Prestwick: A Brief History

Glasgow Prestwick Airport has one of the richest histories of any airport in the United Kingdom. From its origins as a modest flying club on the Ayrshire coast, it grew to become a vital lifeline during the Second World War, a glamorous transatlantic hub, the manufacturing home of Scottish-designed aircraft, and today a thriving cargo airport and aerospace campus. This is the story of EGPK.

The Early Years (1930s)

The origins of aviation at Prestwick date back to at least 1913, when aircraft are believed to have used land near the current site. However, the formal story begins in the mid-1930s.

In 1935, the Marquess of Clydesdale (famous for leading the first flight over Mount Everest in 1933) and David McIntyre founded Scottish Aviation Ltd at Prestwick. The company started as a flying school and aircraft maintenance business, using the flat coastal farmland as an airfield. The location was chosen deliberately -- Prestwick enjoyed a reputation for remarkably clear weather compared to other sites in central Scotland, a characteristic that would define the airport's destiny.

By the late 1930s, Prestwick had developed into a functional aerodrome with basic facilities.

The Second World War and the Atlantic Bridge (1939-1945)

The war transformed Prestwick from a small Scottish airfield into one of the most strategically important airports in the world.

From 1941, Prestwick became the European terminal of the Atlantic Bridge -- the ferry route used to deliver American- and Canadian-built aircraft to Britain and the European theatre. Aircraft flew from factories in North America via staging posts in Newfoundland (Gander, Goose Bay), Greenland, and Iceland to arrive at Prestwick.

Over the course of the war, approximately 37,000 aircraft were delivered via Prestwick. The types included Lockheed Hudsons, Consolidated Liberators (B-24), Boeing Fortresses (B-17), Douglas Dakotas (C-47), North American Mitchells (B-25), de Havilland Mosquitos, and Avro Lancasters.

The ferry operation was initially managed by the Atlantic Ferry Organisation (ATFERO), which was taken over by RAF Ferry Command in July 1941, and later absorbed into RAF Transport Command in 1943.

Prestwick was massively expanded during the war. Two concrete runways were built, along with extensive apron areas, hangars, and support facilities. The airfield that emerged from the war was an entirely different proposition from the pre-war flying club.

The Transatlantic Golden Age (1945-1960s)

After the war, Prestwick capitalised on its established transatlantic connections and its weather advantage to become Scotland's premier international airport.

In 1945, American Overseas Airlines began regular commercial transatlantic flights between Prestwick and New York. Other airlines followed: BOAC (British Overseas Airways Corporation), Pan American World Airways, and TWA (Trans World Airlines) all used Prestwick as a stop on transatlantic routes.

Prestwick was often the first European landfall for westbound-returning aircraft, and the last stop before the Atlantic crossing for eastbound flights. In an era when aircraft lacked the range to fly non-stop across the Atlantic, Prestwick's position on the great circle route made it an essential refuelling point.

The airport's terminal during this era was the Orangefield building, which included a hotel and restaurant. Prestwick was notably the first UK airport to offer duty-free shopping.

The 1950s saw a parade of elegant propeller-driven airliners -- Boeing Stratocruisers, Douglas DC-4s, DC-6s, DC-7s, and Lockheed Constellations -- passing through Prestwick on their transatlantic journeys.

In May 1960, the main runway was extended to 9,800 feet (approximately 3,000 metres) to accommodate the new generation of jet airliners.

Elvis Has Landed (1960)

Prestwick's most famous moment came on 3 March 1960, when Elvis Presley stepped off a plane during a brief refuelling stop. The King of Rock and Roll was returning to the United States from his military service in Germany.

Word had spread that Elvis was due to stop at Prestwick, and fans raced to the airport. When Sergeant Presley descended the aircraft steps in his military uniform, he reportedly called out to the waiting crowd: "Where am I?"

The stop lasted roughly 90 minutes. Without his manager Colonel Tom Parker present, Elvis was relaxed and approachable, posing for photographs and chatting with fans. This remains Elvis Presley's only visit to the United Kingdom. The airport commemorates the event to this day.

Scottish Aviation and Aircraft Manufacturing

Meanwhile, Scottish Aviation Ltd -- the company that had founded the airfield -- was busy designing and building aircraft at Prestwick.

Their products included:

• Prestwick Pioneer -- a rugged STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) utility aircraft used by the RAF in Malaya, Aden, and Borneo (first flight 1950, 59 built)
• Twin Pioneer -- a larger twin-engine STOL transport (first flight 1955, 87 built)
• Bulldog -- a two-seat military trainer used by the RAF and numerous export customers (rights acquired from Beagle Aircraft; approximately 320 built at Prestwick in the 1970s)
• Jetstream -- a twin-turboprop commuter airliner (production taken over from Handley Page in 1970)

Scottish Aviation was nationalised in 1977, becoming part of British Aerospace (BAe). Aircraft production continued at Prestwick with the Jetstream 31 and Jetstream 41 until 1998, when the production line was closed. This marked the end of nearly 60 years of aircraft manufacturing at the site.

Ownership Changes and the Modern Era

Prestwick's ownership has changed hands several times:

• The airport was privatised in 1986 as part of the BAA sell-off.
• It was sold to Stagecoach in 1998.
• Infratil, a New Zealand-based infrastructure company, acquired it in 2001.
• After years of losses, Infratil put the airport up for sale. When no buyer emerged, the Scottish Government purchased Prestwick for the symbolic sum of one pound in November 2013.
• As of 2025, the Scottish Government remains the owner through TS Prestwick Holdco Limited, though a sale process has been underway.

Prestwick Today

Today, Prestwick is defined by three main activities:

1. Passenger flights -- primarily Ryanair services to European destinations

2. Cargo operations -- a rapidly growing freight hub handling Chinese cargo carriers, e-commerce logistics, and charter freight

3. Aerospace manufacturing -- the Prestwick aerospace campus is home to Spirit AeroSystems, GE Aerospace, Collins Aerospace, and other companies employing around 5,000 people

The airport has achieved six consecutive years of profit, driven by its cargo strategy. It remains one of Scotland's most historically significant aviation sites and an endlessly fascinating place for aviation enthusiasts.