Greene comments on collapse of Prestwick Airport sale

Scottish Liberal Democrat Jamie Greene MSP has today accused the SNP of “failing to get anything off the ground” when it comes to Prestwick Airport, as the latest attempt to sell it fell through earlier this week.

The preferred bidder for the sale of Prestwick Airport has pulled out of the running, meaning that the airport will remain in public ownership for the foreseeable future.

Having taken it over in 2013, the Scottish Government have been trying to sell Prestwick Airport for several years. These attempts have all fallen through.

Prestwick Airport currently employs more than 500 people but budget airline Ryanair is the only main commercial airline that uses it.

Jamie Greene MSP said:

“The SNP have repeatedly failed to get anything off the ground when it comes to Prestwick Airport.

“The team at PAL should be credited for securing more defence work for Prestwick, but they have not been helped by the SNP’s bungled business strategy and total lack of economic vision.

“A significant amount of taxpayer cash was loaned to Prestwick, and we have no idea if they will ever see that money again if the business is not sold. Lawyers and fixers have been the ones who are getting rich from the protracted attempts to sell it on.

“With hundreds of jobs at stake, we urgently need to see a serious plan for Prestwick Airport. I will be pressing ministers on the importance of finally coming to the table with a workable deal that promotes skilled jobs, recognises our climate change commitments and gets a fair deal for taxpayers.”