Owners of closure-threatened airport offered financial lifeline
South Yorkshire’s political leaders have offered public money to keep closure-threatened Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) operating into 2023.
The financial lifeline aims to give owners Peel Group time for negotiations with credible potential investors.
Peel began a review in July after bosses said the airport “may no longer be commercially viable”.
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard said: “We’re doing everything we possibly can to save our region’s airport. We’ve taken the initiative, gone out to the market and brought potential investors to the table, demonstrating that there is a viable future for DSA. But it has become clear that any deal to find a new owner or operator for DSA cannot be done in weeks.
“That’s why over the past few days we have made an offer to step in with financial support for DSA. This is not just about giving potential investors a sensible amount of time to put their proposals together, but also about protecting more than 800 jobs and providing certainty to customers, operators and our community at Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
“Doncaster Sheffield Airport is an asset to Doncaster, South Yorkshire and beyond. This is not a position any of us wanted to be in, but if Peel genuinely want to safeguard the future of DSA they will accept our offer and allow more time for prospective offers to develop.”
A Peel Group spokesperson said there would be no further public statement until the offer had been carefully considered.
It said the conclusion of a review examining the future of the site would be announced on 26 September.
