200 Engineering Jobs to be Created by New Scottish Airport Development

The Scottish engineering industry has been boosted by the construction of a new maintenance hangar at the country’s Glasgow Prestwick Airport. The newly built hangar has created 200 engineering jobs for local, skilled workers.

£8 million project creates 200 engineering jobs

The Grapevine reports that the hanger is worth £8 million and was opened by the first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, and the man behind the hangar, Michael O'Leary, head of low-budget airline, Ryanair.

Five other locations across Europe fought for the project before it was finally awarded to Glasgow Prestwick. The investment was awarded through a consortium effort consisting of Scottish Enterprise, the airport and the Scottish Government.

Mr Salmond told the Press Association: “Despite competition for a number of European locations, Ryanair chose to create a second hanger in Ayrshire, and this is testament to the skills and quality of the local workforce.”

‘Crucial’ engineering jobs created for the local economy

The First Minister said the project was ‘hugely important’ as it created ‘crucial’ new skilled engineering jobs for the local economy. The commitment to Ayrshire ‘builds on Prestwick's reputation as a centre for European excellence in maintenance, repair and overhaul projects.’

Michael O'Leary, head of the airline Ryanair, said that the hanger's construction would not have been possible without the ‘on-going partnership with the Scottish government and Scottish Enterprise.’ The well known airline personality also called Prestwick and Scotland as a whole ‘a centre of excellence’ in terms of aviation.