. Zoe Kilpatrick, the airport’s commercial director, insisted there remained long-term safety concerns about the development of wind farms near the airport and insisted there would be additional costs from staff training, as well as upgrades to the radar system.
She said: “For the years ended 31 December 2018 and 2019 SPR reported a net profit of £150m and £284m, respectively. “Given SPR and the airport are both commercial organisations, the amount to be charged should therefore be left to negotiation as would be expected in any commercial environment…it is part of its cost of doing business.” However, SPR last week submitted a report to the planning inquiry that accused airport bosses of unlawfully attempting to squeeze them for cash. The report, by law firm Shepherd and Wedderburn, said unchallenged evidence at the inquiry showed the airport received £8.2m from wind farm firms in the last three years and ring-fenced £6m for radar upgrades. The report stated: “The evidence shows wind farm developers have already paid the full cost of installing Prestwick’s wind farm tolerant radar system and expanding it at some point in the near future.” SPR lawyers went on to accuse the airport of acting unlawfully: “Perhaps most surprising of all is that Miss Kilpatrick was unwilling to disclose in public the amount of money Prestwick seeks from the applicants in relation to the proposal. “In the absence of that disclosure and any clarity from Prestwick as to what they would spend these secret sums on, it is impossible to conclude that such payments would be reasonable never mind lawful. “Prestwick’s approach to negotiating payments might be appropriate in a negotiation between two commercial organisations discussing a private contract to provide goods or services…we have no hesitation in submitting that Prestwick’s position on ‘mitigation’ in the context of the proposal is unlawful.” SPR aviation expert Anne MacKenzie, who worked for Prestwick’s former owners Infratil for six years until July 2011, said: “GPA seems to be seeking perpetual support of its essential surveillance infrastructure by electricity consumers via wind farm operators, rather than from its customers, ie passengers.” MacKenzie also gave a withering assessment of the transport hub’s future. She said Prestwick was now the fifth-busiest airport in Scotland for passenger numbers, having been overtaken by Inverness. It was already behind Aberdeen, Edinburgh and close rivals Glasgow. She said: “Ignoring 2020, during which Covid-19 had a catastrophic impact on pax (passenger) numbers, by 2019, GPA had the lowest annual pax numbers of the five airports.” Prestwick is also at the bottom of the league table for aircraft movements, a crucial revenue stream. The airport conceded in its evidence to the planning inquiry that its Wind Farm Radar Mitigation Scheme had already been purchased and was in the final stages of operational trials. South Ayrshire Council has referred the application to an independent Scottish Government Reporter and a decision is expected later this month. SPR said: “The comments represent ScottishPower Renewables’ position on planning issues and were raised in the appropriate forum of the planning inquiry. We now await the Reporter’s decision.” The Scottish Government said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a live application, which will be determined by Scottish ministers in due course. “Glasgow Prestwick Airport is operated on a commercial basis and at arm’s length from the Scottish Government. Ministers do not intervene in commercial discussions at the airport. “The process to return Glasgow Prestwick Airport to the private sector continues and we have committed to updating Parliament on the sale process at the appropriate stage.” Shadow Transport Secretary Liam Kerr said: “Serious questions must be answered. Ministers must urgently confirm whether they were aware of airport bosses demanding these payments and when. “The Scottish Government has thrown millions of pounds of taxpayers’ money at Prestwick Airport without any coherent plan to turn it around. “Now a questionable picture of the airport’s finances may be presented to potential buyers. The public deserve to know what is going on. It is, after all, their money.” The Demand ScottishPower Renewables last week sent its final submission to the inquiry into the proposed Clauchrie wind farm. The report by law firm Shepherd & Wedderburn includes several sections raising concerns about the airport’s demands. It says: “A wind farm-tolerant radar – the Scanter – will be brought into service this summer. Then, any clutter from wind farms that presents on radar screens will be removed. “That is the purpose of the Scanter and that is the reason wind farm developers have paid Prestwick millions to fully fund the cost of installing the new radar system.” The report gives a withering assessment of the airport’s insistence that unspecified amounts should be paid by SPR each year for 25 years: “We have no hesitation in submitting Prestwick’s position is unlawful. The point is that Prestwick believes it should be entitled to charge what it considers appropriate and to do so in private with no external scrutiny whatsoever. That is clearly an unreasonable approach.” The report goes on: “The suggestion that an unspecified Department for Transport policy allows Prestwick to charge the applicants unspecified sums to cover unspecified risks at an unspecified date should patently be given no credence.” It adds: “(The airport is) unwilling to disclose the amount of money it seeks from the applicants in relation to the proposal. In the absence of that disclosure and any clarity from Prestwick, it is impossible to conclude that such payments would be reasonable never mind lawful.” The report concludes: “For the reasons set out above, we submit that Prestwick’s approach is unlawful.” What the airport says Prestwick Airport denies acting unlawfully in demanding payment from the wind farm operator and yesterday a spokesman said: “Wind farms cause considerable impacts upon radar performance and, for that reason, can pose a risk to aviation safety, which is the airport’s paramount concern. “Glasgow Prestwick Airport has invested in radar technology which has the ability to mitigate some, but not all, of the impacts upon radar performance. “However, there are costs and risks associated with considering each individual wind farm planning application, calibrating the technology to allow it to deal with any particular wind farm and thereafter ongoing costs associated with maintaining the performance of that technology over the lifespan of a wind farm, which is clearly essential in the interests of aviation safety. “It is typically recognised and the industry norm that the party benefiting from the wind farm should provide compensation to radar operators for the associated costs and risks. “SPR operates its own radar technology at Kincardine and typically enters into similar agreements with other wind farm developers who benefit from access to their radar technology. “We gave full evidence to the inquiry that if permission is granted for the proposed development, the airspace above it will be compromised and that the airport will require to bear the costs and risks for the lifetime of the development in minimising that impact. “SPR dispute that the airport has any legal entitlement to the payments. When SPR used the word ‘unlawful’ in submissions, it was arguing that the airport had ‘no legal entitlement’ rather than the airport had broken the law. “The airport maintains that it has a legal entitlement to the charges it is seeking.” Aviation has had to accept wind farms are a vital part of our future by David Learmount, an aviation journalist and former RAF pilot Airports use radar to monitor – and where necessary control – aircraft in their vicinity. For a long time there have been two main types of radar: primary and secondary. Primary radar is what most people think of when they visualise radar systems: a pulse of electronic energy is sent out, the reflected “return” from an aircraft is received, and the aircraft’s position displayed as a “blip” on a screen. Secondary radar, on the other hand, sends out an interrogative signal that is received by a transponder in the aircraft, and the transponder replies with a signal that reveals not only the aircraft’s position, but its identification, and other information like its altitude and destination. Airports such as Prestwick usually have both types. Radar works well with aircraft, because when airborne they are the only large objects up in the sky, so they can be seen distinctly. If aircraft are close to the ground, primary radar picks up “clutter” caused by reflection from hills, buildings, or even trees and flocks of birds, and this can obscure the aircraft’s “blip” return on the radar display. That includes reflections from wind farm turbines. Indeed, the latter are a particular problem because they are big, very high, and their moving blades confuse conventional radar, causing on-screen clutter that can obscure aircraft returns at low altitude. Radar signals work in line of sight. They cannot “see” anything over the horizon – or beyond a hill – any more than the human eye can. If large objects such as wind turbines are close to a radar installation, they can render it almost useless, but many miles awaythey are much less of a problem. Wind turbines are not allowed to be built close to airports because they are a collision risk to aircraft taking off or approaching to land. Aviation has had to accept wind farms are a vital part of the world’s future, so the industry is being forced to adapt to this new status quo. Fortunately, new types of radar – generically referred to as “smart radar” because installed software distinguishes between useful returns and clutter – have been developed and are becoming increasingly widely used by airports all over the world. Prestwick itself is installing a smart radar called Scanter, which can mitigate radar returns from wind farms and other ground clutter, but it also provides additional surveillance capabilities that bring benefits for airport management.

[LeftatRomeoOne]

An energy company complaining that it is the victim of an extortion racket must be the irony of the year 😂.

All airports need to exploit anything in their favour at the moment and if the ‘victim’ is a heavily tax-payer subsidised Scottish company then it’s ‘wooden dollars’ and fair game.

[Link Kilo]

"Scottish Transport Secretary Michael Matheson has been trying to sell the airport and announced an unnamed preferred bidder in February, two months after the airport posted a profit, but the deal has stalled."

Does 'stalled' mean 'off'?

[Thaihawk]

The word is Prestwick has been running at an operating profit recently, however, USAF movements have sharply tailed-off after the Afghan troop pull-out was completed. June was a busy month for both C-17s and KC-135s.

[Link Kilo]

The last accounts showed an operating profit to the year March 2020. Having relatively few passenger flights, the financial performance may not have worsened as much as airports more dependent on that sector.

I understand they generate a fair bit on income from supplying fuel to US military aircraft. The info here (https://cis.energy.dla.mil/ipcis/Ipcis) shows the uplifts (I don't know the units) which looked pretty healthy in June as you say, but also in November and December when a number of USN P8s were based.

