Budget airline Ryanair has confirmed it plans to create 180 engineering jobs at one of Scotland's fastest-growing airports.

The jobs, which will be phased in over three years, follow the firm's decision to locate a new aircraft overhaul and maintenance facility at Prestwick Airport in Ayrshire.

Chief executive Michael O'Leary said the carrier also wanted to double its capacity at the airport by adding five new routes to Europe in the next five years.

The �10m maintenance hangar will increase Ryanair's capacity to handle the extra 150 aircraft it has on order from Boeing for the next eight years.

The deal was secured with �2m of money from the government.

Michael O'Leary has further expansion plan

Building work is due to start in the autumn and the first engineers are expected to start work next April.

Mr O'Leary said: "In time we expect this facility will be doing about 25% of our maintenance business.

"This is much more than just a maintenance facility. It puts Glasgow Prestwick Airport at the very heart of Ryanair's operation and guarantees that it will continue to enjoy new routes as we open up new bases."

He added: "It means we will have more aircraft based here, more new routes, more passengers and more business generally at Glasgow Prestwick."

He said Ryanair hoped to add routes to Germany, Italy, France, Spain and Scandinavia over the next five years, putting as many as four million passengers through Prestwick each year.

The announcement was welcomed by Scottish Secretary Helen Liddell, who said it was "good news for the Scottish economy and the aviation industry".

Scottish enterprise minister Iain Gray added it was important that Ryanair was creating highly-skilled jobs in Scotland.

He said: "That is a statement of the confidence of Ryanair in doing business here at Prestwick.

"It is certainly my hope that the company will continue to view Scotland as an ideal location and that this announcement will be followed by others."