Military jets are fine to fly into airport

Ongoing military activity at Prestwick Airport has been defended as “legitimate” by the hub’s owners.

The Scottish Government has been forced to wade in over more claims the US Air Force is carrying out rendition flights from the South Ayrshire base.

In a statement to parliament, economy secretary, Keith Brown, said Prestwick hosted military aircraft in line with “virtually every airport in the UK”.

He added: “This is a vital part of what the airport does, it has done it for decades and it will continue to do it in future.”

Mr Brown was also questioned over the prospect of loss- making Prestwick returning to the private sector.

It comes as latest figures show the airport lost £ 26.5 million between November 2013 – when bought for £ 1 by the Scottish Government – and April 2017.

Total debts to the taxpayer could rise above £ 45 million this year – more than double the £ 21m ministers originally said would be needed to return the airport to profit.

Mr Brown said: “We can’t give a date for when we expect it to transfer back to the private sector.

“We do talk to anybody that shows an interest in doing that and we are seeing things moving in the right direction.”

Scotland’s First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has previously been forced to weigh into the row over military activity.

Last month she denounced claims over Prestwick’s military activity as “bunkum”.