Investment expands aircraft maintenance capacity at Prestwick Airport

Ryanair is leading a major investment programme to expand aircraft maintenance facilities at Glasgow Prestwick Airport, with plans centred on increasing capacity and supporting long-term growth in aviation engineering.

image: Ryanair

The £40m project will see the construction of a new four-bay heavy maintenance hangar alongside additional component workshops. The development will expand the airport’s existing maintenance operation from six to ten bays, making it Ryanair’s largest heavy maintenance base.

The expanded facilities are intended to support both current operations and future fleet growth, with the site expected to play a larger role in maintaining aircraft used across the airline’s European network.

Alongside the physical expansion, the project includes investment in supporting infrastructure such as engineering workshops and training capacity. This builds on a previously opened training academy at Prestwick, which provides technical training for aviation engineers and mechanics.

Public sector funding is also contributing to the wider development. The UK Government is providing approximately £4.9m towards enabling infrastructure for the new hangar as part of its broader £32m investment in the Prestwick aerospace cluster, while the Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise are contributing more than £15m combined.

The investment is expected to create around 450 new jobs, including apprenticeship roles, and support a larger number of engineering and maintenance positions across the region.

The expansion reflects a broader strategy to position Prestwick as a hub for maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) activity within the UK aviation sector, with an emphasis on integrating operational facilities, training provision and supporting infrastructure on a single site.

Work on the new facilities is expected to form part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the airport’s role in aerospace and logistics, alongside its existing passenger and freight operations.

UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said, “This is a fantastic example of significant public sector funding – including £32m 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 Airport’s long-term future is a priority for the UK Government and Ryanair’s decision to build its largest heavy maintenance hangar here – creating and supporting 1,200 jobs – is a massive win for Ayrshire and a powerful vote of confidence in our hugely talented local workforce.”