{"id":74531,"date":"2025-11-28T15:35:54","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T15:35:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/?p=74531"},"modified":"2025-11-28T16:54:03","modified_gmt":"2025-11-28T16:54:03","slug":"doncaster-sheffield-airport-reopening-explained-is-the-airport-ready-to-fly-and-take-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sheffieldwire.co.uk\/index.php\/2025\/11\/28\/doncaster-sheffield-airport-reopening-explained-is-the-airport-ready-to-fly-and-take-off\/","title":{"rendered":"Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening explained: Is the airport ready to \u201cfly and take off?\u201d\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

“Quickest Reopening Ever?<\/strong>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2022, flights from Doncaster Sheffield Airport ground to a halt. South Yorkshire lost its only regional airport, thousands of jobs were affected and passengers have been forced to fly from airports such as Manchester, Leeds and London to reach their dream holiday destinations.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Three years on, the region\u2019s holidaymakers are one step closer to being able to jet off abroad from an airport on their doorstep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City of Doncaster\u2019s full council meeting on Thursday 27 November saw councillors of all political stripes in a cross-party agreement overwhelmingly approve a \u00a357m loan towards running costs, 42 out of 51 councillors voting yes to carry the motion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The results of the vote<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following a campaign heralded by South Yorkshire politicians Ros Jones and Oliver Coppard, City of Doncaster Council\u2019s approval of the borrowing is a \u201ccritical turning point\u201d in securing the airport\u2019s future. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reopening of the airport is the centre of the wider South Yorkshire Airport City Plan, a ten year programme which aims to develop a sustainable aviation hub to boost economic growth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ros Jones, Labour Mayor of Doncaster, said the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport is \u201cvital for future prosperity\u201d and will create \u201cunrivalled economic opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Mayor Ros Jones addressing the council chamber <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Similarly, Guy Aston, Reform UK Group Leader, said the airport is a \u201cgateway to opportunity and a symbol of regional pride.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While Jones and Aston are committed to \u201cstanding together for South Yorkshire and Doncaster\u201d and \u201cdelivering for the people\u201d they serve, with the total costs running up to just over \u00a3193m, critics of the project have questioned the council\u2019s massive financial undertaking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jane Cox, Conservatives Councillor for Finningley, said the vote on the borrowing was the most “toxic” she had ever been involved in and Rachel Reed, Reform UK Councillor for Conisbrough , accused council leaders of a lack of transparency around proceedings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the airport due to run at a loss for the first nine years of its operation according to council reports and climate activists condemning the project as “damaging”, \u00a0the journey towards \u201clift off\u201d has been complex and controversial. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why did Doncaster Sheffield Airport close down? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

First opened in 2005 on the former RAF Finningley base, Doncaster Sheffield Airport ran services across Europe and the globe including Spain, Greece and Turkey. The travel hub was once home to flagship budget airlines Wizz Air, Flybe and TUI and in <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October 2022, Peel Group, the owners of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, announced the closure of the site due to a lack of financial viability.\u00a0The group cited the high operating costs, the impact of the COVID 19 Pandemic and revenue as factors behind their decision. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Following Flybe’s withdrawal in 2019 and WizzAir’s transferral to Leeds Bradford, TUI was the sole remaining operator by the airport\u2019s closure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite efforts from the mayors to encourage Peel to seek alternative investors and a judicial review, Peel Group phased out flights shut down services and phased out flights.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who is running the airport now?\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

City of Doncaster Council established a subsidiary company FlyDoncaster which will be responsible for managing and running the airport alongside German company Munich Airport International who will support the operation.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Criticism has been levelled at the “conflict of interest” with key City of Doncaster Council executives on the board of FlyDoncaster. Mayor Ros Jones has promised there has been “total transparency” in all stages of the process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Where are the funds for the airport coming from? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

South Yorkshire Combined Mayoral Authority is giving \u00a3160m to the City of Doncaster Council towards the reopening of the airport. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will be paid in annual \u00a36 million instalments from City of Doncaster Council to FlyDoncaster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u00a357m loan agreed by City of Doncaster Council is intended to assist with immediate cash flow to accelerate the reopening process. It has not been taken out because of a shortfall in funds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Is the public in favour of the plans? <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Save Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) campaign led by local garage owner Mark Chadwick launched a public petition which received 130,000 signatures.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During November 2025, City of Doncaster Council launched an online public consultation form which as to date of publication has has had over 8,700 respondents and 93% have said they are in support of the reopening of the airport.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sheffield Wire spoke to some locals and they gave us their thoughts: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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