Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is set to reopen after South Yorkshire leaders approved a £160m funding package to bring flights back to the region.
The decision, taken unanimously at a meeting of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Board, marks a major step towards restoring aviation to one of the UK’s largest city regions currently without an international airport.
The funding comes on top of £16m already committed by the board, which includes South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones, and council leaders from Barnsley, Rotherham and Sheffield.
DSA closed in November 2022 after owners Peel Group deemed it commercially unviable. Its closure was met with strong opposition from local leaders and campaigners, who have since been working with government to find a viable future for the site.
Mayor Coppard, who chairs the board, said: “We’re reopening DSA. This is about more than holiday flights – it’s about building a sustainable aviation and advanced manufacturing hub that will drive jobs, growth and opportunities in South Yorkshire.”
Under the plans, limited cargo and passenger services could return from winter 2027, with significant passenger operations expected to resume by summer 2028.
The redeveloped site is also expected to host freight operations, sustainable aviation projects and potentially defence sector activity as part of a wider “Gateway East” regeneration scheme.