Doncaster Sheffield Airport's future in doubt

The airport handles more than a million passengers a year and flies to 50 destinations

The future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been plunged into doubt after directors said it "may no longer be commercially viable".

The board cited recent problems including Covid-19 and the impact of airline Wizz Air cancelling flights.

It said a six-week consultation into its future will be carried out.

Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher warned closure would result in 800 jobs being lost and said he would "do all I can" to keep the airport open.

Meanwhile, regional mayor, Oliver Coppard, has called for an urgent meeting with council leaders, while Shadow Transport Secretary Louise Haigh has urged the government to step in.

The site, part of Peel Airports, handles more than a million passengers annually and flies to 50 destinations.

In a statement, Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) and the Peel Group said it had "never achieved the critical mass required to become profitable".

It called a shortfall in passenger numbers a "fundamental issue", with the withdrawal of Wizz Air flights leaving TUI as the airport's only airline with aircraft permanently based on site.

TUI said its holidays and flights from the airport were operating as normal and will update customers when more information is available.

Passengers due to fly from the airport have been told to arrive and check-in as normal

Robert Hough, chair of Peel Group's airports, said: "Despite pandemic-related travel restrictions slowly drawing to a close, we are still facing ongoing obstacles and dynamic long-term threats to the future of the aviation industry.

"The actions by Wizz Air to sacrifice its base at Doncaster to shore up its business opportunities at other bases in the South of England are a significant blow for the airport."

When approached by the BBC, Wizz Air declined to comment.

The airport was acquired by the Peel Group in 1999 and opened as an international commercial airport in 2005.

Following the news, DSA passengers have been told to arrive and check in as normal and have been assured they would be contacted "in good time" should there be any flight disruption.

The airport was acquired by the Peel Group in 1999 and opened as an international commercial airport in 2005

Conservative MP Nick Fletcher, whose Don Valley constituency includes the airport, said he would "leave no stone unturned" in his efforts to stop the airport closing.

He said: "The mayor in Teesside bought their local airport from Peel Holdings, can we do the same - or maybe another private investor?

"All options must be considered, we must do all we can to keep Doncaster Sheffield Airport open."

Nick Fletcher, MP for Don Valley, says its closure would cause "a big blow to our economy"

Sheffield Heeley MP Ms Haigh said she has written to Transport Secretary Grant Shapps asking for steps to be taken to secure the future of the airport and is calling for Peel Group to reconsider the move.

She said: "The announcement from Peel Group is extremely worrying for jobs and investment in South Yorkshire - Peel must not renege on the ambition that has been set for our airport and our region.

"The government has completely failed to support the aviation sector as we recover from Covid, and jobs have been lost as a result."

Analysis by Spencer Stokes, business and transport correspondent, BBC Yorkshire

What is now Doncaster Sheffield Airport started life as RAF Finningley, home to Lancaster and Vulcan bombers.

Post-Cold War cuts saw the base close, but the two-mile runway was coveted by those who wanted an international passenger airport for South Yorkshire.

In 2005, after the demise of the much smaller Sheffield City Airport, Peel Group bought the Finningley site and opened DSA.

Initially known as Robin Hood, the airport had grand ambitions with talk of 25 million passengers a year.

They never materialised - one million was closer to the mark.

There's been investment with new roads and talk of a rail station.

But now it seems Peel doubt there's long-term profitability in aviation at DSA.

Mr Coppard, mayor of South Yorkshire, said he had called an urgent meeting with the county's four local authorities to discuss the decision.

"It's disappointing that Peel do not seem willing to match our ambition for DSA and have not been able to unlock the evident potential of an airport with a prospective customer base of millions," he said.

"My office was in discussion with Peel Group about a loan of £20m for the delivery of their plans for the airport, and have been in detailed discussion with government about further developing the connectivity of the DSA site."

The leaders of South Yorkshire's four local authorities are due to meet with the county's mayor to discuss the decision

Labour councillor Glyn Jones, deputy mayor of Doncaster, called it "very disappointing news".

"The airport is a major asset to Doncaster and the wider region and I am urging that all avenues to make it viable commercially are fully investigated," he said.

Kath Doyle, a travel agent at Bawtry Travel in Doncaster, said her reaction was one of "shock, horror and disbelief".

"Clients are horrified because they've got bookings for next year," she said.

"I've seen the airport grow and seen the number of my clients multiply, so I just find it an incredible situation."

Kath Doyle, a travel agent who set up her business in Doncaster in 1982, says concerned clients have already been in touch about their future bookings

A government spokesperson said it was in close contact with the airport "to understand its plans".

"While this will be a commercial decision for the owners of the airport, we hope they conclude after consultation with stakeholders that there is a viable aviation future for the airport," they said.

"We will continue to bring forward our plans to level up and ensure the whole of the UK has the connections people need."