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GLASGOW PRESTWICK FLIES HIGH IN AUGUST WITH 14% RISE IN PASSENGER
NUMBERS
GLASGOW PRESTWICK FLIES HIGH IN AUGUST WITH 14% RISE IN PASSENGER
NUMBERS

New routes, new airlines, its rail link and cheaper landing charges
helped Glasgow Prestwick to a record month in August.

Figures released today (Thursday 4 September) show that, for the
twelve months ended 31 August 2003, 1,616,412 passengers used the
thriving airport, a year-on-year increase of 14%.

The other significant figure to emerge is that a record 189,000
passengers used the airport in August, up a massive 27% on the same
month last year.

Managing Director Tom Wilson said: "Our exceptional results in August
help maintain our pole position as Scotland's fastest-growing airport
and Scotland's only low-cost airport.

"One of the reasons Prestwick is so popular with passengers is because
we are offering more and more direct low-cost flights to Europe. Our
August figures were boosted by Ryanair's burgeoning new low-cost
services to Barcelona and Stockholm. With virtually full aircraft on
every flight, they have been an outstanding success this summer.

"In addition, bmibaby's new service to Cardiff and Aer Arann's flights
to the Isle of Man have made excellent contributions to our overall
performance. And an already strong September will be further enhanced
by Germania's exciting new route to Berlin which started this week.
They opted to serve the Scottish market from Glasgow's Prestwick
airport to take advantage of the unique low-cost base and superb
transport links.

"The rail link to Glasgow Central is a huge benefit, and its
importance cannot be over-stated. Prestwick is the only Scottish
airport to have its own dedicated railway station, and more than 30%
of our passengers travel to and from the airport by train, qualifying
for free or discounted tickets. Other Scottish airports agonise about
getting a rail link, perhaps sometime later this decade and at a
potentially huge cost to the public while ours, which the airport
built itself, will celebrate its tenth birthday next year!

"We're on track to handle over 2m passengers by the end of the year
and, at this rate of growth, we will shortly overtake Aberdeen to
become Scotland's third-largest passenger airport.

"The August figures highlight Prestwick's twin benefits - convenience
and low-cost access. Our passengers can fly hassle-free to attractive
European destinations with direct, low-cost services. They don't have
the time and cost-wasting insanity of connecting via Heathrow or
Birmingham.

"With Ryanair, bmibaby, Aer Arann and now Germania operating
successfully from here, the message to the travel industry is simple:
if you want low-cost air charges in Scotland, Prestwick is the only
solution."

ends 4 September 2003