PRESTWICK Airport is hundreds of thousands of pounds out of pocket thanks to a week of aviation turmoil.
And when the Post went to press, airport bosses still had no idea when regular service will resume.
Usually, 4000 passengers and 37 flights pass through the Ayrshire airport every day.
But it has been deserted since volcanic ash closed down UK airspace last Thursday morning.
However, chief executive Iain Cochrane insists the airport will live to fight another day.
He told the Post: “This is a very big challenge but I wouldn’t go fatalistic on it. We’ve lost money but we’ll get out of this.
“There is mostly confusion at the moment. It’s still unclear as to what’s happening.
“At the moment, Ryanair are scheduled to start flying again at 1pm tomorrow (Wednesday) but that could change. The new cloud of ash coming over from Iceland means anything could happen.”
And Iain heaped praise on his staff who have bent over backwards to help out.
He continued: “Many staff work overtime in the summer so we’ve re-rostered them.
“They are banking hours just now and then they’ll work them over the summer season.
“It saves a famine and feast situation in overtime payments.
“The staff have been excellent over this, they are very supportive.”
Retail outlets and car hire companies based at Prestwick airport have also been badly affected by the events.
As well as losing business, they still have to pay fees to the airport.
He continued: “The likes of the car hire companies are now looking at their contracts with us because of the reduction in traffic. But we’re working with them.
“It’s hard to tell if we’re handling this better than some of the bigger airports. We’re doing the best we can and have the full support of the staff to help minimise the financial impact on the airport.
“Everybody is hurting.”
