Prestwick Aviation Tours

01/05/2025

Its been a bit quiet on the China cargo flights since Air Hong Kong's inaugural flight back in February but hopefully this is a 'restart' and we'll hear more news soon. https://www.ayrshiredailynews.co.uk/news/world-class-fashion-retailer-lands-in-scotland-through-prestwick-airport?fbclid=IwY2xjawKAAQ9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETBHU0pacmd4dWsxR092WnZWAR5FaYFjiS3ahqvz5Ap3YwDc5HVk_365NZ_vYf0C9aOS8K3bUGTQkREkcoSHWg_aem_U1fGoO8FmChwCIKBEhLjZA

Doug Maclean – Aviation Editor. In the last 20 years fashion retailing has been revolutionised. Clever development of a system of low priced modern fashion goods, easy online instant buying and rapid delivery through ultra slick supply chain management has seen companies based in China, Vietnam an...

29/04/2025

Future of Spirit's site at Prestwick secured - https://www.airbus.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2025-04-airbus-signs-definitive-agreement-with-spirit-aerosystems

Amsterdam, the Netherlands, 28 April 2025 – Airbus SE (stock exchange symbol: AIR) has entered into a definitive agreement with Spirit AeroSystems for the acquisition of industrial assets dedicated to its commercial aircraft programmes.

19/04/2025

Many of our 'tourists' have expressed amazement at just how much employment is sustained by the Prestwick aerospace cluster of companies based in or next door to the airfield. Our tours have taken some mindsets from ' Prestwick is 'dead'' to 'Wow - I didn't realise just how busy and important the airfield is'. It's quite an awakening for many who come on the walking tours. The Prestwick Airport Operation Group have a website dedicated to the cluster and within this you can see just how many companies make up Prestwick Airport and Airfield.

An established centre of excellence for MRO, aero structures and design engineering, Prestwick Aerospace is the location of choice for some of the world’s biggest aerospace companies, as well as advanced manufacturing and engineering supply chain.

08/04/2025

News Update:

Firstly the walking tours have started again last Sunday and they will running every Thursday and Sunday afternoon, with the odd exception for holidays. Tours out-with those days can be arranged by mutual consent by contacting us directly.

Next, we can announce that the Virtual Tour is back on the agenda. We are talking to an online tour platform provider who has a new platform in testing mode and we hope to be one of the first virtual tours on this platform. Difficult to say exactly when this will happen but we are filming in early May so hopefully by mid year the tour will be online. Watch this space!

We have also been active in canvassing support for a 90th Anniversary of the founding of Scottish Aviation / Prestwick Airfield and the response from the Prestwick Aerospace cluster of companies has been very encouraging. We are awaiting a final decision on the actual location of the exhibition but we hope this is positive and we can start building the exhibition for a November launch.

Finally, we are arranging a three day tour the Aviation & Airport Management students of University College Birmingham. They arrive in Edinburgh on May 6th where they will visit the National Museum of Flight at East Fortune followed by an evening talk from the CEO of Edinburgh Airport, Gordon Dewar and Head of Operations and Service, Myles Grima.
On the morning of the 7th, they will visit Glasgow Airport , with a talk from Head of Aerodrome Operations, Matthew Wilson alongside a bus tour of the airport airside. In the afternoon they will visit Prestwick and learn about the operations of Ayrshire College at the airport together with learning about Prestwick's operating model as well as hearing about the opportunities that exist for future employment within the Prestwick Aerospace cluster of companies. Their final day is pent sightseeing in Edinburgh before departing back to Birmingham late afternoon.

All in all a busy time! As usual tours can be booked at:

Join a Walking or Escorted by Car History Tour of Prestwick Airport by booking via the BOOK NOW button.

06/04/2025

Nice article in the UK Defence Journal looking at the Prestwick base of the RCAF's Air Task Force.

Quietly operating from the Scottish west coast, a growing Canadian military presence has transformed Prestwick into a key hub for transatlantic airlift, NATO logistics, and support to Ukraine.

26/03/2025

Happy to support!

This Friday, we'll be holding a charity auction and raffle at our Annual Dinner!

We're raising funds for two fantastic Ayrshire charities, Ayrshire Independent Living Network - AILN and East Ayrshire Women's Aid.

You will have the opportunity to donate and enter both the raffle and the auction on the night. QR codes will also be available to scan during the event.

There are some very special prizes on offer - including an exciting auction prize from Trump Turnberry!

Thanks also go to all of the generous local businesses who donated prizes this year!

12/03/2025

An excellent evening at the Annual McIntyre Dinner and Lecture held by the Royal Aeronautical Society Prestwick Branch in Ayrshire College. The speaker was Professor Sir Iain Gray (ex Cranfield University, Airbus etc) and he gave an excellent talk on how he saw the development of aviation over the next few decades.

The society have a good number of lectures (at the UWS Campus) planned for 2025 and into 2026 and these will be posted on the Society's website at https://raesprestwick.org.uk/index.html as soon as the present series of lectures are completed ( April) Why not join the Society?

09/03/2025

Our 2025 season of scheduled 2 hour 'history of Prestwick Airport' walking tours start again four weeks today on Sunday 6th April and these can be booked at www.prestwickaviationtours.com via the Book Now button. Private tours (2 mile, 4 mile walks & car assisted) can also be arranged on request at [email protected]

Our first season last summer was a great success with over 300 people joining us for various tours. You can view their feedback at: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g186575-d26554901-Reviews-Prestwick_Aviation_Tours-Prestwick_South_Ayrshire_Ayrshire_Scotland.html

Come join us this coming season (until end October) and find out about the fascinating and exciting history of Prestwick Airport.

Join us on one of our Walking or Virtual History Tours of Prestwick Airport & discover the amazing history of the airfield.

25/02/2025

Good to see 'Run the Runway' returning for 2025, most likely on Saturday November 8th. Whilst this date is still to be confirmed, plans are in place to start the fundraising for the associated charities. Please see attached details of the Golf Day planned for May. If interested and want to know more then email Glasgow Prestwick Airport at [email protected]

24/02/2025

Good to see the terminal being put to good (economic) use during the quieter periods. I am sure there is more scope for various activities which can raise income for the airport. Ideas anyone?

On Friday, we welcomed a Bollywood film production, who came to the airport to film some scenes for their upcoming film🎬 📽️ .

We look forward to seeing it when it is all finished🤩.