A CLOSED down UK airport has moved another step closer to reopening following months of effort.
It’s been almost two years since Doncaster Sheffield Airport was forced to close its doors, but passengers are now expected to return there in the not-too-distant future.
Doncaster Council signed a new 125-year lease on the travel hub earlier this year, while a new operator is expected to be named by the end of next month.
What’s more, millions of pounds worth of grants have been approved for the airport, while airlines have expressed an eagerness to return to its runways.
And last week, Three MPs from Doncaster met the new Aviation Minister Mike Kane to discuss the airport’s future.
The minister revealed that he is working with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on its reopening and on reopening its airspace, to allow planes to land and take off.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, MP for Doncaster East and Axholme Lee Pitcher said: “Pleased to have met the Minister for Aviation & his team to discuss opening the airspace above Doncaster when needed – There was a strong commitment.
“Pleased to hear that the team are working closely with the CAA already to help allow the airspace to be available when required.”
Pitcher was joined in the meeting by Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband and Doncaster Central MP Sally Jameson.
The trio had previously written to the Aviation Minister to put forward the case for the airport’s reopening, urging him to prevent it becoming a “long and convoluted process”.
Their letter, published by Doncaster Free Press, reads: “As time is of the essence in our determination to re-open the airport, we strongly request that you as Aviation Minister intervene in preventing a long and convoluted new process that could place the airport; its operator and the airlines and freight companies at risk.
“A number of airline operators have already indicated a desire to commence operations at the Airport and it is likely that this will include a mix of low-cost, charter and full-service operators.
“Once the airport operator has been finalised in September, plans will be drawn up to re-commence general and business aviation traffic, with passenger operations to follow.”
Included in those airlines hoping to fly from the airport once it reopens is TUI, which confirmed earlier this year that it wants to use the hub again in the future.
The carrier was one of several that used to use the airport, which offered flights to places like Spain, Cyprus, Poland and Romania.
A TUI spokesperson previously said: “TUI has always supported Doncaster Sheffield Airport, proudly flying customers from the region and were disappointed when the airport closed.
“We’re excited about actively engaging with stakeholders about a potential re-opening”.
These are the airports in the UK that cater for the fewest passengers
Humberside stands out as the quietest UK airport with 136,976 terminal departures in 2023
Second on the list goes to Southend, as Southend-on-Sea airport had 146,072 departures
With 226,557 terminal passengers last year, Teesside International Airport will be one of the quietest for UK travellers
Norwich is also one of the quietest airports in the UK with 357,852
To round out the list, Cornwall airport in Newquay ranks inside the top 5 with 408,870 passengers
They aren’t the only ones looking forward to the airport’s reopening either.
Residents responded enthusiastically to Lee Pitcher’s post on X, with one writing: “Hope it’s soon, the people who flew from Doncaster Airport came from Nottingham, Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, even travelled from Newcastle.
“They all miss this great airport. Yorkshire needs another airport, the jobs it will create will boost our economy.”
It’s hardly surprising to see demand for the airport’s reopening, with Which? labelling it the best in the UK in 2022, the year it closed.
A consumer survey carried out by the consumer champions at the time found that customers were pleased with the airport’s “helpful staff” and “faultless service”.
Meanwhile, this tiny airport is one of the smallest in the UK and has flights to Spain and Bulgaria.
And this closed down airport could soon host holiday flights once again.
