CASH-strapped airport chiefs have hired dozens of extra staff on fixed term contracts to cope with holidaymakers jetting off to the sun.

More than 50 temporary staff have been taken on at Prestwick Airport at a time when the owners are trying to find a buyer for the loss making Ayrshire hub.

Managers say extra staff are needed to help the airport gear up for a busy summer season, even though Irish budget carrier Ryanair is the only airline now using the airport.

The new recruits have been given contracts up to the end of October.

HR manager Sonia Rafferty, said: "We're delighted to offer people these jobs.

"We've got almost 100 Ryanair flights a week, to 27 destinations. Our new colleagues will be fully trained and keen to help provide the excellent service we're known for."

Despite the uncertainty over the airport's future, Prestwick bosses were inundated with over 300 applications for the 54 short-term posts.

The recruitment campaign came weeks after airport officials dismissed as, "insignificant," the loss of weekly flights to Poland by Wizz Air, which opted to switch services to Glasgow.

Prestwick's owners, New Zealand-based Infratil, decided last year to put it and its sister airport, Kent Manston, up for sale.

They had been jointly valued at £44 million, but in the run-up to Christmas the owners revealed their value had dropped to just £10.5m.

In 2003 Infratil paid bus firm Stagecoach £33.4m for Prestwick, which was Scotland's transatlantic hub, before long haul flights switched to Glasgow Airport.

gordon.thomson@ eveningtimes.co.uk