South Yorkshire leaders have approved a £160 million funding package to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), which ceased operations in November 2022. The decision was made on Tuesday, 9 September, during a meeting of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) Board held at the airport. All five voting members unanimously supported the proposal, which outlines a long-term plan for the return of aviation operations.
This funding is in addition to the £16 million previously committed by SYMCA.
The closure of DSA left South Yorkshire without a commercial airport, making it one of the largest city regions in the UK without international air links. Since then, local leaders, MPs, and government representatives have explored options for restoring aviation services on the site.
The plan aims to do more than revive passenger flights; it seeks to establish a long-term commitment to drive jobs, growth, and opportunities in sustainable aviation, advanced manufacturing, freight, and even the defence sector in South Yorkshire.
Although funding has now been secured, the reopening will not be immediate. Significant passenger services are not expected to resume until summer 2028, although limited cargo and passenger activity could begin in winter 2027.