Glasgow Airport Information

Glasgow Airport is the busiest of Scotland's three main international airports, with over 86,000 air transport movements serving over 8.1 million passengers a year. It was thought that the story of Glasgow Prestwick International Airport began around 1934. However, historians have now discovered evidence that aircraft were on or near the site around 1913, a mere 10 years after the Wright Brothers first took to the air.

Scottish Aviation Ltd was set up in 1935 by pioneer David McIntyre, he aquired 348 acres of Ayrshire countryside. By the end of that year, accommodation had been developed including a hanger, offices, lecture rooms and a small control tower.

During World War II the site developed into a major airport manily used for the delivery of American aircraft under the lend lease program. At the same time training gave way to aircraft production undertaken by Scottish Aviation Ltd.

The original factory was expanded out of all recognition when in 1941, the Palace of Engineering, built in Bellahouston Park, Glasgow (for the 1938 Empire Exhibition) was taken down and rebuilt brick by brick at Prestwick.

In 1958 the Government, in an attempt to maintain the airports place at the forefront of modern aviation, announced plans for a new terminal building, freight building, runway extension, control tower and loop road around the airport. By April 1962 the new control tower had been built and in September 1964, Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother, officially opened the present terminal buliding.