BILLIONAIRE Donald Trump has unveiled plans to transform ailing Prestwick Airport into a hub for the world's super-rich, with "hundreds of private jets" bringing golf fans to Ayrshire amid plans for a £250 million revamp of his Turnberry resort.

The flamboyant mogul has struck a deal with bosses at the Scottish Government-owned base to run flights to and from the airport on the Trump Organisation's fleet of private jets, including his own luxury converted Boeing 757 jumbo, which can seat up to 43 passengers.

The plane, which he bought for $100m from Microsoft three years ago, was on display at the airport's giant hangar yesterday, with press briefly allowed on board for an insight into the opulence soon to be enjoyed by Trump's high- rolling clients.

The fleet also includes two Gulfstream jets, a Citation X, and a Bombardier Global Express.

"We are going to have a lot of them arriving here," said Mr Trump, adding that he expected hundreds of private jets to be landing at Prestwick within the next couple of years.

In a far cry for an airport more associated with budget holidays, wealthy customers en route to Turnberry will also be allowed to land their own private jets at the site before being whisked by limousine or Trump's own Sikorsky 76B helicopter to the famous golf hotel.

Mr Trump, 68, also revealed he was close to agreeing a redevelopment of the famous golf resort with the Royal and Ancient, golf's ruling body, which will see both the Ailsa and Kintyre courses completely overhauled, with work commencing on October 1 next year after hosting the Women's British Open.

A new sprinkler system, renovated clubhouse and major changes to Ailsa's ninth, 10th and 11th holes - which will see the ninth become "the most spectacular hole in all of golf" - will be key to transforming the resort, which Mr Trump said had been neglected for decades by its previous owners.

The five-star hotel, which he purchased for an undisclosed sum in April, will also undergo a makeover that includes constructing a major ballroom and renovating the guest rooms and suites. Detailed plans for the hotel and golf course redevelopments will be unveiled in the next few weeks.

Mr Trump said he believed there was a huge appetite among the global super-rich for luxury holidays in the "home of golf" and they would be lured both by the private jet travel and a stay at the revamped Turnberry, which he has promised to turn into the "finest resort in the world".

He said: "This will bring people from all over the world. Scotland has a certain pedigree. You have something really special here that no one else has.

"If you look at the Far East, we are seeing more and more professional golfers coming from places like South Korea. But golf fans all want to come here, they want to come to the home of golf to play. Nowhere else can compete with Scotland."

Mr Trump, who jetted out of Prestwick yesterday on his private jet en route to New York, added he had also had a "long telephone conversation" with Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary, which encouraged him to believe the airline would be "coming back in a big way" at the airport. It comes months after Ryanair - Prestwick's only carrier - halved its schedule and launched a third Scottish base at Glasgow Airport.

The Scottish Government bought Prestwick Airport for £1 last year after its previous owners failed to find a commercial buyer. It has since been shortlisted as a potential venue for Europe's first commercial spaceport, which the UK Government wants to establish in 2018.

Bill Mackintosh, leader of South Ayrshire Council, said securing spaceport status remained the "immediate priority" for the airport, but welcomed Mr Trump's investment.

He said: "This is a positive development for Prestwick Airport and Trump Turnberry and further enhances Ayrshire's position as a fabulous golfing and tourism destination."