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Ryanair is expected to announce the creation of 200 jobs as it unveils an economic boost for Ayrshire.
The budget airline plans to locate a repair and maintenance centre at Prestwick Airport.

The £15m investment is expected to be confirmed at a news conference on Thursday.

It will bring to an end a lengthy decision-making process by Ryanair.


Iain Gray is to attend a news conference

It is thought that Prestwick was in competition with Bournemouth for the maintenance work.

The Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise have both helped entice the airline to Scotland.

Ryanair recently placed orders for 150 new planes over eight years.

These will be serviced and repaired at its Prestwick base.

New engineering jobs will be welcomed in Ayrshire - which has lost hundreds of aerospace posts in the downturn since the 11 September terror attacks.

Scottish Transport Minister Iain Gray and Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell are expected to attend the news conference at Prestwick.

They will be joined by Ryanair's chief executive Michael O'Leary, the airport's managing director Tom Wilson and enterprise officials.

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