05/20 38,948
06/20 79,367
07/20 187,564 (tel:07/20 187,564)
08/20 56,031
11/20 509,592 (tel:11/20 509,592)
12/20 731,128 (tel:12/20 731,128)
01/21 126,763 (tel:01/21 126,763)
03/21 130,309 (tel:03/21 130,309)
04/21 196,260 (tel:04/21 196,260)
05/21 265,110 (tel:05/21 265,110)
06/21 549,238 (tel:06/21 549,238)

[Link Kilo]

One source said: “My understanding is that the preferred bidder is still waiting for an answer on a new lower bid.”
Another said: "I have heard the Scottish Government is swithering as to whether they really want to do the deal and worried about the political optics

https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/new-doubts-over-planned-sale-of-scottish-government-owned-prestwick-airport-3363108?fbclid=IwAR0Cock9qXI_z6yFKLuAfDkxEl5vbobgjTHAI2ueb-5gGrwUH3jGG6SCPSI

[VickersVicount]

Rumours of huge investment from one of the current based aerospace industries in the next few years… on a knife edge and unrelated to actual airport/terminal ownership

[Link Kilo]

Spirit?

In other news Storm have bought Chevron with the former saying "Glasgow Prestwick Airport has the potential to become a core hub for training as well as aircraft line and base maintenance for FL Technics Group clients worldwide"

https://newsroom.aviator.aero/storm-aviation-acquires-chevron-technical-services-entering-scotland-and-gaining-access-to-a-6th-base-maintenance-location/

[Asturias56]

In other words what GIANT subsidy can they extort from the Scots Tax payer.

[Rusty Irish]

The place might just have a future if they can get rid of that oversized 1960s terminal which operates nothing more than a few Ryanair flights per week. Or is taking away flights to the Costas and making the local population drive another half hour to GLA too hot politically for them? :rolleyes:

[Link Kilo]

Prestwick Spaceport Moves Closer to Lift Off with Astraius Air Launch Partnership

Prestwick Spaceport Moves Closer to Lift Off with Astraius Air Launch Partnership ? Parabolic Arc (http://www.parabolicarc.com/2021/09/21/prestwick-spaceport-moves-closer-to-lift-off-with-astraius-air-launch-partnership/)

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Where are they getting a C-17 from?

[Link Kilo]

No idea. Presumably they can't just lease a military one (in an Air Tanker A330-type arrangement), and I'd be surprised if an air force anywhere would sell one to them. Even if they did, they'd presumably have to try and get it certified for civilian use.

Their Chairman is Sir George Zambellas, First Sea Lord and Head of the Royal Navy from 2013 to 2016, so presumably he at least has asked that question and got a satisfactory answer.

[BA318]

Given the dodgy looking photoshop on the picture could it just be for getting a picture out there and not actually the aircraft they will use.

[SWBKCB]

The caption to the picture does say

C-17 cargo aircraft which will carry and launch the Astraius rocket. (Credit: Prestwick Spaceport)

[buzz_hornet]

Interesting to see what the plan is for the vertical take off given the close proximity of residential areas at Prestwick

[Link Kilo]

There isn't one. The plan is for horizontal take off using conventional aircraft with the load launched somewhere over the sea.

[buzz_hornet]

"Our ambition is for Scotland to be Europe’s leading space nation and to have a £4 billion [US $5.5 billion] share of the global space market by 2030, whilst developing launch capability – both vertical and horizontal – to serve small satellite producers."

[muggins]

Vertical launch capability is planned to be in the far north, near Durness and Tongue on the A’Mhòine peninsula.

[Link Kilo]

Sale process ends with no sale:

https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/long-running-saga-of-prestwick-airport-ends-as-planned-sale-ditched-by-scottish-government-3502409?fbclid=IwAR3uPxmtQ9-Vd75bu826tzspqVrcpeO3KQaw05ei4trFbgBIt2aO4TnhHkg

[VickersVicount]

What a farce… what are the now two ‘failed’ bidders not telling us? (or what is Scot Gov not telling us), will come out in the wash sooner or later.

[Link Kilo]

What a farce… what are the now two ‘failed’ bidders not telling us? (or what is Scot Gov not telling us), will come out in the wash sooner or later.

At a guess, who pays for any main runway reconstruction might be the stumbling block.

[mwm991]

Bought for a quid, millions lost, failed to return to private ownership as intended umpteen years later.

Comical

[bad bear]

And Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson added that "the only thing flying out of Prestwick is taxpayers' money".

[Atlantic Explorer]

And Scottish Conservative MSP Graham Simpson added that "the only thing flying out of Prestwick is taxpayers' money".

Well he’s not wrong! Another SNP transport blunder to add to the list!

[tictack67]

Prestwick airport made a profit after tax of £12.8 million
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.insider.co.uk/company-results-forecasts/scottish-government-decides-stop-sale-25755511.amp



Well he’s not wrong! Another SNP transport blunder to add to the list!

[SealinkBF]

Prestwick airport made a profit after tax of £12.8 million
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.insider.co.uk/company-results-forecasts/scottish-government-decides-stop-sale-25755511.amp

I think I would rather have PIK in government hands.

[Link Kilo]

I think I would rather have PIK in government hands.

I agree. A private sector owner may have revived Infratil's plans to redevelop part of 03/21 for housing. Those plans were rebuffed by South Ayrshire Council. I couldn't see the Scottish Government trying to revive such a controversial plan against SAC's position, but a new private owner may not have had such qualms.

[Hipennine]

Prestwick airport made a profit after tax of £12.8 million
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.insider.co.uk/company-results-forecasts/scottish-government-decides-stop-sale-25755511.amp
The article says "profit after tax for the year was £12.8m, which includes technical accounting for a non-cash revaluation of assets,"

In other words, not a real profit.

[Link Kilo]

The article says "profit after tax for the year was £12.8m, which includes technical accounting for a non-cash revaluation of assets,"

In other words, not a real profit.

The full accounts (https://www.glasgowprestwick.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/TS-Prestwick-Holdco-Limited-final-signed.pdf) have an 'Operating Profit before Exceptional Items' of £0.5m.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

I agree. A private sector owner may have revived Infratil's plans to redevelop part of 03/21 for housing. Those plans were rebuffed by South Ayrshire Council. I couldn't see the Scottish Government trying to revive such a controversial plan against SAC's position, but a new private owner may not have had such qualms.
Nothing new in the world, BAA sold the land to a subsidiary in the 1980s and then had to re-open 1/3 of it for the Flying College. This truncated length meant the airport ended up being effectively closed for days on the trot to most traffic due to winter crosswinds as the main runway isn't into the prevailing wind for extended periods. It was re-opened to full length after BAA sold it off and was instrumental in keeping the lights on. Flog it off again and traffic will just go elsewhere in winter.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

I found this wondrous piece of colour film from another world, another time, on the book-of-face.....
https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/4650
From 15:20 it's colour footage of Prestwick in 1964 with the last days of Orangefield and the opening of the new terminal building. Stunning to see the original layout with SAS, Air Canada and Scottish Express all in situ, strange BOAC never got a look in until a B707 at the end. It got me thinking, with the British state having spent a massive amount of money on the new terminal (at the same time Glasgow City Council was building out Abbotsinch) was there ever a published rationale for NOT building a railway halt? The main Glasgow to Ayr line runs outside the then new terminal and no station was ever built until private ownership in 1994, some three decades later. Was the government really so poor at joined up thinking or was it local politics? It was a no brainer my dad used to complain about at every opportunity, but what on earth was the actual reason for dropping the ball?

[134brat]

Inverness, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Prestwick. Every one of these airports have their origins as WW2 airbases and every one had a pre existing railway very nearby at the time they were built.
Maybe the lack of joined up thinking isn't a new thing or maybe there has been an anti railway conspiracy all along. I think we should be told...

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Good point on ABZ / Dyce and EDI, less so Gilmour St which is a bit of a hike IMHO.

[ATNotts]

Skipness One Foxtrot

Wonderful images of PIK. Pictures of the lounge reminded me of the days when lounges had chairs that passengers could sit on, rather than shopping malls designed to prevent passengers from remaining seated. The days when travel was a more enjoyable experience, if though a great deal more exclusive.

[billyg]

Good point on ABZ / Dyce and EDI, less so Gilmour St which is a bit of a hike IMHO.

I thought he was talking about the railway line which ran from Paisley , through Babcocks and Buchanan Oil , to near Renfrew Ferry !

[134brat]

Yes, in the case of Glasgow airport there were two good locations on the the doorstep where a station could have been built or a spur taken off.
l worked at Inverness when the current terminal was built and the question was asked as to why it was not located on the other side of the airfield close to both the A96 and existing railway but the new build went ahead right beside the old terminal site.

[CabinCrewe]

So many GLA rail halt options. One of the busiest rail lines passes virtually at the bottom of 05, the St James Paisley spur, the Babcock /Braehead line. Where there (was) a will, there should have been a way. Monorails, pods from Gilmour St… all nonsense.

