GLASGOW Airport will be successful regardless of plans to make Prestwick profitable, according to Nicola Sturgeon.

However, she said the Scottish Government needs to control Air Passenger Duty to be able to help all the country's airports.

Ms Sturgeon told MSPs that while some were disappointed that budget airline Ryanair had decided to run some flights from Glasgow, it was good news for the city.

She said the airports were in competition and said that had to be recognised, but that Glasgow would continue doing a good job regardless of what the situation was at the Ayrshire airport.

She told the Scottish Parliament Infrastructure Committee: "I am a Glasgow MSP, I want Glasgow Airport to flourish.

"We know how hard the airports have to work to win routes and business.

"If you look at the success Glasgow is having, I would suspect Glasgow is in a good position with or without Prestwick.

"The management team there is doing an excellent job."

Ms Sturgeon told the committee that with power of the aviation taxes, Prestwick would be helped and the airports could grow and the economy benefit greatly.

She said: "I am not saying APD particularly only affects Prestwick. It would benefit as one of the airports."

Ms Sturgeon said she was not able to say when Prestwick would return to profit and be sold back to the private sector, but she said she was confident it would and the taxpayer would get a return on the investment made to buy the airport and prevent its closure.

She said while EU rules meant it was not possible to have a new Route Development fund, marketing support could be offered to promote Ayrshire, bringing more business to the area and the airport.