It's the seventh deal to be secured in the past year which have brought £35million worth of business to the BAE Systems Regional Aircraft centre at Prestwick, South Ayrshire.

Company chiefs admit the latest contract, with Eastern Airways, which flies passengers between Glasgow and the Norwegian city of Stavanger, won't generate extra jobs.

But the deal to carry out routine maintenance work and to supply and fit spares to the airline's fleet of 16 Prestwick-built Jetstream 41 turboprop planes will help bring job security to the workforce of 400 skilled engineers and designers.

The Ayrshire hub specialises in handling spares inventories, logistics and repairs on behalf of airlines.

BAE's business director support Sean McGovern said: "We are recognised as being one of the foremost and experienced suppliers of these types of very specialist and demanding support services. Many customers come back and we have supported many of them for a number of years.

"We are delighted to win this new contract, which has brought to £35m the amount of business won over the past year."

He's also hoping to have more good news.

Mr McGovern added: "We are also working hard to bring in further new business over the next few months."

Over the past yearBAE has done deals with Swiss International Airlines, TNT Airways, Australia's Cobham Aviation Services and cargo carrier West Atlantic.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk