Doncaster Sheffield Airport set to reopen following £160m funding package approval

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is set to reopen following South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority’s approval of a £160m funding package. The announcement adds to the £16m already committed and sets in motion plans to restore commercial air services to the region.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed in November 2022, leaving South Yorkshire one of the largest UK city regions without an international aviation presence. While significant passenger operations are not likely to commence until summer 2028, limited passenger activity and cargo could return from winter 2027.

The unanimous investment decision was made by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board, made up of South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard together with the Leader of Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council Sir Steve Houghton, Mayor of City of Doncaster Council Ros Jones, Leader of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council Chris Read and Leader of Sheffield City Council Tom Hunt.

Mayor Coppard, said, “We’ve made a historic decision to invest in the plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, and to create a sustainable aviation and advanced manufacturing hub at Gateway East. 

“I’ve always said I wanted to reopen DSA, but we needed to know exactly what the plan looked like. That’s why we’ve taken the time and done the work. No plan of this size or scale is ever easy, or without risks, but today we’ve taken a bold step forward, backed by data, expertise, and a shared vision for the type of South Yorkshire we want to build, because DSA is a unique opportunity. 

“The plan is about more than holiday flights or passenger numbers, it’s a long-term commitment to drive jobs, growth and opportunities in sustainable aviation, advanced manufacturing, freight, and even the defence sector, here in South Yorkshire.”

Mayor of City of Doncaster Council Ros Jones, said, “This is an important day in our airport’s story. Today we have taken a huge step forward towards fully reopening our airport. Over the last three years this airport has been the number one question on the doorstep, in the pub and across our communities.”

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves, said, “The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport is a huge milestone for communities and business across South Yorkshire, delivering better connections, jobs and economic growth.”