South Scotland MSP Brian Whittle has challenged the Scottish Government to get serious about returning Prestwick Airport to private ownership.
During Topical Questions at Holyrood the MSP highlighted recent comments by Scotland’s Auditor General, suggesting Prestwick Airport would continue to require millions in public funding while it remained in public ownership.
Since the airport was bought by the Scottish Government in 2013, it’s received over £43 million in loans and around £31 million of that has been written off. While the airport has begun to make a profit in recent years, Brian believes that it’s impossible for Prestwick to flourish without more investment than the Scottish Government can offer.
Although the Scottish Government has attempted to sell the airport previously, those attempts ended in failure, with some accusing the Government of mishandling the process.
Speaking at Holyrood, the Scottish Conservative MSP argued that the airport’s potential as a spaceport, cargo hub and research space, couldn’t be achieved without a big cash injection by a new private sector owner. He went on to criticise the Scottish Government’s track record in dealing with other businesses they’ve rescued, including Ferguson Marine and Bi-Fab and said that a future on “public sector funded life-support” was not the best option for Prestwick Airport.
Brian Whittle MSP said:
“Preventing Prestwick’s closure in 2013 was the right decision by the Scottish Government, but it was never a credible long-term solution for the airport.
Now, a decade later, it’s time for the Scottish Government to get serious about selling the airport and unlock its real potential for Ayrshire and the wider economy.
Having spoken to some of those who have bid previously for the airport, I know there is a recognition of how valuable an asset it is, and what it can be with the right investment.
We’ve reached the point where getting the best value for taxpayers means selling the airport and benefitting in years to come from the economic growth that a new owner can generate.
Continuing to prop up the airport with public money when there’s a better alternative is a bad deal for the airport and for Scotland’s taxpayers.”
