Plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport have been given a boost after UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the government will work to return the hub into a “thriving regional airport”

Doncaster Sheffield Airport has sat closed since 2022 after Flybe closed its facility at the airport in 2019 and Wizz Air ended flights from the airport in 2022 over concerns that the operators were “unable to guarantee the terms of its commercial agreement.” Tui Airways, the sole remaining regular partner of the airport, operated its final flight on 4th November 2020.

Following the closure of the airport, Doncaster Council applied for a judicial review but was refused, leading the Mayor of Doncaster to announce that the council would seek to take over the site, ultimately securing a 125-year lease for the airport.

Earlier this month, Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones announced that FlyDoncaster has been lined up to take over operations, declaring that “reopening our airports remains my number one priority.

““I want to confirm to council and the people of Doncaster that we have an international airport operator, ready and waiting in the wings to work with us,” Jones said.

““Yesterday the government Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU) published their report on the proposed subsidy to FlyDoncaster.

““FlyDoncaster is a wholly owned company of this council, which has been established to manage the airport and partner with our international airport operator. Its key initial role is to mobilise the re-opening of the airport for passenger flights in Spring 2026. Further details in relation to this will be included in the reports to go through the council decision making process in the weeks ahead.

““This is set to be the largest single investment in Doncaster for more than a generation, hence the considerable level of due diligence and our rigorous and logical approach to accomplish this monumental challenge of saving and re-opening our airport.

““This is an investment that will increase trade, export and growth for Doncaster and South Yorkshire through global connectivity putting Doncaster on the map, regionally, nationally and internationally.”