[goldeneye]

So many GLA rail halt options. One of the busiest rail lines passes virtually at the bottom of 05, the St James Paisley spur, the Babcock /Braehead line. Where there (was) a will, there should have been a way. Monorails, pods from Gilmour St… all nonsense.

Exactly, build an airport station there and link it to the terminal with frequent busses or even a people mover like at BHX. Surely the most cost effective way to link the airport to the National Network, would be trains around every 15 mins most of the day to and from Glasgow Central, and connections changing at Paisley to Ayr etc.

[Link Kilo]

An offshoot of a Swedish freight firm was the preferred bidder apparently (paywall):

https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/revealed-swedish-firms-ps70m-prestwick-airport-development-plan-rejected-by-scottish-government-3519784

[CabinCrewe]

An offshoot of a Swedish freight firm was the preferred bidder apparently (paywall):

https://www.scotsman.com/news/transport/revealed-swedish-firms-ps70m-prestwick-airport-development-plan-rejected-by-scottish-government-3519784
Might have been perfect. Keep it freight, logistics and maintenance, nothing more. Offshoot no marque bidder sounds a bit low rent.

[N707ZS]

Stations take away carpark revenue so when you are operating a low-cost operation every penny counts. On the other hand they are useful to staff.

[Asturias56]

But no-one goes there anyway - might as well have a station...............

[YVRscot]

I can't post urls, but this is the article from the UrbanRealm website reports a preplanning application for PIK
Prestwick Airport expansion to deliver a horizontal launch spaceport.

January 17, 2022

South Ayrshire Council has prepared a proposal of application notice (POAN) to expand Prestwick Airport to permit its use as a horizontal launch spaceport.
81.5 hectares of land at East Sanquhar Farm will accommodate a new taxiway, launch facility and services necessary for an aircraft

Prestwick Airport expansion to deliver a horizontal launch spaceport
January 17 2022
Prestwick Airport expansion to deliver a horizontal launch spaceport

South Ayrshire Council has prepared a proposal of application notice (POAN) to expand Prestwick Airport to permit its use as a horizontal launch spaceport.
81.5 hectares of land at East Sanquhar Farm will accommodate a new taxiway, launch facility and services necessary for an aircraft to lift a rocket above the Atlantic Ocean to deploy small satellites into orbit. Infrastructure will also be put in place to conduct microgravity and hypersonic flight services.
Joining more traditional vertical launch infrastructure at Shetland and Sutherland the Prestwick hub is being designed by Norr after £80m of funding was secured by the Ayrshire Growth Deal.
Peter Henderson, leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: "Prestwick Spaceport has achieved another milestone by filing a POAN for its development. This follows on from Prestwick Spaceport securing a launch provider, Astraius, in September last year."
Public consultation opens on 23 February with the hope that the first rocket could be launched by autumn 2023.

to lift a rocket above the Atlantic Ocean to deploy small satellites into orbit. Infrastructure will also be put in place to conduct microgravity and hypersonic flight services.
Joining more traditional vertical launch infrastructure at Shetland and Sutherland the Prestwick hub is being designed by Norr after £80m of funding was secured by the Ayrshire Growth Deal.
Peter Henderson, leader of South Ayrshire Council, said: "Prestwick Spaceport has achieved another milestone by filing a POAN for its development. This follows on from Prestwick Spaceport securing a launch provider, Astraius, in September last year."
Public consultation opens on 23 February with the hope that the first rocket could be launched by autumn 2023.

[ninja-lewis]

Latest parliamentary update on the failed sale process:
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-20-01-2022?meeting=13526&iob=122770#orscontributions_M5621E413P749C2372890

Brian Whittle (South Scotland) (Con)

The preferred bidder withdrew their initial bid because of the omission from the Prestwick airport sales prospectus of the state of the runway. On resubmission of their bid, taking that initial omitted information into account, they were so frustrated at the lack of any response from the Scottish Government that they had no option available to them but to approach me and ask me to personally give a hard copy of their bid to the Scottish Government"

[CabinCrewe]

Latest parliamentary update on the failed sale process:
https://www.parliament.scot/chamber-and-committees/official-report/what-was-said-in-parliament/meeting-of-parliament-20-01-2022?meeting=13526&iob=122770#orscontributions_M5621E413P749C2372890
What a farce. As is any hopes of a major Spaceport. Who has finances for a long runway refurb?

[mwm991]

What a farce. As is any hopes of a major Spaceport. Who has finances for a long runway refurb?
Us, the tax payer. New terminal as well.

[134brat]

Just another business farce in a long line of farces. See also: BiFab, Ferguson Marine, Bourse Scot and more.
For spectacular legal money wasting see also: The named persons act, Spiteful action against Rangers FC, Alex Salmond trial.

Individuals and news media shy away from mentioning this stuff because of the inevitable pile-on by those who refuse to see things in anything other than a political context, regardless of how self evident our leaders incompetence is.

[Link Kilo]

Rumours of huge investment from one of the current based aerospace industries in the next few years… on a knife edge and unrelated to actual airport/terminal ownership

Can we assume that since, to the best of my knowledge, no such investment has been forthcoming, that they fell off the wrong side of the knife?

In other news, a public consultation event was held yesterday in advance of the planning application for the horizontal launch facility. Consultation information here:
https://www.glasgowprestwick.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Spaceport-A1-Boards-WEBSITE-v1.pdf

[N707ZS]

Interesting to see Edinburgh rugby charter aircraft travelling south of the border to park at Newcastle.

[willy wombat]

I don’t understand this. Why can’t they park on the old 31/13?

[pikman747]

Because Edinburgh sold off their second runway for commercial development!

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Because Edinburgh sold off their second runway for commercial development!
Who did they sell it off to?

[davidjohnson6]

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-airport-agree-deal-new-22224711
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-43594666

[Monkton3]

Curious to note that the PIK website is still listing it's pax flight destinations for last year. No mention of Lanzarote which was introduced
last October. What exactly are the Airport' Management' doing apart from soaking up taxpayers cash?
With that level of Marketing support for Ryanair their only pax carrier, it can only be a matter of time until it becomes Prestwick Aerodrome.
Or perhaps that's the grand plan? .

[ScottishAviator]

Curious to note that the PIK website is still listing it's pax flight destinations for last year. No mention of Lanzarote which was introduced
last October. What exactly are the Airport' Management' doing apart from soaking up taxpayers cash?
With that level of Marketing support for Ryanair their only pax carrier, it can only be a matter of time until it becomes Prestwick Aerodrome.
Or perhaps that's the grand plan? .

I suspect Prestwick is Scotland's most cash generative airfield at the present time

[Monkton3]

And you think Prestwick 'the most cash generative airfield' (?) doesn't need to bother to advertise, market or promote the few pax routes they still have - even on it's own website?

[Monkton3]

On the Ryanair website there are currently no S23 flights scheduled to any destination from PIK.
On the app flights are still listed but every flight is "Too late, flight sold out"

[GrahamK]

On the Ryanair website there are currently no S23 flights scheduled to any destination from PIK.On the app flights are still listed but every flight is "Too late, flight sold out" S23 not finalised yet

[shamrock7seal]

Does anyone really bother checking airport websites other than to arrange for car parking these days? I don't think so. Most people will be checking online travel sites or the airline websites themselves or possibly travel agents. An airport website is pointless apart from booking essentials once you know you're flying through.

Does Waterloo train station have a website?

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Does anyone really bother checking airport websites other than to arrange for car parking these days? I don't think so. Most people will be checking online travel sites or the airline websites themselves or possibly travel agents. An airport website is pointless apart from booking essentials once you know you're flying through.

Does Waterloo train station have a website?
Flight arrivals, yes. Waterloo is part of National Rail website and has arrival/departure and disruption info.

[Asturias56]

"Does anyone really bother checking airport websites other than to arrange for car parking these days?"

2 reasons - its the fastest way of finding out who is flying where from any airport, second if you are picking someone up its often the bast way to get real data

[BA318]

"Does anyone really bother checking airport websites other than to arrange for car parking these days?"

2 reasons - its the fastest way of finding out who is flying where from any airport, second if you are picking someone up its often the bast way to get real data

it’s really not as we know from the endless complaints on here about airport websites. If people want to fly somewhere most either go to the airline they always use or they use sky scanner/Google flights or similar. Maybe they then look directly with the carrier when they see who is flying.

If you want to pick someone up, Flightradar24 is pretty decent - even my elderly grandparents are capable of using it to find out when we’re landing.

[mwm991]

Dara Brady from Ryanair did say in the Scotsman recently that PIK's maintenance base will become their second biggest and that they are in good talks with Glasgow about increasing operations from next summer. Not sure if that has any wider impact for PIKs passenger ops with nothing on the system and its just the usual Ryanair chess game they have had in the likes of Belfast or it has further implications for their commercial ops in the West.

[The Hypnoboon]

It's being reported that PIK made another profit this year. £1.3 million and did not need to increase borrowing.
An increase in passengers, refueling and cargo was also reported.

