Airport cleared for take-off with £160m of funding

A fully operational Doncaster Sheffield Airport is expected to open in summer 2028

The four council leaders in South Yorkshire have approved funding of almost £160m to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport and bring passenger flights back to the region.

The agreement from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority means freight operations should start in 2027 and a fully operational airport planned for summer 2028.

Speaking last week, elected regional mayor Oliver Coppard said he was in favour of the funding but the leaders of Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster councils needed to formally agree.

At a meeting at the airport, Coppard said: "We are cleared for take-off. It is a great day, but it is the end of the beginning.

"We have a load of work to do now to get the airport back up and running and to build that sustainable aviation and advanced manufacturing hub."

The airport, which first opened in 2005 and closed in 2022, was used by Tui and Wizz Air and served destinations including the Canary Islands, Balearics, Greece, Turkey, Poland and the Baltic countries.

Coppard previously said reopening the airport would support 5,000 jobs, boost the economy by £5bn and provide wider benefits of £2bn by 2050.

"Yes it's about making sure people have holiday flights, but this project cannot be deemed to succeed or fail based purely on passenger numbers alone, purely on profit or loss alone," he said.

"It's got to be about what it contributes to economic growth, our ambitions, world class industries and broader opportunities with aviation."

Politicians, business leaders and campaigners all gathered at Doncaster Sheffield Airport for the formal agreement

Following the formal agreement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: "This is a huge milestone for businesses and communities across South Yorkshire delivering better connections, jobs and economic growth."

Airport campaigner Mark Chadwick described it as "absolutely amazing, the kickstart to get this place flying".

"The original airspace was removed a few months ago, but the unprecedented situation we are in is that the Civil Aviation Authority, the Department for Transport, Doncaster Council and the combined authority are all working towards getting it open," he said.

• £160m meeting on airport's future: How did we get here?

The airport on the former RAF Finningley site closed when landowners and operators Peel Group declared it was no longer financially viable.

Since then, there has been a concerted campaign by Doncaster Council and others to reopen it.

The funding decision about Doncaster Sheffield Airport was agreed on Tuesday

However, Sheffield Green Party raised concerns and called it "a risky venture".

Councillor Angela Argenzio, leader of the city's green group, said: "Doncaster Sheffield Airport will be receiving public funds - why should the taxpayer have to prop up this project when other airports are supported by private finance?

"If the private sector isn't prepared to invest in the airport it doesn't give me confidence that there is a strong business case for it."

Coppard said there would never be a "blank cheque" and there would be a "prudent, patient approach in a complex project".

Earlier this year, it was announced German firm Munich Airport International would provide operational and management services to FlyDoncaster, a company set up by Doncaster Council to run the airport.

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