Scottish government attempts again to sell Glasgow Prestwick airport

Scotland’s government is to embark on a renewed effort to sell Glasgow’s Prestwick airport to a private investor, following the recent withdrawal of a potential buyer. Prestwick had been managed by New Zealand firm Infratil until 2013 when it sold the airport, for a token price, to the Scottish government. Cabinet secretary for transport Michael Matheson says the government is “formally putting the business back on the market”, through a notice in official EU documentation. “This allows interested parties to submit formal proposals, and may encourage new interest as well,” he adds. “This is an incredibly challenging time for the aviation industry, but we remain confident Glasgow Prestwick airport has a role to play in Scotland’s aviation sector.” Matheson had appeared before a rural economy and connectivity committee on 7 October, stating that “good progress” had been made towards selling the airport following interest from “credible investors”. But the preferred bidder, he said, was “unable to meet the commitments” needed to maintain that status following the deterioration of the air transport sector over the last few months. “Although that is disappointing, it is completely understandable,” Matheson told the committee. But he stated that discussions were under way with “more than one” interested party. He said that Prestwick’s operator turned in an underlying operating profit of GBP3m for the year to 31 March 2020 – on a 46% rise in revenues to GBP36m – just before the full impact of the pandemic emerged.<br/>