Full accounts should be available soon on Companies House.

https://www.google.com/amp/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2022/11/prestwick-posts-profit-in-year-without-support/amp/

[CabinCrewe]

Not sure I really get this. So have they returned any of the loan investment to tax payer?
One wonders the success going forward if the cited reasons for profit were Covid PPE transport and Cop26 both of which were one-offs, the rest coming from (what must be very labile) fuelling charges.

[tictack67]

Not sure I really get this. So have they returned any of the loan investment to tax payer?
One wonders the success going forward if the cited reasons for profit were Covid PPE transport and Cop26 both of which were one-offs, the rest coming from (what must be very labile) fuelling charges.

Don't know what's so hard to accept.

In simple terms.

-operating profits hitting £1.9m. - fifth consecutive year of improving financial results - and the third year in a row of making a profit. -For the 12 months to this March, revenue came in at £34.2m -Cargo volumes rose by 36% to 18,000 tonnes- passenger numbers more than doubled to 118,000.
- Refuelling was up 89% to 36 million litres, with the value of fuel sold - at £20.8m - making up the bulk of the airport's revenue. - it has not drawn down new loan funds for three years. Prestwick did not receive any new funding from taxpayer for the last 3 years and is not going to need any for the following year

Sounds like an improving picture, and I'm glad it's still operating look at Doncaster which received covid money and local Mayor said Tory minister for Transport, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, had washed her hands of the closure

[Monkton3]

S23 not finalised yet

It's now been more than 3 weeks since FR blanked their S23 schedule on both website & App.
That's potentially a lot of lost sales.

"Finalise" might be the precise description!

[Asturias56]

"Refuelling was up 89% to 36 million litres, with the value of fuel sold - at £20.8m - making up the bulk of the airport's revenue. "

So really dependent on the price of oil ?

[tartan 201]

It's now been more than 3 weeks since FR blanked their S23 schedule on both website & App.
That's potentially a lot of lost sales.

"Finalise" might be the precise description!

I wonder if this might be a technical glitch.

FR changed many of their PIK flight numbers at the start of the current winter schedule. For example, PIK-ACE was FR6153, but became FR7820 at the start of the current winter schedule. The FR app shows PIK-ACE this coming summer as FR6153 but sold out. However, you can book PIK-ACE for November 23 already and it shows the current flight number FR7820.

So I wonder if their timetable system thinks that FR6153 is the operating flight in the coming summer, but can't find it in thier sales system (since it should be FR7820) and so displays it as sold out. Similarly, you can book TFS for next winter with the current flight number (7816) but not for this coming summer, which shows the old flight number (653).

[N707ZS]

"Refuelling was up 89% to 36 million litres, with the value of fuel sold - at £20.8m - making up the bulk of the airport's revenue. "

So really dependent on the price of oil ?
What percentage of the £20.8 do they get to keep is the big question.

[Monkton3]

I wonder if this might be a technical glitch.

FR changed many of their PIK flight numbers at the start of the current winter schedule. For example, PIK-ACE was FR6153, but became FR7820 at the start of the current winter schedule. The FR app shows PIK-ACE this coming summer as FR6153 but sold out. However, you can book PIK-ACE for November 23 already and it shows the current flight number FR7820.

So I wonder if their timetable system thinks that FR6153 is the operating flight in the coming summer, but can't find it in thier sales system (since it should be FR7820) and so displays it as sold out. Similarly, you can book TFS for next winter with the current flight number (7816) but not for this coming summer, which shows the old flight number (653).

Interesting theory but I seriously doubt FR's Revenue Management System would somehow overlook the loss of a month's worth of potential bookings on all flights to/from PIK

[tartan 201]

Interesting theory but I seriously doubt FR's Revenue Management System would somehow overlook the loss of a month's worth of potential bookings on all flights to/from PIK

Yes, you're probably quite right (and ALC isn't on sale and its flight number didn't change so that doesn't fit with my theory). You'd think that even if they were going to (say) move all their flights to GLA, they'd still have them on sale from PIK until such time as an announcement was made.

[Monkton3]

I previously booked a couple of return flights PIK/ACE May/June & August/September. I'm concerned that if the flights are going to be pulled
then I will end up having to rebook other flights on alternative carriers. Obviously as time goes on these would be increasingly expensive.
Meantime Ryanair has banked my cash. Customer Service phone helpline was less than useless.
Yesterday I snailmail/posted a letter to Customer Services in Dublin. Wish me luck.....!

[CabinCrewe]

. Wish me luck.....!
on all fronts. At least you wont need to worry about other carriers from PIK!
FR with a paper letter enquiry will use it as a door wedge…

[Monkton3]

And Lo, it came to pass that Ryanair's Summer Schedule was restoreth -
not much changed from before as far as I can see.
Peace and Joy throughout the land - well of Ayrshire anyway.
No sign of new Glasgow flights/routes yet...

[tartan 201]

And Lo, it came to pass that Ryanair's Summer Schedule was restoreth -
not much changed from before as far as I can see.
Peace and Joy throughout the land - well of Ayrshire anyway.
No sign of new Glasgow flights/routes yet...
​​​​​​
​Where are you seeing this? The app and the website still don't show any mainland Spain flights (or PMI) just FAO and the Canaries, which has been the case for a few days at least.

[mwm991]

Regardless of what they do at GLA, if the final schedule is further diminshed down to whats in the booking engine currently, then surely it would be worth their while to just flatten the terminal and repurpose the land for other uses? Everyone knows what makes money and what loses it there.

[CabinCrewe]

That building probably costs little to run and so even mothballing or halving internal size might still be worthwhile with a skeleton staff for any charters and military flights. The much hyped SpaceSport could maybe use part of it ? (though if it ever does come, they’ll probably want some space age dome new building).
Though suspect building overall an asbestos and health and safety nightmare.

[Monkton3]

When I discovered the Lanzarote/Canaries flights were again listed, out of curiosity I checked the Palma & Alicante schedules and both had
a S23 schedule - now disappeared. Apologies for the dis-information.

[CabinCrewe]

When I discovered the Lanzarote/Canaries flights were again listed, out of curiosity I checked the Palma & Alicante schedules and both had
a S23 schedule - now disappeared. Apologies for the dis-information.
Im not sure now if we’re coming or going? So are any PIK S23 routes on and available to book?

[tartan 201]

Im not sure now if we’re coming or going? So are any PIK S23 routes on and available to book?

Staying. Everything is now back on sale and available to book.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

How much is "everything"? Two aircraft base?

[tartan 201]

How much is "everything"? Two aircraft base?

Everything = all the destinations served from Prestwick now have flights bookable for summer 23. CBA to check if it's still two aircraft but looks about right. Some away-based flying too though.

[tartan 201]

PSA and MRS added for S23 to be operated by away-based aircraft:

https://twitter.com/SeanM1997/status/1606227631430455296?s=19

[Monkton3]

Much anguish in the press and from the usual suspects in the past few days about Prestwick's finances.

Meanwhile it is reported in the Telegraph that "Every passenger on Nicola Sturgeon's Caledonian Sleeper
costs the taxpayer 95 pounds. The total subsidy since 2014 is 174 million pounds"

Strange that there has been no equivalent outrage ..... or perhaps not.

Makes Prestwick seem like a bargain.

[Richard Taylor]

Wait till the Scottish 'editions' of the RW London press/commentariat get hold of it.... :rolleyes:

[VickersVicount]

Can anyone confirm (outwith rag headlines) if PIK was formally taken off the market after last botched offload and potential AGS sale and is back on or remains off? Asking for a friend…

[134brat]

Depending on your definition of which newspaper is a 'rag' the latest l have seen is that PIK is still up for sale.
Earlier this week the Herald was quoting SNP minister for fantasy finance and woo woo business ideas, Ivan McKee as saying that the Scottish government is still seeking a buyer. Make of that what you will...

[SealinkBF]

Ryanair launches new flights from Prestwick to Marseilles and Pisa starting from April 2023. Two aircraft based at PIK.

[Hial Flyer]

Ryanair launches new flights from Prestwick to Marseilles and Pisa starting from April 2023. Two aircraft based at PIK.

These flights were announced on the 23rd Dec. Post 89 above

[tartan 201]

These flights were announced on the 23rd Dec. Post 89 above
Indeed. The more significant announcement this week was another 200 jobs for PAML:

https://corporate.ryanair.com/news/ryanair-announces-summer-2023-schedule-for-glasgow-customers-2-new-routes-18-tot-and-200-new-jobs/?market=en

[SealinkBF]

These flights were announced on the 23rd Dec. Post 89 above

That's me - first with the news! :D

[Monkton3]

Passing PIK today I noticed the Delta 767 is still there and I am assuming it probably will be for a while. It got me thinking
if Prestwick hadn't been available - or a housing estate as some would like - what other options would the crew have had?
It overflew Glasgow and apparently needed almost the full length of Prestwick's runway before stopping.
A highly flammable fully fuelled aircraft - ditch in the Clyde perhaps?

