Ryanair has confirmed a £40m expansion of its maintenance facility at Prestwick Airport which will see the construction of a new 11,938 square metre four bay heavy maintenance hangar and additional component workshops.
The development will expand Ryanairs existing Prestwick operation from six to 10 bays making it Ryanairs largest maintenance base in its network.
The initiative will deliver 450 highly skilled engineer and mechanic jobs including 60 apprenticeship roles supporting local employment growth in Scotland.
The investment forms part of Ryanairs broader strategy to enhance its European maintenance capabilities while creating sustainable career opportunities for skilled workers and apprentices.
Ryanair continues to invest in key infrastructure projects like this one to strengthen operational resilience and meet growing demand for aircraft maintenance services. The Prestwick expansion is expected to generate long term economic benefits for the region and reinforce the airlines position as a leading employer in the aviation sector.
Eddie Wilson shared As Europe’s No1 airline we are pleased to announce a further forty million pound investment at Prestwick Airport expanding our existing maintenance facility from six to ten bays and creating four hundred and fifty new highly skilled engineering and mechanic jobs including sixty apprenticeships. This new state of the art four bay hangar and component workshops will make Prestwick our largest heavy maintenance facility and a key part of how we will maintain and support our fleet as we continue to grow to eight hundred aircraft and three hundred million passengers by two thousand and thirty four. Todays announcement builds on the five million pound investment and five hundred jobs delivered with our Prestwick Training Academy opened in 2024. Together these investments underline Ryanairs long term commitment to Scotland to high quality engineering and mechanic jobs and to developing the next generation of aviation talent here in Ayrshire. We thank DFM Forbes and the Scottish Govt the Westminster government, South Ayrshire Council Scottish Enterprise and Prestwick Airport for their support and partnership on this expansion. Their focussed approach in backing this project has been crucial in enabling us to grow Prestwick into a major heavy maintenance and training hub that will deliver skilled careers and economic benefits for many years to come.
First Minister John Swinney shared I am delighted that Scottish Government investment will support the creation of four hundred and fifty skilled jobs at Prestwick which will have a major economic impact in Ayrshire and beyond. Ryanair has chosen to expand at Prestwick because of the talent and expertise on the ground and it is testament to the skills of the existing workforce. My government will continue to do everything in our power to support the creation of good jobs and to support economic growth in Scotland.
Westminster Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill shared This is a fantastic example of significant public sector funding including thirty two million pounds UK Government Ayrshire Growth Deal money for the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster unlocking substantial private sector investment boosting employment and driving economic renewal in Scotland. Helping secure Prestwick Airports long term future is a priority for the UK Government and Ryanairs decision to build its largest heavy maintenance hangar here creating and supporting one thousand two hundred jobs is a massive win for Ayrshire and a powerful vote of confidence in our hugely talented local workforce. Our collective efforts mean that Ryanair is delivering four hundred and fifty new high skilled jobs including sixty apprenticeships ensuring that the next generation of Scottish engineers has a world class career path right on their doorstep. The skys the limit for Ayrshire as a global leader in the aerospace sector.
Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive Adrian Gillespie shared I am delighted that Ryanair has chosen Prestwick as the location for the expansion of its maintenance repair and overhaul operations. This planned investment is a strong endorsement of the people and skills of Ayrshire and a major boost for the site and Scotlands aerospace sector. It is a tremendous step forward for the region and a testament to the sectors reputation and growth potential. The expansion will build on Prestwicks strong track record in aircraft maintenance increase productivity and create new high quality jobs. It is exactly the type of project our mission approach is designed to support.
Depute Chief Executive for South Ayrshire Council Kevin Braidwood shared This is a fantastic investment for South Ayrshire and the local area which will be of significant benefit to the economy.
Glasgow Prestwick Airport CEO Ian Forgie shared Glasgow Prestwick Airport is delighted to have played a key role in securing this forty million pound development for Ayrshire by providing a long term land lease for the new hangar allowing Ryanair to expand the number of aircraft maintenance bays. Glasgow Prestwick Airport has enjoyed a strong partnership with Ryanair for more than thirty years and this agreement secures that relationship for the long term and provides a strong platform for passenger growth in the future. We wish the Ryanair team all the success as they start to build the new hangar and the next chapter at Prestwick Airport.
