The Latest News On Doncaster Sheffield Airport Reopening For Passenger Flights?

It’s the question on everyone’s lips in South Yorkshire: when will planes be taking off from Doncaster Sheffield Airport again? There’s fresh news straight from the top. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has been discussing the airport’s future, and things are looking positive.

Speaking at the 2025 Great Northern Conference on 3 December 2025, he shared updates on the reopening timeline and the huge amount of work happening behind the scenes. It’s a massive project, involving several local leaders, and while there is some risk involved, the people driving it forward seem confident they can make it happen.

A bit of risk for big rewards

Getting a major airport up and running again is no small task. Oliver Coppard was honest about that, admitting that reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport comes with some risk. But as he told the conference audience, sometimes achieving big results requires taking a calculated chance.

He explained that the project isn’t a leap in the dark. A huge amount of “assurance work” has already been carried out. That means digging into every detail, running the numbers, and identifying every challenge in advance. Both the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) and the City of Doncaster Council have been doing this homework for months. So while there’s risk, it’s fully understood and planned for, which is a crucial part of making the airport’s future viable.

The northern powerhouse team effort

Bringing Doncaster Sheffield Airport back to life isn’t a one-person mission. It’s a collaborative effort involving leaders from across the North. Oliver Coppard appeared alongside other influential northern figures, including West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin, North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith, and East Riding of Yorkshire Council leader Anne Handley.

Coppard emphasised that SYMCA has been working “hand-in-glove” with Doncaster Council. This partnership is vital for a project backed by a major financial commitment: the SYMCA board has already approved £160 million in support funding. The aim isn’t just to reopen an airport; it’s to drive economic growth across the wider region.

The Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, has also been a key figure in pushing the project forward. All the relevant authorities working together is what allowed the plan to pass its final legislative stage, a huge step in making the reopening a reality.

So when can we actually book passenger flights?

This is the big question. When can people start flying out of Doncaster again?

At the conference, Oliver Coppard suggested that passenger flights could return by “late 2027, early 2028”.

There has been a slight difference in timelines between the two key leaders involved:

After the event, Coppard clarified his view. He still expects 2028 to be the most likely date, but he confirmed that 2027 is possible. It’s a balance of optimism and realism, hoping for earlier but preparing for a slightly longer wait.

Either way, the target window for passenger flights returning is becoming clearer than ever.

What’s next for the airport’s future?

The best news is that the plan to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport has now passed its final legislative hurdle. That means all the key legal and official approvals are complete, clearing the way for the practical work to begin.

This milestone proves that the airport’s revival isn’t just a hopeful idea, it’s a structured plan with real momentum behind it.

The strong confidence from northern leaders comes from solid groundwork: months of assurance work, a close partnership between SYMCA and Doncaster Council, secured funding, and united regional support.

Now the focus is shifting from “if” the airport will reopen to “when”.

For the people of Doncaster and the wider region, the future is looking brighter than it has in years. A reopened airport wouldn’t just mean new travel opportunities, it would also bring vital economic growth, jobs, and major investment to South Yorkshire.