Extra £9.6m scrambled to lift Prestwick out of nosedive
The total amount of taxpayers’ money given to Prestwick airport has soared by more than 45% this year, from £21.3m to £30.9m.
The latest Scottish government’s consolidated accounts reveal an additional £9.6m was advanced to the state-owned airport in the past financial year, during which the struggling business posted further losses of £9m.
Total losses for the airport in the past three financial years amount to £27.6m. Acquired by the SNP government in late November 2013, it is costing taxpayers almost £800,000 a month.
The most recent business plan expects total loans will reach £39.6m by 2021 — almost double the initial estimate of £21.3m — but most industry observers believe additional funding will be required to keep the airport open until that date.
Scottish…