[AircraftOperations]

Passing PIK today I noticed the Delta 767 is still there and I am assuming it probably will be for a while. It got me thinkingif Prestwick hadn't been available - or a housing estate as some would like - what other options would the crew have had?It overflew Glasgow and apparently needed almost the full length of Prestwick's runway before stopping.A highly flammable fully fuelled aircraft - ditch in the Clyde perhaps? ​​​​​​​Needed most of the PIK runway, or chose to use most of it? Big difference. Unlikely it was fully fuelled from EDI or at MTOW anyway.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​The aircraft only had an engine shutdown, it wasn't on fire. So, in the event of PIK not being available, the crew would reasonably have had time to stay airborne to select a suitable landing runway or even would have been justified to firstly lose some fuel weight nearby if they thought they'd be tight in stopping at EDI or even GLA.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Passing PIK today I noticed the Delta 767 is still there and I am assuming it probably will be for a while. It got me thinking
if Prestwick hadn't been available - or a housing estate as some would like - what other options would the crew have had?
It overflew Glasgow and apparently needed almost the full length of Prestwick's runway before stopping.
A highly flammable fully fuelled aircraft - ditch in the Clyde perhaps?
PIK's long runway nearby gives added contingency but are we really saying that this flight could not have safely landed at either GLA or EDI? PIK is a really nice to have but crash landing in the river was not the other option.

[N707ZS]

Prestwick has more facilities for repairs.

[QEC]

Prestwick has more facilities for repairs.

It's having it's engine change in the open air, no Chevron assistance in this instance.

[Monkton3]

Needed most of the PIK runway, or chose to use most of it? Big difference. Unlikely it was fully fuelled from EDI or at MTOW anyway.​​​​​​​The aircraft only had an engine shutdown, it wasn't on fire. So, in the event of PIK not being available, the crew would reasonably have had time to stay airborne to select a suitable landing runway or even would have been justified to firstly lose some fuel weight nearby if they thought they'd be tight in stopping at EDI or even GLA.

Thank you I appreciate your expertise. The pax video clearly showed flames coming from somewhere under the wing. In those circumstances I wondered about the practicality
of dumping fuel.
​​​​​​​

[Wycombe]

The pax video clearly showed flames coming from somewhere under the wing

It was a surgeing engine, which would be why the engine is reportedly being changed. I would think no problem with dumping if it was throttled back to idle or shut down.

[Robert T]

Hi.

A simple question I am hoping someone can help me with.

Does Runway 31 at Prestwick experience wind shear events during winter months?

Many thanks.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Being reported that two of the ex Norwegian B787-8s still in storage are to be scrapped on site.

[VickersVicount]

seems a suggestion of yet another early stage interested buyer in the form of an investment company… something or nothing again after 10 years?

[tictack67]

seems a suggestion of yet another early stage interested buyer in the form of an investment company… something or nothing again after 10 years?

Well at least it's still open, still providing jobs, cargo flights and some FR flights for locals and i believe financials are in the black often.

It could have gone the way of Doncaster.Airpoet.

​​​​​Anyway, I suppose that's a positive view on PIK, going by Pprune not held by many it seems, others seem to relish the thought of any decline in Scottish aviation.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

going by Pprune not held by many it seems, others seem to relish the thought of any decline in Scottish aviation.
This is literally only in your own mind. I have seen no evidence that anyone on these boards is happy at any decline in Scottish aviation as such. Our infrastructure is a mess, we have two too many airports in the central belt for the traffic we have, the fair criticism is that localism and a lack of strategic national interest may be holding Scottish aviation back. That and the fact that Patrick Harvie and that poor wee obviously bullied at school ginger chap hate aviation with every fibre of their angry little beings. And that's nor pprune, I'd look closer to home for anti Scottish aviation sentiment.

[mwm991]

The problem has always been the passenger terminal. Thats what loses money at Prestwick and thats what dilutes the growth of GLA. Prestwick also done very well out of COP26 and Covid so as we move further away from that, it'll be interesting to see how those are replaced. If they were to bulldoze that oversized relic of a terminal and repurpose it then I think that be the best deal for all. Stop propping up a FR operation and allow them to move up the road to open a base at GLA, which they would, if for nothing more than keeping EDI honest.

[tictack67]

The problem has always been the passenger terminal. Thats what loses money at Prestwick and thats what dilutes the growth of GLA. Prestwick also done very well out of COP26 and Covid so as we move further away from that, it'll be interesting to see how those are replaced. If they were to bulldoze that oversized relic of a terminal and repurpose it then I think that be the best deal for all. Stop propping up a FR operation and allow them to move up the road to open a base at GLA, which they would, if for nothing more than keeping EDI honest.

There is nothing to stop FR moving up the road to open a GLA base.

Are you serious, "PIK is diluting growth at GLA" ?
​​​​​​
​​​​​

[Monkton3]

You seem to forget that FR did open a base with great fanfare at Glasgow.... and promptly left.

By the same logic PIK keeps GLA "honest"

[mwm991]

Why would PIK base any aircraft going forward at GLA when they get a sweetheart deal at PIK? Of course GLA needs to be better run and more competitive. As long as FR have a cheaper option to do business at two spots in the West, GLA is going to have a problem. It is undeniable that growth is somewhat stifled by this.

In terms of keeping GLA honest, if you think Central Scotland needs three commercial airports within a 70 mile stretch then you are tuned to the moon. Two is bad enough.

[Rusty Irish]

PIK's runway and it's sheer footprint are an asset and that should be the focus. The terminal however is not and all it does it spread aviation in the West of Scotland even thinner than it already has become. Thats a 1960s terminal built for housing Transatlantic traffic, not a handful of Ryanair flights to the Med. When the time comes regarding the long term future of the passenger terminal it should be demolished. Would be scandalous to rebuild at the taxpayers expense, assuming it doesn't eventually find a private buyer after all these years.

​

[tictack67]

Funny no one was bothered when tax payers money was invested in Gla at the expense of the other BAA Scottish Airports.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Scottish Airports PLC had many faults but they were able to have a lowlands airport strategy, albeit one that many locals rightly disagreed with. One airport was favoured to be the gateway, GLA was built out and PIK was expected to be run down and closed, leaving GLA as Scotland's holiday and long haul hub and EDI to deal with local domestic and European traffic. Revenue from all four airports, including ABZ went through the parent entity and eventually to BAA in London. That allowed spending decisions to be made strategically rather than each airport standing alone, remember STN was built off the back off LHR and LGW profits! Long term decision making was a thing, if not always right.... GLA would never have had the West pier built on it's own merits, there was a group direction. Look at Spain with AENA, not perfect by a long way, but they have some half decent infrastructure.

There's no medium term scope for any similar strategy, if you see GLA/EDI/PIK as competing rather than complementing then you end up where we are today, and frankly we're stuck with it. I imagine the cost of demolishing the 1964 terminal at PIK would be prohibitive, there's got to be aload of asbestos in there somewhere. So as in many businesses, just like EDI, they kick the can, pay some dividends and spaff some PR. It is what it is.

[willy wombat]

Of course if Scottish Airports PLC hadn’t been required by the MMC (or was it the Competition Commission by then?) to sell off either GLA or EDI things might be very different by now, but whether better or worse is debatable. In fact “Does inter airport competition always improve the passenger experience - discuss” would make an interesting exam question or learned paper.

[Asturias56]

"Revenue from all four airports, including ABZ went through the parent entity and eventually to BAA in London. That allowed spending decisions to be made strategically rather than each airport standing alone, "

Which of course meant that through all the N Sea boom years Aberdeen was a cash cow and received almost nothing in return with money being shovelled into the bottom less pit at Prestwick and upgrades seemingly restricted to GLA & EDI - because that's were the voters were

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Which of course meant that through all the N Sea boom years Aberdeen was a cash cow and received almost nothing in return with money being shovelled into the bottom less pit at Prestwick and upgrades seemingly restricted to GLA & EDI - because that's were the voters were
Good point well made. I flew out of ABZ last month, the relative decline is apparent and sadly expected, if they had built out the terminal and spent a fair amount of CAPEX then it would be sitting fairly empty nowadays. It's actually a fairly decent airport in that it's not too busy but kinda peripheral now. It feels like the right size for what the traffic it handles. Still the sort of place that asking for hot food after 10pm in a busy airport hotel gets you strange looks.
The biggest irony for me is that PIK survives, even prospers off the back off the US War Machine. (not a criticism from me, I well remember the Starlifters supporting the Holy Loch) and yet it's arms length owned by an openly anti American SNP/Green government. They're happily having their cake and eating it.

[QEC]

Funny no one was bothered when tax payers money was invested in Gla at the expense of the other BAA Scottish Airports.

What taxpayers money?

[Asturias56]

"I flew out of ABZ last month, the relative decline is apparent and sadly expected,"

if there was one airport in the UK that needed proper gates instead of a tarmac stroll it was ABZ - and they took forever to expand the terminal - and don't get me started on taxi provision, and baggage reclaim. If they'd extended the runway in the early 70's they could surely have supported a route to Houston - even if not daily

[VickersVicount]

Didn't SAS try an ill fated US oil relates schedule on a subchartered 737-700 from ABZ?

