The Scottish government has announced that Prestwick airport is to be taken into public ownership.
The airport, which was put up for sale last March by New Zealand-based owners Infratil, has been running annual losses of £2 million.
Ryanair is the only airline to use Prestwick with regular services to destinations across Europe.
Labour MP for Central Ayrshire Brian Donohue told the BBC: “This is a development which I welcome and we need now to ensure concentration is steered towards new routes and new airlines coming into the airport.
“Major money is required to develop the airport which is why I have always said it should be given for a penny to a developer willing to spend the cash.
“I hope the Scottish government did not pay much more than that.”
He said the airport had been “moribund” for about 10 years.
“The actual income against the expenditure hasn’t matched,” he said.
As a result, the airport’s owner had not made “the necessary investment,” he added.
The move to take the airport into public ownership was confirmed in a statement by deputy first minister Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Parliament.