South Yorkshire Businesses Meet Mayor to Discuss Future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport

The event, organised by South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) at the Mayor’s request, was supported by the three South Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce - Doncaster, Barnsley & Rotherham, and Sheffield. It was designed to give businesses with direct supply chain connections and commercial interests in the airport the chance to put forward their views and hear directly about the next steps.

Following a keynote address from Mayor Coppard, attendees engaged in a wide-ranging Q&A. Businesses asked whether there was sufficient funding to secure the airport’s reopening in the long term. The Mayor acknowledged that while there are no guarantees the combined authority had strengthened assurance processes to ensure robust and sustainable decision-making. Questions were also raised about the role of the private sector. Mayor Coppard confirmed that, although the public sector is currently leading the process, private investment is essential and will grow over time, from logistics, concessions to wider airport development. Attendees asked about ongoing discussions with international investors such as Holtec, and the Mayor confirmed that dialogue remains active and that Holtec continues to invest in the area, despite not securing a government contract for small modular reactors.

Businesses pressed on whether airlines were showing interest, and the Mayor confirmed that live commercial discussions are underway, with both low-cost carriers and freight opportunities very much part of the strategy. On the topic of freight and infrastructure, he emphasised that there is clear appetite for investment in this area, recognising the importance of logistics to the regional economy. When asked what long-term success would look like for the airport, Mayor Coppard said he wanted South Yorkshire residents to feel a real sense of ownership, to see good-quality jobs created, and for the project to become financially sustainable. He stressed that his focus on delivering lasting prosperity for the region.

Jade Dyer, Chief Operating Officer at Doncaster Chamber, said:

“Today’s event organised by SYMCA represents a further significant milestone in the collective efforts to secure the reopening of South Yorkshire’s airport. It was reassuring that while not pre-empting the formal decision expected, Mayor Coppard underlined both the scale of the opportunity and his personal determination to pursue it. On behalf of our members, we await a positive outcome in the coming weeks.”

Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber, added:

“This was a vital opportunity for the businesses most directly affected by the airport’s closure to make their voices heard. Our members are clear that the airport is not just a transport hub but an economic driver for South Yorkshire and beyond. The Mayor’s commitment to listening to business and putting their concerns at the heart of his decision-making is encouraging.”

Louisa Harrison-Walker, Chief Executive of Sheffield Chamber, and co-chair of Mayor Coppard’s Business Advisory Board said:

“Reopening the airport is about more than connectivity - it’s about jobs, skills, investment, and confidence in our region. The Mayor has been candid about the challenges still ahead, but also resolute in his determination to deliver. That balance of realism and ambition is what our members wanted to hear.”

The meeting closed on a note of cautious optimism, with businesses emphasising that while engagement remains ongoing, the focus now turns to awaiting the formal decisions and seeing how plans for the airport develop in the coming weeks.