City of Doncaster Council is working to secure five airlines and increase freight capacity as part of efforts to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. The council has set up Fly Doncaster, a wholly owned subsidiary, and partnered with Munich Airport International to oversee operations.
At its peak in 2019, the airport handled 23,000 tonnes of freight. The council aims to increase this to 100,000 tonnes. Discussions have been ongoing over the past year to target a minimum of four to five airlines.
The council finalised a 125-year lease with landowner Peel Group in 2023 and plans to operate the airport with stricter fiscal control. Reopening is expected to create over 5,000 direct jobs and 6,500 indirect jobs, contributing an estimated £6.6 billion to the economy.
Mayor Ros Jones confirmed an international operator is in place to manage the airport. Chancellor Rachel Reeves has pledged government support for the reopening.
