Doncaster Sheffield Airport orders new firefighting vehicles ahead of reopening

Doncaster Sheffield Airport has ordered three specialist aviation firefighting vehicles as work continues to prepare the site for the resumption of airport operations.

image: DSA

The vehicles are being built by Angloco, the Batley, West Yorkshire-based manufacturer of fire and rescue vehicles, and are due to be delivered in spring 2027. The airport said they will form part of its operational readiness programme.

The order follows the completion of refurbishment work at the airport’s on-site fire station and the start of recruitment for its Fire and Rescue service. The first 14 personnel are due to join this month, with more than 50 staff expected to be in place by next year.

The airport, which closed to commercial operations in 2022, is being prepared for a phased return of aviation activity under FlyDoncaster, a company established by City of Doncaster Council to operate the airport.

The reopening programme has been supported by funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), the South Yorkshire Local Growth Fund and Doncaster Council.

The programme has also included work on airspace, aerodrome certification and the reinstatement of operational infrastructure. In August, Doncaster Council launched a consultation on proposals to reinstate controlled airspace and establish arrival and departure routes for the airport.

The airport describes the new fire appliances as part of the infrastructure and equipment required to support the return of operations. Recent reporting has indicated a phased reopening, with full passenger operations expected in 2028.

The site has a 2,893-metre runway and was previously capable of handling up to four million passengers a year when fully operational. .