Doncaster Sheffield Airport could attract up to two million passengers a year

City of Doncaster Council will hear this week that re-opening Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) remains a viable option.

Details of the possibilities of the programme which aims to reopen the airport will be presented. This includes the net economic benefits of reopening the airport, which could be up to £1.5bn.

The council’s Cabinet will hear updates the airport's economic and growth potential as well as its investment opportunities.

Possibilities

Assessments of the programme aiming to reopen what is now known as “South Yorkshire Airport City” show that it could attract up to two million passengers a year within a decade.

The updates will also show that the airport could be profitable within five years of reopening. In addition, it would bring almost 5,000 direct jobs as well as creating up to 11,500 jobs in the wider economy.

Interest

Fifteen organisations have expressed an interest in operating the re-opened Doncaster Sheffield Airport on a lease from Doncaster Council.

It is also confirmed that Leeds Bradford Airport has requested to be allowed to manage the former Doncaster Sheffield airspace.

Doncaster Mayor, Ros Jones, said: “Saving the airport is critically important for Doncaster and South Yorkshire.

“I know the amount of support there is in our city and across the region. I am looking forward to discussing progress to date with Cabinet members and hearing about next steps.

I'm hopeful that I will soon be able to share some good news about a lease agreement for the site.

Reopen

The council has been working on ways to reopen the airport since its closure in November 2022.

A series of meetings have taken place between the council and the landowners, to acquire a lease of DSA.

The council has been preparing a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) to regain the site as an option of last resort. But any CPO process would require lease negotiations to have been fully explored and exhausted first.

An extraordinary meeting has been called for Wednesday, September 20. Cabinet will be asked to note the work to date. In addition, it will be asked to support the approvals required to progress works necessary to re-open the airport.

Doncaster Mayor, Ros Jones, said: 

“Saving the airport is critically important for Doncaster and South Yorkshire.

“I know the amount of support there is in our city and across the region. I am looking forward to discussing progress to date with Cabinet members and hearing about next steps.

“I'm hopeful that I will soon be able to share some good news about a lease agreement for the site.”