Prestwick Airport scheduled traffic up again as new expansion announced
Glasgow Prestwick Airport recorded a year-on-year rise in scheduled passenger traffic for the fifth consecutive month in September. The result coincides with work beginning on a 1.7 million extension and refurbishment of the departure lounge area.

AYRSHIRE, SCOTLAND, October 28, 2008 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Glasgow Prestwick Airport recorded a year-on-year rise in scheduled passenger traffic for the fifth consecutive month in September.

The result coincides with work beginning on a 1.7 million extension and refurbishment of the departure lounge area.

The airport is also about to lay out its vision for the future with the release of its draft Master Plan on Wednesday 29 October containing passenger and freight forecasts and detail on transport and infrastructure requirements to 2018 and 2033.

New seating and toilets will be provided for passengers as a result of the departure lounge project, with more space to ease congestion during busy periods.

The 214,436 passengers that used the airport in September took the year-to-date (April - September) total to 1,372,187 which represents a slight improvement on the same period in 2007.

Charter traffic fell in September due to the collapse of Seguro. This led to an overall drop in passenger numbers against September 2007, but scheduled traffic again showed an increase.

In September Glasgow Abbotsinch saw passengers fall 11% year-on-year with its year-to-date total down 5.4% on last year.

Preliminary work has begun on the departure lounge work and the major construction phase will take place over the winter months.

Glasgow Prestwick Airport chief executive Mark Rodwell said: "The departure lounge extension and refurbishment is great news for our passengers, who will benefit from new facilities and more space.

"It is also necessary to cater for future passenger growth, which we will be highlighting in our draft Master Plan when it is released on Wednesday 29 October.

He added: "It's very pleasing to record a rise in scheduled passenger traffic yet again, as it demonstrates the strength of our low-cost airline customers Ryanair, Wizz Air and Aer Arann.

"The fall in charter traffic is a disappointing but unavoidable result of the Seguro situation. We are actively talking to other charter operators at the present time and remain confident about the market potential at Glasgow Prestwick."

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Glasgow Prestwick Airport
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Ayrshire
KA9 2PL
Scotland

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