Ryanair links Edinburgh to Morocco in first for Scotland

THE FIRST direct air link between Scotland and Morocco was announced today as no-frills airline Ryanair unveiled details of a further expansion at Edinburgh Airport.

The budget carrier will launch three new routes from May 2010 - Marrakech, Faro in Portugal and Paris.

The airline also announced it is to build a new hangar at Prestwick airport, bringing 200 engineering jobs to the area.

The 8 million hangar will be the airline's second maintenance, repair and overhaul facility in Ayrshire.

Between them they will maintain Ryanair's fleet of more than 200 aircraft.

Ryanair will also increase the frequency of planes on 16 other routes from Edinburgh and Prestwick this summer.

The Scottish Government is contributing 1.5 million for Ryanair's new hangar at Prestwick.

First Minister Alex Salmond joined Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary at Prestwick Airport for the announcement.