What Is Happening With The Doncaster Sheffield Airport Reopening Project And The £160m Funding?

It's the news many people across South Yorkshire have been waiting for. After closing back in 2022, the future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been a huge talking point. Well, things just took a massive step forward. A whopping £160 million in public funding has been given the green light to help get the airport back up and running. This huge investment is a game-changer for the entire reopening project, which might have stalled without it.

The big decision and the massive cheque

On Tuesday, 9th September 2025, a really important meeting took place. The people in charge were the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority board. What's that, you ask? Think of it as a team of leaders from the local councils in Doncaster, Sheffield, Rotherham, and Barnsley, all working together for the good of the whole region. In this meeting, they had one massive decision to make: should they approve the funding to reopen the airport? And the answer was a resounding yes from everyone on the board.

They agreed to give almost £160 million to the City of Doncaster Council. This money is specifically to support the huge task of reopening and running Doncaster Sheffield Airport. For Doncaster's Mayor, Ros Jones, this was a brilliant moment. She has been promising to get the airport open again, and this funding is the key to making that happen. After the decision, she sounded thrilled.

"This is an important day in our airport's story. Today we have taken a huge step forward towards fully reopening our airport," she said. "This airport can and will be the success we all know it can be, it will not happen overnight, but this is a long-term investment in the Doncaster economy, to deliver jobs, growth and opportunities for our residents and future generations." This is a long-term project, but the first major hurdle has been cleared.

A project for the people of Doncaster

Without this public funding, the dream of reopening the airport could have ended right there. The whole project depended on this investment. It shows how much local leaders believe in the airport's potential to bring growth to the area. The decision received strong support from the community, who have been passionate about the cause since the closure.

Mayor Jones made a special point of thanking the local community for their continued support. She knows how much the airport means to everyone in Doncaster and the wider region. It's not just a place to catch a plane; it's a source of pride and, importantly, jobs.

"And finally, I must thank the people of Doncaster, over the last three years this airport has been the number one question on the doorstep, in the pub and across our communities," she explained. "This airport is for all of you, it will be the people's airport. Now, onwards and upwards!" This shows the strong connection between the reopening project and the people it will serve.

Okay, but when can you actually book a holiday?

So, with all this money sorted, when will passenger flights be taking off? Well, don't pack your suitcase just yet. South Yorkshire's Mayor, Oliver Coppard, has been clear that this is a long-term project. The goal is to have a "fully operational airport in 2028," which includes commercial and passenger flights. It seems like a long wait, but there's a lot of work to do to get an airport ready after it's been closed.

But that doesn't mean nothing will happen until then. The plan is to get things moving in stages. First up will be freight flights, which are basically planes carrying cargo and goods rather than people. The aim is to have these in the air by Summer 2026. After that, freight operations are planned for 2027, before passenger flights finally return.

Speaking after the meeting, Mayor Coppard said: "There was never anything inevitable about us getting to this point today. Here, just 23 months after DSA was closed, we have taken the decision to commit £159.9m to reopen it next year, with freight operations in 2027 and commercial flights and passenger flights and a fully operational airport in 2028."

Talking numbers: what's the return on this investment?

Putting £160 million of public money into a project is a big deal. The people making the decision need to be sure it's a good use of that cash. Originally, back in late August, it was suggested that for every £1 invested, the local economy would get £9 back. That's a huge return.

However, that number has been revised. The new projection is a return of £2 for every £1 of funding. While that's quite a bit lower, it still means the investment is expected to double its value for the region through new jobs and business growth. The business plan for the reopened Doncaster Sheffield Airport also relies on getting record passenger numbers - more people flying from there than ever before. It's an ambitious plan, but one the local council and combined authority are backing.

What happens next?

The funding approval is a massive step, but there are still more meetings and discussions to come. The next few months will be busy ones for the Doncaster Council. It's understood that committees at the council, including some led by the political party Reform UK, will be discussing the airport topic in detail.

After those meetings, the Mayor's cabinet will discuss it, all leading up to a full council meeting scheduled for November 2025. It's a process with lots of checks and balances to make sure everything is done properly. This next phase of the project is all about turning the plan into reality.

A team effort for South Yorkshire

The decision to back the reopening wasn't just made by one person or one council. The board meeting showed that leaders from across South Yorkshire are united in their support. This includes the leader of Sheffield City Council, Councillor Tom Hunt, and the leader of Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Councillor Chris Read. They see the airport as a win for the whole region, not just Doncaster.

Councillor Hunt explained his support, saying: "Today I have voted to support the reopening of the airport as I know that this airport has significant potential to bring good jobs with good wages to the people of South Yorkshire. There's huge potential for significant jobs, growth for families across our region." He also highlighted how important it will be to have good public transport links, like buses and trains, to the airport.

Councillor Read added that having an airport is a big vote of confidence. "Having an airport in South Yorkshire is a vote of confidence in the economic future of South Yorkshire," he said. "We will be able to offer access to the global markets in a way that only a handful of other areas can do." The message is clear: this investment is about creating opportunities and connecting the local area to the rest of the world.