South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has announced that its board has agreed to commit funding to the re-opening of the former Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
South Yorkshire Airport City could see the return of commercial flights to the airport in the Spring of 2026, with £3 million being committed from the combined authority's existing earmarked resources. This will support City of Doncaster Council with the progression of reinstatement activity and commercial negotiations.
Through the airport city concept, not only would the airport reopen, but a ten-year plan for economic growth across the area would be produced. This would capitalise on the region being the UK’s first Investment Zone for advanced manufacturing and the fact that a number of major companies have already made the decision to move into the region. These companies include McLaren, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce.
Mayor of South Yorkshire Oliver Coppard commented:
“I remain completely committed to reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport and creating a world leading sustainable aviation hub. That’s why, together with the MCA board, we have authorised the release of £3m for City of Doncaster Council in support of their plans for the airport.
“This money is part of the £138m that South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority have already committed to releasing, subject to the right deal being struck with the right partner.
“DSA and the wider Gateway East site has huge potential to play a leading role in the economic regeneration of South Yorkshire and the North of England, which is why it’s so important we get this right. The deal we sign must offer a secure future for our airport, create growth in the economy, and offer real value for taxpayers.”
With the business case presented to the combined authority, assessment found that significant benefit can be reaped from South Yorkshire Airport City, with this including 5,000 jobs and a GVA uplift of £6.6 billion.
Ros Jones, Mayor of Doncaster, also said:
“This is another successful stage completed in our plan to see planes take off from Doncaster once again.
“This support from South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) and South Yorkshire leaders is critical in helping us to reopen our airport and realise the incredible potential for Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the wider region. I would like to thank them for their unanimous support.
“We have identified a bidder to manage and operate the airport as we aim to see passenger flights return in Spring 2026."
Image credit: iStock
