GLASGOW Airport can now accommodate thousands more passengers following the completion of a £3.3m improvement project.

Around 750,000 extra passengers will be able to travel through the flight centre every year due to the east pier extension, which was officially opened yesterday by Transport Minister Derek Mackay MSP.

The project, which got underway in November last year, involved the construction of a two-storey, 1,400 square metre extension to the airport's east pier.

Along with the extra capacity and new boarding areas for passengers, the extension also brings the total number of stands for larger long-haul aircraft to six.

During yesterday's official opening, Mr Mackay unveiled a plaque and met with airport staff including managing director Amanda McMillan and operations boss Mark Johnston.

The transport minister said: "Glasgow Airport has attracted a number of new long haul services and this development will help build on that success.

"Not only will it be able to accommodate bigger aircraft, but it will also provide improved facilities for departing passengers.

"The airport has secured 22 new routes over the last year, and I have no doubt the new extension help them win more new services in the future."

Mr Mackay stressed that he would "encourage airlines to operate more direct routes to and from Scotland by cutting rates of Air Passenger Duty" and added: "I once again call on the UK Government to transfer the powers to the Scottish Parliament as soon as possible."

Airport boss Amanda Macmillan said: "2015 has been a fantastic year with the airport continuing to go from strength to strength.

"Not only have we launched a host of exciting new routes and services, we have also seen unprecedented growth in our passenger numbers and have also been classified as one of Europe’s fastest growing airports for the first six months of 2015.

"It is a privilege to welcome Scotland’s Transport Minister to the airport to officially open our new extension.

"The fact that this project was completed within a year of it being undertaken demonstrates the strength of our partnership working with construction firm Balfour Beatty.

"Not only will this extension allow us to accommodate an additional 750,000 passengers a year, it has also created more space and better facilities for our customers to enjoy."