Operator ready and waiting in the wings to take on Doncaster Sheffield Airport

She said the airport operator has been secured as part of the procurement process to partner with Doncaster Council, which has established FlyDoncaster – a wholly owned limited company – to run the airport.  

Jones that the process was complex and that there were several milestones to be reached before the airport can reopen in spring 2026.

This includes a submission to the Government’s Subsidy Advice Unit (SAU), which was published this week.

It covers the financial elements including the proposal to use some of Doncaster’s share of Government funding via South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), known as gainshare, to support the airport reopening and why public funding is an appropriate mechanism to help reopen the airport.

Jones said: “I want to confirm to council and the people of Doncaster that we have an international airport operator, ready and waiting in the wings to work with us.

“FlyDoncaster is a wholly owned company of this council, which has been established to manage the airport and partner with our international airport operator.

“Its key initial role is to mobilise the re-opening of the airport for passenger flights in spring 2026. Further details in relation to this will be included in the reports to go through the council decision making process in the weeks ahead. 

“The overall tone of the subsidy report is a positive one and acknowledges this council has considered the options and why public funding is an appropriate mechanism to consider.

“There are a number of points raised for further consideration and these will be responded to as part of our ongoing planning. 

“This is set to be the largest single investment in Doncaster for more than a generation, hence the considerable level of due diligence and our rigorous and logical approach to accomplish this monumental challenge of saving and re-opening our airport. 

“This is a Team Doncaster and Team South Yorkshire effort, I would like to thank the residents and businesses of Doncaster for their patience, we are not over the line yet, but we are nearly there.”

The next stage includes the Mayor’s budget proposals as part of the council’s budget setting process and approval from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.

These are scheduled to go through the decision-making process over the coming weeks, culminating at a full council meeting on 27 February which will seek approval for the budget.

The airport has been the focus of intense efforts to re-open it since it was closed by owners Peel Group in November 2022. Peel Group had argued the airport was not financially viable.