Council closes in on next step to appoint airport operator

Senior councillors are set to approve the next steps towards reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA).

The council’s cabinet will be asked to approve delegated powers to the director of corporate resources – in consultation with the Mayor – to appoint an airport operator, who will be allocated preferred bidder status before a final contract can be concluded later in the year.  

Cabinet will hear next week that the council is currently engaged in a Public Procurement Process to identify an operator with the ability and experience to take the steps necessary to reopen the airport and return it to profitability.

This operator would also take forward the South Yorkshire Airport City concept, which is a wider programme of economic growth and regeneration.   

Tenders are due to be returned on 17 June 2024, following which a period of evaluation and clarification will take place to identify which submitted proposal provides the best deal for Doncaster and the potential operator that is best able to meet the challenge to reopen the airport.  

Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “This is another step forward in our journey to reopen our airport.

“The procurement process is complex and detailed, when we have completed the selection stage, we will proceed to giving an operator preferred bidder status, this will allow City of Doncaster Council and the operator to work together to conclude a contract for the reopening of the airport.

“This is all part of our carefully managed plan and the necessary processes involved.”