AIRPORT bosses are seeking an urgent meeting with government ministers after Ryanair pulled the plug on its Glasgow operation.

As reported in later editions of the Evening Times yesterday hundreds of jobs are at risk after the Irish budget airline revealed plans to scrap 20 of its 23 flights from Glasgow and close its base at the airport.

The airline is expanding its Edinburgh operation and continuing with most of its Prestwick routes while effectively pulling out of Glasgow.

Glasgow Airport is concerned that the Scottish Government continued ownership of Prestwick Airport could be adversely affecting Glasgow.

Ryanair has received hundreds of thousands of pounds in subsidies from Scottish Enterprise to support its operations at Prestwick.

The ScotRail franchise also funds half price train tickets to Prestwick airport’s train station for passengers, while Glasgow is still waiting for an airport rail line.

Bosses at the airport are understood to be growing more uneasy about subsidies for Prestwick affecting Glasgow.

A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: “We met with the Scottish Government following its decision to take Prestwick into public ownership and received assurances at the time that its plans would not be to the detriment of any other airport. In light of today’s announcement we will be seeking a further meeting.”

The Scottish Government’s failure to deliver on its promise to cut air passenger tax has been blamed as the main reason for Ryanair pulling out.

The airline said it was a deciding factor and Glasgow airport said it was undoubtedly a factor.

A spokeswoman for Ryanair said: “Our Glasgow base opening was based on the Government’s promise to abolish APD.

“The Government has yet to deliver on that promise and so the capacity has been allocated to the stronger market.”

A spokesman for Glasgow Airport said: “We have been left in no doubt it is also a consequence of the Scottish Government’s inability to introduce its proposed 50% cut in Air Departure Tax.

“Despite clear and repeated warnings from both airports and airlines about the potential impact of this policy not being implemented, we are now faced with a stark scenario that includes the loss of 20 services and a significant number of jobs.”

“This is the second example in as many months of an airline cutting capacity in Scotland because of the lack of movement on ADT.”

The Scottish Government said it was still intent on delivering the 50% cut in air passenger taxes and blamed Brexit for affecting the market.

Derek Mackay, Finance Secretary, said: “This news from Ryanair is clearly very disappointing for Glasgow Airport and the staff who will be affected.

“The continued uncertainty around Brexit is having a negative impact on route development in Scotland. We will continue to work to work in partnership with Ryanair and other airlines, and to support all Scottish airports, to do everything possible to grow the number of international routes to and from Scotland.”

“The Scottish Government continues to be committed to reducing ADT by 50% by the end of this Parliament and we want to get on and deliver this. But this has been deferred until the issues raised in relation to the H&I exemption have been resolved to ensure that the devolved powers are not compromised.”

Business leaders in Glasgow said the decision came at a time when the city was making improvements and markets were growing.

Stuart Patrick, chief executive of Glasgow Chamber of commerce, said: “Ryanair has taken a commercial decision but it is an extremely disappointing one. They have made it when we are building up Glasgow’s offer.

Mr Patrick said the conference sector was growing and improvements were being made to the tourism assets.

He added: ”We don’t want this to be a knock on effect on Glasgow Airport’s ambitions. We need the airport to grow. That’s how we ensure we attract inward investment and protect and create jobs.”