This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-24456708
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Glasgow Prestwick Airport 'can go back into profit' says Nicola Sturgeon | Glasgow Prestwick Airport 'can go back into profit' says Nicola Sturgeon |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Prestwick Airport can be profitable if the right approach is taken, the deputy first minister has said. | Prestwick Airport can be profitable if the right approach is taken, the deputy first minister has said. |
| The Scottish government announced at Holyrood on Tuesday it was negotiating to buy the airport. | The Scottish government announced at Holyrood on Tuesday it was negotiating to buy the airport. |
| The Ayrshire facility, which was put up for sale last March by New Zealand-based owners Infratil, has been running annual losses of £2m. | The Ayrshire facility, which was put up for sale last March by New Zealand-based owners Infratil, has been running annual losses of £2m. |
| Nicola Sturgeon said she believed that "over time" Prestwick could go "back to profit". | Nicola Sturgeon said she believed that "over time" Prestwick could go "back to profit". |
| A six-weeks timetable of detailed negotiations has now begun with Infratil. | A six-weeks timetable of detailed negotiations has now begun with Infratil. |
| Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We are embarking on commercial negotiations with the current owners of the airport so thing like purchase price for the airport will require to be resolved in terms of he negotiation." | Ms Sturgeon told BBC Radio Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "We are embarking on commercial negotiations with the current owners of the airport so thing like purchase price for the airport will require to be resolved in terms of he negotiation." |
| The minister defended the government's decision to step in to buy the airport, saying it was the "only realistic alternative to closure". | The minister defended the government's decision to step in to buy the airport, saying it was the "only realistic alternative to closure". |
| She explained that, once the airport was in public ownership, there would be a detailed business case made which would include levels of investment and a timescale on turning around its fortunes. | She explained that, once the airport was in public ownership, there would be a detailed business case made which would include levels of investment and a timescale on turning around its fortunes. |
| Ms Sturgeon added: "With the right financial investment, with the right commercial management, the right marketing over a period of time, Prestwick can be brought back into profit." | Ms Sturgeon added: "With the right financial investment, with the right commercial management, the right marketing over a period of time, Prestwick can be brought back into profit." |
| The Scottish government's bid to buy Prestwick comes just months after struggling Cardiff Airport was sold to the Welsh government for £52m. | |
| Although publicly owned, Cardiff Airport is being by an "at arm's length" body rather than by the government, and "on a commercial basis". | |
| In a ministerial statement to the Scottish Parliament, Ms Sturgeon said the closure of Prestwick would be a "serious and unwelcome development" for the Ayrshire and the Scottish economies, with about 1,400 jobs linked directly or indirectly with the airport. | |
| Infratil has agreed to ensure the airport is kept fully open and operational while the negotiation process involving the government is ongoing. | |
| The only scheduled passenger airline at Prestwick, Ryanair, welcomed the likely government takeover. |