[tartan 201]

Prestwick Airport reports fourth consecutive year of profit
Chief executive also confirms a new five-year agreement with Ryanair


​​​​​​​https://www.insider.co.uk/company-results-forecasts/prestwick-airport-reports-fourth-consecutive-31482501

[nighthawk117]

Thats great news to see that Prestwick has once again proven profitable - along with the 5 year deal with Ryanair that must really help the sale value of the airport.

I wonder what the Ryanair contract specifies? Hopefully it will lead to some new routes.

[tartan 201]

I wonder what the Ryanair contract specifies? Hopefully it will lead to some new routes.

No idea, but I wonder if it includes a deal on training - Ryanair have had a 738 in the circuit at PIK most days (sometimes more than one) for what seems like months.

[QEC]

Thats great news to see that Prestwick has once again proven profitable - along with the 5 year deal with Ryanair that must really help the sale value of the airport.

I wonder what the Ryanair contract specifies? Hopefully it will lead to some new routes.

And yet the spotters on another forum are desperate to get one or 2 of these Ryanair 737's up the road to no doubt operate duplicate Palma/Malaga/Alicante flights in competition with easjet/Jet2 to etc rather than focus on the real issue at GLA, the complete lack of scheduled non-stop connectivity to the United States, services which are all now firmly ensconced in the east.

[134brat]

QEC
I can't help but wonder if you are referring to egpfforum. A tragic little group of would be airline executives who have failed to develop from their early days of spotting at Glasgow but refuse to recognise the reality that the central belt of Scotland cannot sustain three airports. The site is run by a nationalist who refuses to allow any discussion which is at variance with his own opinions so is not objective in any way. Not representative of the industry or reasoned opinion.

[J Kev]

Unfortunately there is a catch 22 situation the West of Scotland and the wider central belt where you have two/three airports stretching each other thin in the space of 70 miles, its just totally unnecessary but we're going to have to continue to live with it.

PIK clearly has the better infrastructure with the runway, train station, doesn't suffer from the M8 like congestion however its nowhere near as centrally located unlike GLA.

The management of PIK have to be congratulated on improving the fortunes of the business. I still feel its somewhat volatile as its done very well out of world conflicts and crisis and one off special events all in a short space of time - Covid, Cop 26, seems to be doing well out of Ukraine too, but I guess its probably wishful thinking to think that the world will ever be totally at peace... They deserve credit for diversifying the business as the over reliance on commercial flying was close to killing it.

Ryanair have a decent operation there between all the maintenance ops and I'd imagine with no commercial competition they virtually have a monopoly on the place, so theres absolutely no incentive for them to move up to GLA and it suits them to base their West of Scotland operations out of there.

[Breathe]

Although in the article the Chief Exec. mentions they get bids from time to time. So take the article headline with a pinch of salt I would say.Prestwick Airport: 'Expression of interest' made to buy airporthttps://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23972262.prestwick-airport-expression-interest-made-buy-airport/

An expression of interest has been made to buy the Scottish Government-owned Prestwick Airport, MSPs have been told.

The airport was brought into public ownership in 2013 for £1, with the intent for it to return to the private sector when it returned to profit.

Earlier this year, Wellbeing Economy Secretary Neil Gray said the operating profit for the travel hub was £1.9 million.

Appearing before the Economy and Fair Work Committee on Wednesday, bosses were asked if there are any credible bids on the table for the airport.Chief executive Ian Forgie said: “From time to time, we’ve had bids.

“We’re currently looking at one expression of interest that is going through that early process of diligence and we’ll give more details in due course.”

Forsyth Black, the airport’s non-executive chairman, added: “We’ll put it through that filter and we’ll recommend upwards to Scottish Government what the board thinks is the realistic next step.”

But during his appearance before the committee later in the morning, Mr Gray said there is a non-disclosure agreement in place between the airport and the prospective bidder, meaning he could not give more detail.

[PIKAviationTours]

This will be the 5th 'serious' bid since 2020 with the previous 4 bids being rejected due to the bidders being unable to guarantee future pax operations as well as the continued use of runway 21/03 supposedly. As usual I'm sure that these historical bids will have eyed up the potential for property development so it will be interesting to see how far this latest bid goes. As mentioned by a previous poster the present management board and staff have to be congratulated on turning the airfield's fortunes around albeit based on the profits being made predominantly on military fuel and tech stops. However the present conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East will not end anytime soon and even if hostilities were to stop tomorrow there will be years of reparations meaning Prestwick will stay play an important support role for many years to come. Prestwick was founded, and has always thrived on conflicts, and whilst I'm sure everyone would not wish this to be the case, this is reality. However, the present management need to be working on a profitable model that works beyond military operations. The opening of the Spaceport will not do it alone so the next few years will be interesting - as is ever the case with Prestwick!

[GeorgeNTravels]

7th weekly Alicante flight added from July
3rd weekly Lanzarote flight added from August
Murcia increases from 2 to 3 weekly
Barcelona increases from 3 to 4 weekly
Tenerife increases from 6 to 7 weekly

[fjencl]

EZY927J LGW - GLA Diverted into PIK tonight landing at 2051hrs. Not sure if PIK took anymore diversions tonight.

[GeorgeNTravels]

EZY927J LGW - GLA Diverted into PIK tonight landing at 2051hrs. Not sure if PIK took anymore diversions tonight.
Outside of this it took a couple more

FR25 BVA-DUB
FR1043 TLS-DUB

[VickersVicount]

taking advantage of Runway 21 rather than crosswind. 738’s reaching max xwind limit in wet surface. RNAV approach for 21 at PIK and shorter

[PIKAviationTours]

Outside of this it took a couple more

FR25 BVA-DUB
FR1043 TLS-DUB

TUI 738 BY803 from SSH due GLA attempted a landing on 21,but overshot band headed to MAN

[muggins]

I was watching BY803. Missed approach t Glasgow, headed straight to Prestwick then to Manchester.
Was odd seeing a Max8 at 1500 ft with a ground speed of 85 knots

[QEC]

I was watching BY803. Missed approach t Glasgow, headed straight to Prestwick then to Manchester.
Was odd seeing a Max8 at 1500 ft with a ground speed of 85 knots

What sort of ground speed would you be expecting with a 45kt headwind on short final?

[muggins]

What sort of ground speed would you be expecting with a 45kt headwind on short final?
that's the point I was making, the strength of the headwind

[MichaelOLearyGenius]

What sort of ground speed would you be expecting with a 45kt headwind on short final?

Really?

[Breathe]

Airspace Change Organising Group - Airspace Change Masterplan (Iteration 3) Scotland: Public Engagement Exercise is open for public consultation until 10 March 2024:

https://acog.citizenspace.com/comms/sctma/

Supporting documentation: https://acog.citizenspace.com/comms/sctma/supporting_documents/ACOG_ScTMA%20PEX_DOCUMENT_2024.pdf

[NorthSouth]

Airspace Change Organising Group - Airspace Change Masterplan (Iteration 3) Scotland: Public Engagement Exercise is open for public consultation until 10 March 2024:

https://acog.citizenspace.com/comms/sctma/

Supporting documentation: https://acog.citizenspace.com/comms/sctma/supporting_documents/ACOG_ScTMA%20PEX_DOCUMENT_2024.pdf
Why on earth would anyone want to trawl through a consultation document that doesn't actually tell you what airspace changes are proposed? The whole airspace change process, like so much nowadays, has become massively bureacratic and user-unfriendly.
It is supposedly designed so that it captures all possible consultees and keeps them fully informed and engaged. But in the most recent ACP in my neck of the woods the sponsor didn't bother to consult one of the ATSUs within the area; the CAA didn't pick up that they hadn't been consulted; and said ATSU only found out when they discovered the CAA approval letter. On the same ACP, the sponsor only applied for a change applying to the airspace above FL85, but in the documents submitted in support of the ACP the sponsor explicitly stated that they would also be operating at all levels down to surface level when the new airspace is activated. But were operators in that airspace consulted? No.

[Link Kilo]

Canadian private equity firm Onex Corporation, owners of WestJet, interested in purchasing the airport.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/glasgow-prestwick-airport-takeover-sale-what-happens-next-g8lz396h3

[Monkton3]

Reported in 'The Times' that a private takeover bid is being launched by Forsyth Black the airport's former Chairman and the Onex Corporation
one of Canada's biggest private equity funds and the owner of Westjet, Canada's second largest airline. Mr Black was previously CEO of Menzies.
He resigned from his post as Chairman of Prestwick in February after two years reportedly because staying in post would be a clear conflict of interest. It is understood that the company has made a commitment not to cut jobs for the first three years of ownership and to keep running Prestwick as an airport
for at least five years.

[PIKAviationTours]

I'd be keen to read the article in full but it is behind a paywall for me. Any chance it could be 'cut and pasted' on here?

