The Scottish government has confirmed that it plans to take Glasgow Prestwick Airport into public ownership to avoid the risk of it closing with the loss of 1,400 jobs.
The airport, which was put up for sale last March by New Zealand-based owners Infratil, has been making an annual loss of £2 million.
Ryanair, which flies to 27 destinations from the airport, has welcomed the news.
Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament there had been some interest in the airport from private investors but none was able to commit to buying Prestwick on a timescale that was acceptable to Infratil.
She said: "We believe Prestwick Airport can have a positive future. It will require investment and it will take time. However, we believe it can be returned to profitability.
"We also estimate that the cost of closure to the public purse would be very significant and this is an important factor in our decision."
She said the government intended to complete due diligence and negotiations with Infratil on the terms of the sale over a six-week period. In the meantime, the owners have agreed to ensure the airport is kept fully operational.
