Ryanair, Europe’s No.1 airline, today (Fri, 20 Mar) announced a £40M expansion of its maintenance facility at Prestwick Airport, which will see the construction of a new 11,938 sqm 4-bay heavy maintenance hangar and additional component workshops.

This major development will expand Ryanair’s existing Prestwick operation from 6 to 10 bays, making it Ryanair’s largest heavy maintenance hangar, and further strengthening Prestwick’s position as a key aircraft maintenance and training hub within Ryanair’s network.

Ryanair’s new £40M investment supports over 1,200 highly skilled engineering and mechanic jobs in Ayrshire, providing significant long-term employment and training opportunities for local talent.

This latest project builds on Ryanair’s recent £5M investment in its Prestwick Training Academy, opened in October 2024, which is delivering 500 jobs and industry leading training for engineers, mechanics and support staff to service Ryanair’s growing fleet as it grows to 800 aircraft and 300M passengers by 2034.

Ryanair CEO, Eddie Wilson, said:

“As Europe’s No.1 airline, we are pleased to announce a further £40 million investment at Prestwick Airport, expanding our existing maintenance facility from 6 to 10 bays and creating 450 new highly skilled engineering and mechanic jobs, including 60 apprenticeships.

This new state-of-the-art, 4-bay hangar and component workshops will make Prestwick our largest heavy maintenance facility, and a key part of how we will maintain and support our fleet as we continue to grow to 800 aircraft and 300 million passengers by 2034.

Today’s announcement builds on the £5M investment and 500 jobs delivered with our Prestwick Training Academy, opened in October 2024. Together, these investments underline Ryanair’s long-term commitment to Scotland, to high-quality engineering and mechanic jobs, and to developing the next generation of aviation talent here in Ayrshire.

We thank DFM Forbes and the Scottish Govt, the UK Govt, South Ayrshire Council, Scottish Enterprise, and Prestwick Airport for their support and partnership on this expansion. Their focussed approach in backing this project has been crucial in enabling us to grow Prestwick into a major heavy maintenance and training hub that will deliver skilled careers and economic benefits for many years to come.”

First Minister John Swinney said:

“I am delighted that Scottish Government investment will support the creation of 450 skilled jobs at Prestwick, which will have a major economic impact in Ayrshire and beyond. Ryanair has chosen to expand at Prestwick because of the talent and expertise on the ground and it is testament to the skills of the existing workforce. My government will continue to do everything in our power to support the creation of good jobs and to support economic growth in Scotland.”

The UK Government is providing £4.9 million towards enabling infrastructure for Ryanair’s heavy maintenance hangar – part of its broader £32 million for the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster to position Ayrshire as a leading UK aerospace hub. 

UK Government Minister for Scotland Kirsty McNeill said: 

“This is a fantastic example of significant public sector funding – including £32 million 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.

“Our collective efforts mean that Ryanair is delivering 450 new high-skilled jobs, including 60 apprenticeships, ensuring that the next generation of Scottish engineers has a world-class career path right on their doorstep. The sky’s the limit for Ayrshire as a global leader in the aerospace sector.”

Scottish Enterprise has approved a £11.6M funding package for the expansion and will deliver a further £1.52M for corresponding infrastructure improvements in collaboration with the Scottish Government.

Scottish Enterprise Chief Executive, Adrian Gillespie, said:

“I’m delighted that Ryanair has chosen Prestwick as the location for the expansion of its maintenance, repair and overhaul operations. This planned investment is a strong endorsement of the people and skills of Ayrshire and a major boost for the site and Scotland’s aerospace sector. It’s a tremendous step forward for the region and a testament to the sector’s reputation and growth potential.

“The expansion will build on Prestwick’s strong track record in aircraft maintenance, increase productivity and create new high-quality jobs. It’s exactly the type of project our mission approach is designed to support.”

Depute Chief Executive for South Ayrshire Council, Kevin Braidwood, said:

“This is a fantastic investment for South Ayrshire and the local area, which will be of significant benefit to the economy.”

Glasgow Prestwick Airport CEO, Ian Forgie, said:

“Glasgow Prestwick Airport is delighted to have played a key role in securing this £40 million development for Ayrshire by providing a long-term land lease for the new hangar, allowing Ryanair to expand the number of aircraft maintenance bays.

“Glasgow Prestwick Airport has enjoyed a strong partnership with Ryanair for more than 30 years and this agreement secures that relationship for the long term and provides a strong platform for passenger growth in the future. We wish the Ryanair team all the success as they start to build the new hangar and the next chapter at Prestwick Airport.”