PRESTWICK Airport could scrap passenger flights after bosses refused to rule it out in a review of operations.

Executives from the airport admitted to MSPs that passenger flights do not make money and the future viability will be considered as part of a full review .

The management appeared before the Scottish Parliament Rural Affairs and Connectivity Committee and faced questions on the airport’s future.

They said they can’t compete with Glasgow and Edinburgh for Ryanair and EasyJet.

John Mason Shettleston SNP MSP, asked if the airport could drop passenger flights altogether and focus on freight and military flights.

Stewart Adams, Chief Executive officer said: “We have just started a major exercise where we are reviewing all the revenue sources within the organization to get a better understanding of what areas of the business performs... and which ones are a real drain on the resource.

He added: “The costs of the passenger operation will be identified as part of that.”

When pressed by Mr Mason on the profitability of passenger flights he added: “It’s clear to me the passenger side of the business does not make money.”

Conservative MSP, Jamie Green, asked if the passenger operation is loss making would the bosses recommend “the cessation of that element of the business.”

Mr Green had to repeat the question as it was not addressed in the answer.

Neither the chief Executive officer or the non-executive chairman, Andrew Miller, in their subsequent answers took the opportunity to state that passenger operations would definitely continue.

The airport is hopeful it could be successful in bids to be both a hub for the third runway at Heathrow and to be the UK Spaceport which would secure its future.