PRESTWICK Airport has reported an eight per cent year-on-year rise in passenger numbers in December, boosted by additional flights to European destinations during the festive season.
It has predicted passenger growth will continue, which highlighting a knock-on boost to retail outlets and restaurants from the greater numbers travelling through the airport in December.
Business development director Mike Stewart declared that the airport, which is owned by the Scottish Government after being rescued in late 2013, was “moving in the right direction”.
However, he emphasised there was still much work to be done to get the airport on to a “sound commercial footing”.
The airport said that it had handled 20,265 passengers last month.
It cited additional flights on six European routes over the festive period. The airport highlighted Alicante and Malaga in mainland Spain, and Tenerife as the most popular destinations in December.
Prestwick Airport added that, as a direct result of the year-on-year rise in passenger numbers, sales across retail and restaurant concessions had increased by 15 per cent.
It forecast that the upward trend in passenger numbers would continue, citing the return of flights by budget airline Ryanair to Reus in Spain. It also noted that additional flights to Pisa in Italy and Malaga had been confirmed for the summer season by Ryanair.
Prestwick Airport added that early indications were that the Malaga service would add an extra 4,400 passengers during the summer season, which runs from May to October.
Mr Stewart said of the December passenger figures: “This is great news and illustrates that…Prestwick is moving in the right direction. December was a very positive month, and I am delighted that the signs are looking good for continued passenger growth this year through additional flights to Malaga and Pisa, and the return of flights to Reus.”
He added: “There is still a lot of work to be done to get the airport on to a sound commercial footing but these latest figures show that the team is working hard to bring new business to Prestwick. It is important that we push on from here and continue to work with all our partners over the coming months as we look to identify new commercial opportunities for…Prestwick Airport.”
Glasgow Airport’s passenger numbers totalled 569,411 last month, up by 10.1 per cent on the same month of 2014.
Edinburgh Airport’s passenger numbers in December were up by 9.1 per cent year-on-year at 754,708.
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