Increase in passengers and cargo at Prestwick Airport

The Scottish government is in talks to take over Prestwick Airport

Passenger numbers at Glasgow Prestwick Airport were up 5% last month compared to the corresponding period last year.

Figures showed 120,977 passengers passed through the airport in October. Cargo was also up on last year at 831 tonnes, a 15% increase on October 2012.

The Scottish government is currently in negotiations to buy the unprofitable airport from owner Infratil

The New Zealand firm announced earlier this week it had written off the assets of both its UK airports.

'Very encouraging'

Manston Airport is being bought for £1 by Scottish entrepreneur Ann Gloag, who co-founded the Stagecoach Group.

Infratil said it expected to sell Prestwick for a similar amount.

Speaking after announcing the rise in cargo and passenger numbers, Prestwick's chief commercial officer Graeme Sweenie said: "It's very encouraging that we've been growing each month for over a year.

"Now our focus is on our new winter programme of Ryanair flights."