Mayor Oliver Coppard will back funding to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport

It feels like people have been talking about getting Doncaster Sheffield Airport back open for ages, right? Well, some seriously good news has just landed. After a long and passionate campaign, there’s been a massive breakthrough. The Mayor of South Yorkshire, Oliver Coppard, has announced he’s going to vote in favour of the funding needed to get the airport up and running again. This is the moment many in the local business community and across Doncaster have been waiting for, a huge step towards seeing planes take off from the runway once more.

A massive breakthrough for the airport campaign

For a while, things were a bit touch-and-go. Just last week, Mayor Coppard was playing his cards close to his chest. He told members of the Doncaster Chamber that while he liked the idea of the airport reopening, he needed to do his homework first before committing to the funding. Now, he’s given the green light, and it’s sent a wave of excitement across the region.

Sian Booth, who works on policy at the Doncaster Chamber, summed it up perfectly.

“Mayor Coppard’s announcement is hugely encouraging and a decisive step towards the airport reopening. We thank Mayor Coppard for his commitment to due diligence and for explicitly confirming his intention to back this critical project.”

This clear decision is exactly the signal that potential investors and airlines needed to see. It shows that South Yorkshire is serious about this project and ready for growth.

More than just planes and holidays

It’s easy to think an airport is just about flying off to Spain for a holiday. But the plan for Doncaster Sheffield Airport is so much bigger. The campaign to get it reopened is part of a massive project for economic regeneration.

Fabian Braithwaite, President of the Doncaster Chamber, explained that this isn't just about flights.

“The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport is bigger than just flights going out of Doncaster. There’s a much larger economic regeneration and growth plan that goes with it, and the number of jobs and infrastructure it will bring to the region is really important.”

The hope is that a busy airport will attract other companies, from hotels to tech firms, transforming the economic landscape of the whole region. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity, and the unanimous support from all four local councils in South Yorkshire would send a powerful message that the region is united and ready for this ambitious growth.

A shot in the arm for local business

The closure of the airport wasn't just sad news for holidaymakers; it was a massive blow to local businesses. Many companies in the aviation sector relied on it. The latest news about the reopening project has been met with huge relief and excitement from the private sector.

Andrew Offer from the 2Excel Group, a big aviation business, shared just how much the airport means to his company.

“We have 600 employees and about 30 airplanes, and before DSA shut we had about 200 people and 20 airplanes there. We’re a growing business – hiring about two people every week – and we want to come back to Doncaster Airport and bring the majority of our company back there. So it means everything to us, and that’s why we’ve stayed throughout, working closely with the council to get it reopened.”

It’s not just the big players, either. Other businesses have been holding their breath. Steve McMenemy of Redline Assured Security, a company that provides aviation security training, called the announcement "fantastic news":

“We are an aviation security training company, and as you can imagine, the reopening of the airport for us – who are situated right across the road – is very exciting. Our lease was coming to an end, and when it looked like the airport might not reopen, we were looking for new premises because we didn’t feel like we belonged there anymore. When we found out there was a potential reopening, we renewed our lease for another ten years. It’s fantastic news for us personally. The location is great, the motorway links are excellent, and the reopening will be fantastic for the area.”

This shows the real-world impact of the decision. It gives a business the confidence to stay and invest in Doncaster for another decade.

What happens next in the South Yorkshire project?

So, the Mayor has made his intentions clear, which is fantastic news. But the final decision needs to be a team effort. For this project to really take off, all four local authorities in South Yorkshire need to vote 'yes' together. A unanimous decision would show investors, the government, and airlines that the entire region is behind the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The Doncaster Chamber has been a key player throughout this long campaign, bringing together its members to show there’s a real appetite from the private sector for the airport’s return.

Sian Booth highlighted this collective spirit.

“This is the clear signal that the private sector and investors have been waiting for. We want to thank our membership and business community for continuing to advocate and champion the Airport City project, and we recognise the continued leadership shown by Doncaster City Council in driving it forward. This campaign has always been about more than just Doncaster – this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform the economic landscape of South Yorkshire. A unanimous decision across all four councils will show the world that our region is united and ready to deliver.”

This isn't the end of the journey, but it’s a huge, positive leap forward. The confirmed support for the funding is the breakthrough everyone was hoping for, paving the way for a brighter future for the airport and the whole of South Yorkshire.