Ryanair expands Prestwick maintenance capacity with £40 million investment

Ryanair, an Ireland-based low-cost airline, is expanding its aircraft maintenance footprint in the aviation sector with a £40 million investment at Prestwick Airport, according to a company announcement.

The development strengthens its heavy maintenance capability and adds capacity that underpins fleet growth and operational resilience for a carrier targeting 800 aircraft by 2034.

The investment will fund a new 11,938 sqm four-bay hangar and additional component workshops, increasing capacity at the site from six to ten bays. The expansion will make Prestwick the airline’s largest heavy maintenance facility within its network.

The project supports more than 1,200 engineering and mechanic roles in Ayrshire, including 450 new positions and 60 apprenticeships. It also builds on a prior £5 million investment in the Prestwick Training Academy launched in 2024.

“As Europe’s No.1 airline, we are pleased to announce a further £40 million investment at Prestwick Airport,” said Eddie Wilson, Chief Executive of Ryanair DAC. “This new state-of-the-art, 4-bay hangar and component workshops will make Prestwick our largest heavy maintenance facility.”

The UK Government is contributing £4.9 million toward enabling infrastructure, while Scottish Enterprise has approved £11.6 million in funding, alongside additional public sector support tied to the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster.

First Minister John Swinney said the investment reflects confidence in the local workforce and will support economic activity across the region. He added that public investment is helping unlock private capital and secure long-term aviation-related employment.

Explore the full press release to discover how the facility will play a central role in servicing next-generation aircraft as the airline scales operations.