Ryanair has announced plans to open an aircraft overhaul and maintenance facility at Prestwick International Airport in Glasgow, which will create up to 180 new jobs in 2004. An Irish site was considered for the project but was rejected because it was "too expensive" and "owned by Aer Rianta", a spokeswoman said yesterday.
The £10 million sterling (€15.7 million) facility will be large enough to take two Boeing 737-800 series aircraft and will help to deal with the maintenance of Ryanair's growing fleet. Three other European locations had pitched for the project, according to the statement.
Ryanair currently has a relationship with Standsted-based FLS Aerospace, which covers the heavy maintenance of the Ryanair fleet and is estimated to be worth more than €30 million. In 2000 it renewed this contract, which is due to run until 2005. A spokeswoman for FLS said the announcement would have no impact on its existing contract with Ryanair.
There is some surprise at the airline's move to invest in its own maintenance facility where the trend in the aviation sector has moved towards outsourcing these activities.
Ryanair received £2 million from the Scottish Development International agency to help to attract the project to Prestwick. It has also signed up for a comprehensive training package put together by Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire to help local people to take advantage of the job opportunities at this facility.
Ryanair chief executive Mr Michael O'Leary said the airline was looking forward to creating up to 180 well-paid engineering jobs in the new facility. "This will enable Ryanair to continue to maintain our outstanding 18-year safety record and build on our well-established reputation for engineering excellence."
The new jobs will be a mixture of engineering, professional and administration roles.
The airline plans to more than triple the number of aircraft over the next eight years with 150 planes on order from Boeing. The Scottish airport has a long tradition in the aerospace industry, where it was home to British Aerospace Jetstream Manufacturing.
Mr Tom Wilson, managing director of Glasgow Prestwick airport, said it had enjoyed a very successful partnership with the airline for more than eight years. "This investment is another milestone in our relationship," he said.
Scotland's secretary of state, Ms Helen Liddell, said Ryanair's decision was good news for the Scottish economy and the aviation industry. "The relationship between Ryanair and Scotland is strong and growing. I hope it will continue to flourish and that other benefits, such as more direct flights, might also grow out of it."
Some two million passengers fly with Ryanair to Glasgow Prestwick in a year.
