REOPENING DSA: AN ECONOMIC PRIZE FOR BUSINESSES OF ALL SIZES AND SECTORS

Doncaster Sheffield Airport is set to reopen, marking the first major airport revival in a generation and delivering a transformative boost for South Yorkshire’s economy.

Yesterday, South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority committed up to £159.5 million to the project, building on £16 million already invested in site preparations, regulatory processes, and business case development.

Speaking after SYMCA’s funding approval, Doncaster Chamber Chief Executive Dan Fell said the move reflects the overwhelming backing of the business community.

“In the three years since Peel announced a strategic review of DSA, I’ve been able to count on one hand the businesses that have not been supportive of the campaign,” Fell said. “But let’s be clear: firms are not backing this simply to restore the underperforming airport that was lost. They want us to do it properly this time.”

That vision, he explained, is of an airport servicing millions of passengers, connecting to business-critical destinations, operating a mature freight and cargo hub, acting as a magnet for inward investment, anchoring a green aviation cluster, and creating high-value supply chain opportunities for local SMEs.

The reopening will also underpin the South Yorkshire Airport City development at Gateway East, an advanced industries hub for logistics, aerospace and manufacturing that will connect the region to global markets.

Fell described the moment as a milestone for Doncaster and South Yorkshire and paid tribute to civic leaders Mayor Oliver Coppard and Mayor Ros Jones, as well as the council officers who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

He reflected on the Chamber’s central role in the campaign: “In the early days, we brought Peel to the table with our public sector partners. We lobbied government and put businesses in front of both the Chancellor and Prime Minister to evidence industry support. And by working with fellow Chambers, the CBI, FSB, Make UK, the Cutlers Company and campaigners like Mark Chadwick, we’ve kept this issue in the public eye and demonstrated the opportunities it represents.”

The Chamber’s lobbying and convening role has been mirrored by strong business support across the region.

Steve McMenemy of Redline Assured Security said: “It’ll be great for us, great for our growth, for the local economy and the local population… you’ll get a great influx of people wanting to come back there and work there.” Mark Chadwick of Stadium Garage and the #SAVEDSA campaign group added: “When the airport opens, really you start the hard work then. The campaign’s not over – we’ll still be busy up until opening and probably beyond.”

Phillip Rodrigo, Master Cutler, underlined the wider significance: “Having Doncaster Airport is vital as an infrastructure hub to develop industry and commerce throughout South Yorkshire. It’s a real catalyst that will help drive prosperity for the region.”

Other regional businesses also welcomed the announcement.

Andrew Offer of 2Excel Group, which previously operated at DSA, said: “We have 600 employees and about 30 airplanes. Before DSA shut we had 200 people and 20 airplanes. We’re hiring about two people a week and want to bring most of our company back here. It means everything to us – that’s why we’ve stayed throughout, working closely with the council to get it reopened.”

The project has undergone extensive assurance and testing, including independent assessment of the Full Business Case, financial modelling, traffic forecasts, climate impact reports and surface access planning. The assessment concluded that the strategic vision is well aligned with both regional and national growth priorities.

Looking ahead, the Chamber also acknowledges that ongoing industrial action across the country - and the potential implications on this in the upcoming Employment Rights Bill - could pose risks to businesses and to a newly reopened DSA, underlining the need for continued dialogue and partnership on these issues.

The airport is projected to reopen for some charter and cargo flights in winter 2027, with scheduled commercial flights starting in summer 2028. Under higher-case forecasts, operating performance is affordable within the committed funding envelope, with future private investment expected to offset some of the MCA’s contribution.

Fell cautioned, however, that the work is only just beginning. “The aviation sector is fiercely competitive and we are only now at the end of the beginning. The really hard work starts tomorrow, and we need a fully joined-up Team South Yorkshire approach to make DSA a success over the next two decades. With apologies for the terrible pun, we’re in this for the long haul.”