NO TRUMP DEAL WITH PRESTWICK
THERE is no commercial relationship between the Scottish Governmentowned Prestwick Airport and the Trump Turnberry resort owned by the US president, Scotland’s Transport Secretary has told MSPs.
Michael Matheson said the Ayrshire airport does not receive any financial benefit from making bookings with Donald Trump’s hotel.
He spoke out after the US Air Force (USAF) reportedly ordered a review into how it chooses accommodation for international trips, following the revelation crew members had stayed at the president’s resort.
Trump tweeted on Monday afternoon that he knew “nothing” about the crew from a C-17 shared by the USAF and the Alaska Air National Guard staying at the hotel when the aircraft stopped at Prestwick en route to Kuwait.
Scottish ministers bought the Ayrshire airport for £1 in 2013, stepping in to prevent it from closing.
Matheson told MSPs it “operates at arms-length from the Scottish BY KATRINE BUSSEY Government”. He said: “Prestwick … uses a list of 13 hotels, some of which pay Prestwick commission. Turnberry is generally only booked if other hotels are unavailable or if customers specifically request it.
“There is no commercial relationship between Prestwick and Turnberry. Prestwick does not benefit from commission or any other way from booking Turnberry and customers settle their own accounts direct with the hotel.”
He added the airport had been used by the military “for many decades” for stopovers and refuelling.
Lib Dem MSP Mike Rumbles, who had challenged Matheson on the issue, said he was either being “evasive or he hasn’t the foggiest clue what is going on at an airport that is costing taxpayers millions”.
Rumbles said: “The Scottish Government should come clean as to how much money they are receiving from the US military and what deals with Donald Trump’s business empire have been struck
on the side.”