[PIKAviationTours]

Found this. Former chair Black emerges as Prestwick bidder – Daily Business (dailybusinessgroup.co.uk) (https://dailybusinessgroup.co.uk/2024/03/former-chair-black-emerges-as-prestwick-bidder/)

[LeftatRomeoOne]

Bidders circle ‘Elvis airport’ a decade after the SNP bought it for £1Prestwick has cost taxpayers millions since it was nationalised by the SNP in 2013. A consortium plans a bid, but can the Nats let go of Sturgeon-era stateism?https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F0cbc6fdb-f1e5-4b5f-a07f-654341b1b3dc.jpg?crop=3402%2C1913%2C0%2C98&resize=360Elvis Presley meets fans at Prestwick airport in 1960 — his sole time on British soil

Saturday March 16 2024, 6.00pm, The Sunday Times

It was always going to be difficult keeping a lid on the arrival of Elvis Presley at a US military base in Prestwick, Ayrshire. “Where am I?” he asked as he stepped off the plane and into the biting wind that whipped off the Firth of Clyde.

March 3, 1960 was a momentous day for the screaming youngsters who engulfed the American singer as he set foot on British soil for the first and only time. For Presley, it was his last stop on his return from Germany after two years of military service. For Prestwick, it meant being immortalised in British trivia for its brief flirtation with The King.

Located 34 miles south of Glasgow, Prestwick has attracted further notoriety in recent years for housing Donald Trump’s private jets and helicopters, stationed at the airport to ferry him to the nearby Turnberry golf course. (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/trumps-golf-resorts-claimed-over-3m-in-furlough-cash-5lwksnt5l) It has not, however, earned a reputation for being a commercial success. Indeed, despite boasting the longest runway in the UK north of Manchester, welcoming as many as 2.5 million passengers annually and charging the US government tens of millions of pounds to refuel military planes, Scottish ministers had to step in and nationalise the loss-making airport in 2013. It has been a drain on British taxpayers ever since.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fcddadae8-5591-466e-b83d-53456940d454.jpg?crop=3600%2C2400%2C0%2C0&resize=810
Donald Trump is a frequent visitor to Prestwick on his way to and from Turnberry golf course

This weekend it can be revealed a private takeover is in the offing — one that will hand Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf the chance to draw a line under more than £55 million of losses for the Treasury racked up since the airport was taken into public ownership by Nicola Sturgeon at a cost of just £1. Whether he will take the chance is as much a political question as it is an economic one.

Sturgeon, deputy first minister at the time, chose to nationalise Prestwick 11 years ago to save 300 jobs, plus 1,400 more among businesses associated with the airport. The logic was straightforward: the economic fallout would be greater than the £21.3 million needed to stabilise the airport’s finances before returning it to the private sector.

“I believe an opportunity now exists to return Prestwick airport to profitability and ultimately to private ownership,” Sturgeon said at the time.

Critics argued that this was little more than a power grab, neatly combining the SNP’s desire for a state-run economy with the airport being a symbol of nationalist pride. Whatever the rationale, Prestwick’s nationalisation quickly became embroiled in political mudslinging as it emerged that the SNP had sanctioned payments of almost £200,000 to the airport’s former directors.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fac577d55-28af-4eca-ab99-fb3b811a4719.jpg?crop=4788%2C3078%2C0%2C0&resize=810A number of false dawns emerged in the years that followed. On several occasions, ministers claimed they were in talks with unnamed interested parties to take the airport private, only for negotiations to fizzle away.

Meanwhile, the Americans boasted they had secured hefty discounts from the Scottish government for the aviation fuel. “At Prestwick we have a negotiated rate, so we actually have a rate that’s significantly lower than the commercial rate,” US official Jonathan Hoffman told reporters in 2019. The discount is unknown — but it is unlikely to be small. In the past six years alone, the US Department of Defense has spent almost £104 million on fuel at Prestwick (https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/military-flights-best-way-to-reimburse-taxpayer-on-prestwick-airport-6rr8d6jmq), filings reveal: equivalent to about £50,000 worth of fuel a day.

It has also been revealed that the cost of bankrolling Prestwick since its nationalisation has ballooned to £55 million, and the interest on a government loan is costing more than £4 million a year.

So, all things being equal, officials are likely to take seriously an audacious takeover bid led by the airport’s former chairman and one of Canada’s biggest private equity funds.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2Fec5c2304-7462-4e80-bb46-bef7d8b446a6.jpg?crop=3000%2C2000%2C0%2C0&resize=810
Forsyth Black has quietly resigned his chairmanship of the airport and now heads the bid to buy it

Forsyth Black, the former chief executive of multinational airport refuelling company Menzies, quietly quit as Glasgow Prestwick chairman in February after little more than two years in the job. His resignation letter to Scottish ministers is understood to have included the reason for his departure: namely that he wanted to buy the airport in conjunction with Onex Corporation, the fund behind WestJet, Canada’s second-biggest airline. Black told officials that staying in post as chairman was a clear conflict of interest.

Oddly, the SNP-led administration north of the border has not disclosed Black’s interest, despite having disclosed previous offers to members of the Scottish parliament. Sources close to Black and Onex’s swoop say it includes a commitment to not cut jobs in the first three years of ownership and to keep running Prestwick as an airport — rather than building on it, for instance — for at least five years.

Scottish ministers will rightly be sceptical of the intentions of the airport’s Canadian-backed suitors. The airport covers 880 acres of land on the outskirts of Glasgow ripe for property development.

Prestwick offers significant advantages over Scotland’s two larger airports, Glasgow and Edinburgh. Its long runway means it can handle fully-laden large aircraft such as the Airbus A380 “superjumbo’; the airport already has a dedicated rail link into Glasgow; and it is rarely blighted by fog, unlike many competitors in the UK and Ireland.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/imageserver/image/%2Fmethode%2Ftimes%2Fprod%2Fweb%2Fbin%2F6193be07-1d81-483f-a610-74c4cfdbaf3b.jpg?crop=3296%2C2197%2C0%2C0&resize=810
Nicola Sturgeon was deputy first minister at the time of the airport’s nationalisation.

Black declined to comment this weekend on why he stepped down as Prestwick chairman. He was likewise tight-lipped on any plans he and his Canadian backers have for the airport. Onex has a pedigree in aviation, however, with its ownership of WestJet. It would not be ridiculous to assume that the carrier could establish Prestwick as a long-haul hub for flights that could head east to Asia.

Yousaf’s approach will be closely watched as a signal for how his administration intends to manage the Scottish economy. The Sturgeon administration was criticised for a raft of bungled economic policies, not least of which was spending more than £200 million to nationalise the Ferguson Marine shipyard.

The Scottish government responded this weekend: “As one of the most recent expressions of interest is linked to Forsyth Black, the then chairman of the board of the airport, it was mutually agreed that Mr Black should step back from the Board to ensure an independent and fair assessment can be made. The Scottish Parliament will be updated when appropriate.”

Yousaf must decide whether to distance himself from Sturgeon’s stateist tendencies, or continue in the same vein. Prestwick may be his proving ground.

[VickersVicount]

Prestwick may be his proving ground.
That, I sincerely doubt.

[mwm991]

It has some value for non commercial aviation but no doubt the stalemate has been that all prospective buyers have at the very least wanted rid of the passenger terminal let alone to demolish the whole airport and I expect they want some assurances where if the decision is eventually made to move away from commercial passenger ops that the Scottish Gov are far enough removed in time. No private buyer with any sanity is paying to demolish a 60 year old terminal, let alone one filled with asbestos to then privately finance the design and construction of another new one for a few Ryanair flights a week. If the plan is a Westjet hub in Ayrshire knock me over with a feather.

[PIKAviationTours]

Thanks for posting. A pretty (as expected with The Times) one sided article focusing on the Scottish Government loans (fair comment), Trump (not seen a Trump aircraft in the last couple of years), and the pax ops and terminal which is only a fraction of the overall income. At least they did mention the revenue from military ops and cargo but they fail to mention that the airport has for the fourth year in a row posted an operating profit. OK the loans have not yet been paid back but surely some of any sale will go to paying back at least some of the debt to the Scottish Government. There's no real mention about the impact of the jobs being saved locally or about the associated income to the local economy through income tax, council tax, etc. I would agree that the pax ops are a key concern and with Ryanair being the only scheduled pax operator then the lifespan of the present terminal may be limited albeit with PAM / Ryanair planning another 737 hangar then I would expect pax ops to remain for some time. I still think that the present terminal could be utilised as both a smaller pax terminal and an aerospace museum and given the amazing aeronautical history that Prestwick has a decent museum (with direct rail link) would be an attraction. And yes, I'd be amazed if it became a Westjet hub!

[YVRscot]

Nothing would surprise me with WestJet. Only a year after they retrenched to "fortress" Calgary for all their transatlantic flights, this year they have resurrected flights from Toronto and Halifax and maybe even St John's. They have a code share agreement with Air France through CDG. At Gatwick they have had a partnership with easyJet since 2017. That may now be set aside since their daily 787 now flies into LHR. This year they launched routes to Tokyo and to Seoul from Calgary. They are all over the place with no discernable strategy. A hub at Prestwick linking with a European LCC, who knows?

[nef]

A hub at Prestwick linking with a European LCC, who knows?

A lack of strategy maybe, but that would seem to be positively hare brained!

