UK Voyager tanker fleet bringing good news and millions of pounds to Ayrshire

Doug Maclean - Ayrshire Daily News Aviation Editor

The size and quality of the facilities at Prestwick airport has been a source of pride for many years. Our airport has attracted literally the biggest and the heaviest aircraft to park, load and refuel on Prestwick’s massive parking aprons.

Image - Eddie Wallace

Now the UK Ministry of Defence have publicly backed Prestwick by awarding a contract that will see all 7 of the UK’s air to air refuelling Airbus Voyager aircraft come to Prestwick next year and remain based at Prestwick for 11 months.

With the aircraft detachment will come an unspecified number of RAF personnel. Local hotels and facilities can look forward to a very significant boost from Summer 2026 through to Summer 2027.

The boost to Prestwick and the local area will run into many millions of pounds. Some early resurfacing work is taking place meaning that Prestwick’s second runway has been used to park large aircraft which have been transiting through the airport this week.

The highly respected UK Defence Journal broke the story earlier today and we take the unusual step of quoting their excellent article where they revealed that -

“The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that Glasgow Prestwick Airport will temporarily host the RAF’s Voyager A330 refuelling fleet during major resurfacing works at RAF Brize Norton.”

“According to a government transparency notice published on 12 June, the contract—valued at £1.2 million including VAT—will be directly awarded to Glasgow Prestwick Airport due to the site’s unique suitability. The upgrades at the airport will include the installation of concrete jacking pads, required for safe and compliant aircraft maintenance.”

Image - Eddie Wallace

The Ministry of Defence stated:

“Air Commercial, part of the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), intends to award a contract to Glasgow Prestwick Airport (GPA) for the provision of services. The estimated value of the contract is £750,000 with a proposed term of 36 weeks. This Direct Award is related to a larger programme of work, referred to as MACE.”

“The Voyager A330 is the RAF’s sole air-to-air refuelling tanker and also supports strategic air transport. The MOD warns that without these temporary facilities, “the Voyager fleet will be unavailable to support the Fast Jet fleet which critically defend UK airspace.”

“The notice highlights that Prestwick is the only viable option due to technical and operational constraints: “Only one airport, Glasgow Prestwick Airport, can meet all of the MOD’s technical requirements. GPA is the only airport that could take 7 Voyager aircraft. All other airfields lack the necessary secure communications… others would require full runway reconstruction, again at significant time of several years.”

“Work at Prestwick is expected to begin in July 2025 and last for 11 months, in preparation for the Voyager fleet’s arrival during the summer of 2026.”

Here at Ayrshire Daily News we are delighted that Prestwick is being recognised for the success we all know it can be. The recognition by the Ministry of Defence is welcome. More success for Prestwick airport means more jobs and prosperity for Ayrshire.