December 6th 2024.
Exciting news for the local community as the regional airport, previously known as the controversial Robin Hood Airport, is set to potentially reopen in Spring 2026. The airport, which was once a bustling hub for thousands of passengers, has been closed since November 2022 due to financial concerns from its owners, the Peel Group. However, it seems like the airport is headed towards a revival as a new operator has been identified.
Progress towards reopening the airport is already underway, with the first flight in two years landing earlier today. The aviation company 2Excel, who has maintained a hangar on the airport site for over a decade, received permission from the City of Doncaster Council to bring one of its aircraft back as part of a winter maintenance program. The aircraft successfully landed at DSA this morning in a controlled, unlicensed flight, watched by Mayor Ros Jones and local MPs.
This marks the beginning of several flights that are expected to land at the airport over the coming months, as 2Excel brings their aircraft back from bases around the country. Mayor Jones expressed her excitement, stating that the airport holds great importance to the local community and businesses. She also shared that reopening the airport has been her top priority, with plans to do so by Spring 2026. Further updates will be provided in the New Year as negotiations with the new operator continue.
The airport's reopening is seen as a major milestone in the South Yorkshire Airport City project, which aims to bring 5,000 new jobs and £6.6 billion to the area. Mayor Jones believes that the airport has the potential to become a hub for sustainable aviation-related industries, bringing prosperity to Doncaster and the wider South Yorkshire region.
However, there are still several milestones that need to be achieved before the airport can fully operate for passenger flights in 2026. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has been asked to release a £3 million financial package to aid in the airport's preparation, and the reinstatement of airspace is currently being considered by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The history of the airport dates back to 1915 when it was first opened as Finningley Airfield. It was used for various purposes, including training during World War II and as a base for nuclear-armed Vulcan bombers during the Cold War. In 1995, it was decommissioned and remained unused for twenty years until it was reopened as a commercial airport in 2005, under the name Robin Hood Doncaster Sheffield Airport. However, due to confusion with the legendary figure's origins being in Nottingham, the name was changed to Doncaster Sheffield Airport in 2016.
For those interested in other airport news, Metro has reported on the worst airports in Europe, with four of them being in the UK. They have also shared a space-saving plane hack and a sneak peek inside the world's biggest airport, set to open in 2030. On a different note, British Airways passengers were left disappointed with recent changes to in-flight meals.
The last inbound flight to Doncaster Sheffield Airport was on November 4, 2022, from Egypt, and the final commercial flight departed for Manchester on November 5 at 12:15 am. The airport previously operated flights to 50 destinations in Europe, with TUI and Wizz Air being its main operators. It is unclear if Wizz Air will return once the airport reopens, but Jet2 is already seeking flight options out of Doncaster. Do you have a story to share about the airport's reopening? Get in touch by emailing us.
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