The article specifically claims flights to Asia, which makes even less sense.

[YVRscot]

A lack of strategy maybe, but that would seem to be positively hare brained!

The article specifically claims flights to Asia, which makes even less sense.

Actually I just checked out flight times from Edinburgh to Tokyo and the WestJet offering (via Calgary) is no longer or costlier than many of the more obvious alternatives due to the current war and Russia overflight ban. But I agree. I'm not sure the Scotland to Asia market would be the market to target.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Prestwick should be to Scotland what Concorde was to Britain.
No, I've not lost my mind, hear me out. (I may have lost my mind, that's for others to decide!)
It's an important employer in a region that cannot afford to lose jobs and despite everything, seems to manage an operating profit. Every once in a while, the govt. rightly decides to right debt off, as on balance it makes economic sense. We allowed Concorde to go on and make money for the private sector, PIK could be allowed to do the same. IF and only IF they can continue to make money on non Ryanair activiities, then that's a national asset that we paid to be built out of our taxes, and we should think very carefully about the consequences of closure. The spread of operations is remarkably wide and traffic is seldom dull, and there is a host of engineering and maintenance work on site that need the runway(s) !
If they finally have a working business model and it's not losing money, do the right thing for the wider econoomy and forgive the debt owed.
btw they don't need to turn the 1964 terminal into a museum, it's already there......

There can't be many older terminals than PIK now? GLA is 1966. LGW South (1958, but MUCH expanded and built out) and MAN T1 (1962) are the other survivors of that era and MAN is now approaching end of life. LHR T1 (1969) is still extant of course, but now closed .

[PIKAviationTours]

Vey good post Skipness and I concur with your views. As regards the museum, ha ha, I think you are right but let's try and get some aircraft in it, at the very minimum, an example of each of the aircraft actually built at Prestwick! Anyone know the whereabouts of a SAL Pioneer?

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Has that wee ned Ross Greer actually made PIK turn away IDFAF business? I thought PIK was arms length and free from political control?

[PIKAviationTours]

PIK is technically free from 'political control' but as it owned by the Scottish Government, any political element opposed to the Scottish Government (basically Labour and the Tories whose Scottish arms are run from London) will jump on any opportunity to blacken Prestwick's name. The levels of hypocrisy especially from the other Ross and his cronies is really quite remarkable. The business lost by losing the IDF is really only a few transatlantic fuel stops a year and pales into insignificance compared the number of stop overs from the Arab air forces of Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. If you add in the USAF, RCAF and increasing Turkish AF business then from a business perspective its a very small loss albeit a loss all the same. It will be interesting to see where the IDF now stop over to and from the US.

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

PIK is technically free from 'political control'
First up, the IDFAF have been through Mildenhall of late.

So "technically free" means "really isn't free after all", so another political "misdirection". It was clearly communicated that commercial decisions were to be made free from political pressure, now they're not. If the US military starts sending flights that Greer and Harvie object to via SNN, MHZ or elsewhere instead, PIK's revenue collapses overnight. Where's your sale then?
And it's not as if those two won't agitate. They've never balanced a budget or tidied their own bedrooms in their angry little lives. The other parties are all just as bad but THEY are not making the decisions, that's Hutchie Grammar's finest and his mates.

[willy wombat]

For those of us who don’t pay attention to Camberwick Green (aka the Scottish Parliament), who are Greer and Harvie?

[SWBKCB]

First up, the IDFAF have been through Mildenhall of late.

So "technically free" means "really isn't free after all", so another political "misdirection". It was clearly communicated that commercial decisions were to be made free from political pressure, now they're not. If the US military starts sending flights that Greer and Harvie object to via SNN, MHZ or elsewhere instead, PIK's revenue collapses overnight. Where's your sale then?
And it's not as if those two won't agitate. They've never balanced a budget or tidied their own bedrooms in their angry little lives. The other parties are all just as bad but THEY are not making the decisions, that's Hutchie Grammar's finest and his mates.

Welcome to the real world - to take public money and not expect any political impact?!

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

For those of us who don’t pay attention to Camberwick Green (aka the Scottish Parliament), who are Greer and Harvie?
They are left two Green Party MSPs who campaign mainly on the radical trans rights agenda and seldom mention the environment, classic student politicians who've never worked commercially. The SNP Govt needs their votes for a majority at Holyrood so they're particular ideologies are over-represented as a result, This shift also explains the rise of Salmond's Alba Party, Nationalism without the radical left wing elements.
Welcome to the real world - to take public money and not expect any political impact?!
Ah I know, I grew up nearby, it has fond memories. God save us from politicians...
Without the income from the many, many USAF / ANG transit stops, there's no likely sale and we might end up with nice new housing and no airport. And Greer and Harvie would be most pleased, so given their anti-Trump rhetoric, why stop at the Israelis? They're rabidly anti US foreign policy too.

[Lomon]

Without the income from the many, many USAF / ANG transit stops, there's no likely sale and we might end up with nice new housing and no airport. And Greer and Harvie would be most pleased, so given their anti-Trump rhetoric, why stop at the Israelis? They're rabidly anti US foreign policy too.
What would happen to GE or Spirit? Don't both companies rely on the runway to get engines in and out or to despatch the aircraft parts they make.

[PIKAviationTours]

There's a 99 year lease on the runways which was agreed between Scottish Aviation (now British Aerospace) and the then Ministry of Aviation in 1953 which ensures that the runways are kept should the tenants want them until at least 2052. This was the lease that prevented BAA closing the airfield in 1992. BAe are still on site albeit Spirit are the main landowners. I'm not sure of the exact ownership / lease details these days as a FOI came to nowt. The only area that would potentially go to the property developers would be the 1964 terminal should pax operations cease. With both Storm and PAM / Ryanair planning new hangars to accommodate future growth and with both these companies plus others needing the runways, the chances of the whole site being given over to property seems far fetched at this point in time. Also, the RCAF have a contract for their base until 2028 albeit contracts can be changed.

[Wardair]

PIK is technically free from 'political control' but as it owned by the Scottish Government, any political element opposed to the Scottish Government (basically Labour and the Tories whose Scottish arms are run from London) will jump on any opportunity to blacken Prestwick's name. The levels of hypocrisy especially from the other Ross and his cronies is really quite remarkable. The business lost by losing the IDF is really only a few transatlantic fuel stops a year and pales into insignificance compared the number of stop overs from the Arab air forces of Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE. If you add in the USAF, RCAF and increasing Turkish AF business then from a business perspective its a very small loss albeit a loss all the same. It will be interesting to see where the IDF now stop over to and from the US.

Labour and Tories Scottish arms? Perhaps best for a business not to show any political bitterness. Makes you think about booking a tour

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

There's a 99 year lease on the runways which was agreed between Scottish Aviation (now British Aerospace) and the then Ministry of Aviation in 1953 which ensures that the runways are kept should the tenants want them until at least 2052.
BAA sold the land for runway 21/03 to their Lynton Properties subsidiary and closed it back in the late 80s. I can't remember if it was Freeport related but bottom line is one runway was removed before the arrival of the BAe Flying College meant around 1/3 of it was re-opened? Or maybe only 2/3s was sold? But the land was left to rot for years before PIK Ltd rebuilt the full length. Losing the cross runway meant winter ops became tricky when the wind blew and diverts out became common.
Any new owned could see the land as having more non aviation potential, hopefully a new owner understands that the business thrives because of the size and diversity of the whole airfield.

[PIKAviationTours]

Basically BAA appears to have broken the terms of the original 1953 lease by selling a section of 21/03 off to their property arm. Luckily Mathew Hudson and Alan Macdonald (Bae) got together and uncovered the original lease and with Bae needing the secondary runway for the Flying College and for Jetstream development and demos, the two of them together, forced BAA's arm and they reluctantly sold to Mathew Hudson, thus reinstating 21/03's full length.

[QEC]

Basically BAA appears to have broken the terms of the original 1953 lease by selling a section of 21/03 off to their property arm. Luckily Mathew Hudson and Alan Macdonald (Bae) got together and uncovered the original lease and with Bae needing the secondary runway for the Flying College and for Jetstream development and demos, the two of them together, forced BAA's arm and they reluctantly sold to Mathew Hudson, thus reinstating 21/03's full length.


And when x-wind limits/maintainance preclude the use of 12/30 then we've had An124/747-8/747-400/C17/C130/767/737 etc etc use 21/03 in recent times, who in their right mind would sell it off for housing or commercial use?

[SWBKCB]

And when x-wind limits/maintainance preclude the use of 12/30 then we've had An124/747-8/747-400/C17/C130/767/737 etc etc use 21/03 in recent times, who in their right mind would sell it off for housing or commercial use?

How much income do those flights generate, as opposed to what could be made from rent/leases?

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

How much income do those flights generate, as opposed to what could be made from rent/leases?
Depends if a competitor with an into wind runway takes your existing operator all year round because PIK becomes unreliable. So quite an impact potentially.

[GeorgeNTravels]

Ryanair appears to have removed the planned 3rd weekly Lanzarote flight as well as reducing Faro from 5 to 4 weekly.