New Engineering Base
Ryanair Holdings PLC
15 August 2002
Ryanair Announces New Engineering Base At Glasgow Prestwick
International Airport
And The Creation of 180 New Jobs
Ryanair, Europe's largest low fares airline is expanding its operations at
Glasgow Prestwick International Airport with the opening of a new aircraft
overhaul and maintenance facility creating up to 180 new jobs.
The £10m. facility will be large enough to take two Boeing 737-800 series
aircraft and will help deal with the maintenance needs of the company's growing
fleet of aircraft. Ryanair is planning to more than triple the number of
aircraft over the next eight years with 150 new planes on order from Boeing. The
new jobs will be a mixture of engineering, professional and administration.
Announcing the base today at Glasgow Prestwick, Ryanair's Chief Executive,
Michael O Leary said;
'This is a particularly exciting day for Ryanair and for Glasgow Prestwick
Airport. With 150 new aircraft on order, Ryanair over the next 8 years will
grow to one of the largest aircraft fleets in Europe. Accordingly we are
investing heavily in support services including our new simulator training
base at Nottingham, our engine maintenance contract with Lufthansa in
Dublin, and now a large base maintenance facility here in Glasgow Prestwick.
'Glasgow Prestwick has a long and proud tradition in the aerospace industry,
having for many years been the home of British Airways Aerospace Jetstream
Manufacturing. Ryanair and Glasgow Prestwick Airport are proud to be
continuing in this tradition, and we look forward to creating up to 180 new,
well paid engineering jobs in this brand new high tech facility. This will
enable Ryanair to continue to maintain our outstanding 18 year safety
record, and build on our well established reputation for engineering
excellence'
Tom Wilson, Managing Director of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport
said:
'I'm delighted that Ryanair have chosen to base their aircraft
maintenance facility at Glasgow Prestwick. We have enjoyed a very successful
partnership with the airline over more than 8 years and this investment is
another significant milestone in our relationship.'
Secretary of State for Scotland, Helen Liddell said:
'Today's decision by Ryanair is good news for the Scottish economy and
the aviation industry, and underlines the particular strengths of Ayrshire's
aerospace related industries. The effort to bring this project to Scotland
has been a true reflection of the partnership approach which exists in
Scotland and I am delighted to have played my part. The relationship
between Ryanair and Scotland is strong and growing. I hope it will continue
to flourish and that other benefits, such as more direct flights, might also
grow out of it.'
The decision by Europe's largest low fares airline was welcomed by Minister for
Enterprise and Lifelong Learning, Iain Gray.
'I am delighted to welcome today's announcement that Ryanair is to
locate its Aircraft Maintenance Repair and Overhaul (MRO) facility at
Glasgow Prestwick International Airport. This will create 180 new high
quality jobs in Ayrshire and is a testament to the skills of the local
workforce.
'The new facility builds upon Ryanair's already impressive presence in
Scotland and strengthens further the company's links with Glasgow
Prestwick International airport. It is certainly my hope that the
company will continue to view Scotland as an ideal location and that
this announcement will be followed by others. I congratulate everyone
involved in bringing this project to Scotland, and wish everyone at
Ryanair and Prestwick every success for the future'.
Scottish Enterprise's Chief Executive, Robert Crawford said:
'This is further evidence of Scotland's growing reputation for
excellence in the aerospace sector. Ryanair is exactly the type of
inward investor we need to attract more of. A company bringing high value
jobs to Scotland because we have the skills and expertise they need.
Aerospace is a fiercely competitive global market and it is a sign of our
growing reputation as a world class location in this field that well
established ambitious companies like Ryanair want to expand their operations
here.'
Almost 2 million people a year travel on Ryanair's low fare routes from Glasgow
Prestwick and their decision to expand there increases the importance of
Scotland within the companies growing network of locations.
Ryanair received £2 million of Regional Selective Assistance through Scottish
Development International to help bring this facility to Prestwick. The airline
has also signed up for a comprehensive training package put together by Scottish
Enterprise Ayrshire to help local people take advantage of the opportunities
this expansion will bring.
Glasgow Prestwick International Airport was chosen against stiff competition
from three other European locations.
The new facility is planned to open in 2004.
Notes to editors
• The company plans to acquire up to 150 new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft
over an eight year period (2002 to 2010). The order for 100 of these
aircraft is firm, with options on the remaining 50. The new aircraft are
expected to create over 3,000 new jobs in Ryanair, including over 800
pilots, more than 2,000 cabin crew and over 400 engineering and operations
vacancies.
• The company currently flies 76 routes across 13 countries.
• Glasgow Prestwick International Airport is the base for Ryanair operations
in Scotland. The airline has grown its Prestwick operation from 4 flights
per day back in 1994, serving Dublin, to more than 30 flights per day
serving six European capitals: London, Dublin, Paris, Frankfurt, Brussels
and Oslo.
• Ryanair announced record annual pre-tax profits of £112m - in the worst
year in airline industry history: when traditional carriers have seen
revenues slump, first as a result of foot-and-mouth disease in the UK, then
globally by the events of 11 September.
• Last year (2001/02) Scottish Development International helped attract 59
new projects and 6,386 jobs representing investment worth £271,279 million
to the Scottish economy.
• Scottish Enterprise is the main economic development agency for Scotland
covering 93 per cent of the population from Grampian to the Borders. The
Scottish Enterprise Network consists of Scottish Enterprise and 12 Local
Enterprise Companies. Working in partnership with the private and public
sectors the Network aims to build more and better businesses, to develop the
skills and knowledge of Scottish people, and to encourage innovation to make
Scottish business internationally competitive.
ENDS Thursday 15th August 2002
For further details contact:
Ryanair
Kathryn Munro
Tel: +44 1292 511 257
Murray Consultants
Pauline McAlester
Tel: +353 1 6633332
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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