PRESTWICK Airport will pursue a range of opportunities to become a profit making enterprise MSPs have been told.

Keith Brown, Infrastructure Secretary said the airport was not dependent purely on passenger growth or budget airline Ryanair for its income.

The Scottish Government has made £25m available in loans to the airport management, after it took over to prevent closure and the threat of 3000 job losses in Ayrshire.

Mr Brown told the Infrastructure and Capital Investment committee he couldn’t put a timescale of when it would be returned to the private sector but said the government expected a return on the investment.

He said freight, on-site activity, like repairs facilities and the possibility of a Spaceport being located at the site offered opportunities for the airport to grow.

Officials said already an increase in other activity has offset the drop in passenger income in the last year.

The committee was also told that discussions were taking place with between eh airport and other airlines to bring in more business, but no further details could be divulged because it was commercially sensitive information.

Currently, Ryanair is the only airline to be based at the Ayrshire Airport and it has reduced its flights.

MSPs asked for an update on the Spaceport and whether a joint Scottish bid with Campbeltown, the other bidder would be considered.

Mr Brown said space engineering firms are looking at big expansion plans which he said was promising for Prestwick.

He said the Prestwick plans were well advance but details was required from the UK Government

He said: “The timing is in the hands of Westminster “ and said Prestwick was awaiting the technical requirements of the bidding process before proceeding further.

Mr Brown said reduction in Air Passenger Duty would help Prestwick as it would other airports.

He said passengers were being lost to Scotland to other countries with lower or no tax.

He said: “The plan is to reduce it by 50%. Ryanair pointed to the growth that could engender.”

Conservative MSP said any reduction would benefit competitors like Glasgow and wondered how it would be positive for Prestwick.

Mr Brown said: “Ryanair have been specific about what they think it will mean for Prestwick. But there will be a general benefit. The York Aviation Study said it offered huge benefit.

“People know countries like Mexico sending plane loads to Paris, Milan or Rome rather than London. It puts you at considerable disadvantage.

“People are going from Scotland to London to fly to Dubai.”