An airport that has sat empty and abandoned for years is set to fully reopen in two years.
Doncaster Sheffield airport has been approved to receive £160million in funding which would help the once busy hub to reopen.
This week, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority gave the green light to the financial support, according to Doncaster Council.
Leaders from Sheffield, Barnsley, Rotherham, and Doncaster voted for the proposals, as well as South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard.
The airport closed back in 2022 after Peel Group, which owned the regional hub, declared the business as ‘unviable’.
It previously served 1.4 million passengers a year across 54 destinations.
Now, after three years derelict and many discussions, Doncaster Sheffield airport could fully reopen in 2027.
Freight operations are expected to begin first in the summer of 2026.
Doncaster Sheffield airport has been approved to receive £160million in funding which would help the once busy hub to reopen
Yesterday (September 9), South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority gave the green light to the financial support, according to Doncaster Council
The airport closed back in 2022 after Peel Group, which owned the regional hub, declared the business as ‘unviable’
Meanwhile, the airport aims to allow passenger flights to be booked from autumn or winter in 2026, with flights jetting off towards the end of 2027.
Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said: ‘I have said all along that I want our airport to fully reopen as soon as possible.’
She explained how things could play out in the reopening of the airport.
‘I outlined last week that, in terms of people wanting to go on holiday from Doncaster, we want to see bookings being taken before the end of 2026, with holidays available for the winter 2027/28 season,’ Ros added.
‘Freight flights will resume sooner simply because of the logistics.’
‘We have not been sitting idly by waiting to see if this funding will be agreed, we have carried on with our work to prepare for our airport to be fully reopened.’
The mayor shared that work will go ahead to get the airport ready for operations again.
She explained: ‘This includes working with the Civil Aviation Authority to redesign the airspace needed and getting essential infrastructure back in as soon as we can, such as radar, air traffic control, fire service and other matters in place.
Now, after three years derelict and many discussions, Doncaster Sheffield airport could fully reopen in 2027
Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said: ‘I have said all along that I want our airport to fully reopen as soon as possible.’
‘One of the biggest next steps is for Fly Doncaster and CDC (City of Doncaster Council) to bring on board the right senior roles that we need to manage the airport along with Munich Airport International (MAI), who are our strategic partners.
‘This week will see the first tranche of those essential managerial roles being advertised. This is the start of the recruitment and more will come once these are in place.’
Ros went on to describe her hope for the airport to be ‘the jewel in the crown of our economy, not just in Doncaster but across the wider region’.
She said: ‘It will stimulate growth, be the catalyst for business and industry and provide incredible opportunities for our residents and businesses.’
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