South Yorkshire Chambers Respond to Doncaster Sheffield Airport Airspace Consultation

The three South Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce – Barnsley & Rotherham, Doncaster, and Sheffield – have submitted a letter of support to City of Doncaster Council’s Doncaster Sheffield Airport Airspace Change Proposal, underlining the airport’s catalytic role in driving South Yorkshire’s economy. They highlighted the positive implications the reopening will have on the region’s growth and reputation as a great place to do business.

In their response, the Chambers stress that reinstating controlled airspace is a critical step toward the swift reopening of DSA, central to the South Yorkshire Airport City programme. With 17 years of proven safe and efficient operation, this airspace offers greater predictability than new procedures and is key to ensuring timely airport reopening.

The Chambers reinforce the forecast that this project is expected to create around 5,000 high-quality, future-facing careers and deliver significant inward investment. The Chambers highlight the importance of freight capability as a key component of the airport’s future success, aligning with South Yorkshire’s strong manufacturing and export profile.

They also support the call for operational flexibility, including minimal restrictions on flight timings, to ensure the airport can meet the needs of business travellers and cargo operators. These factors have the potential to drive international growth for local businesses and bring increased investment into the region and thereby underpinning Mayor Coppard’s South Yorkshire Growth Plan 2025-35.

Dan Fell, Chief executive of the Doncaster Chamber said: "Doncaster Sheffield Airport is South Yorkshire’s flagship regeneration project. Reinstating its airspace is fundamental to delivering jobs, investment and connectivity for our region. The business community stands firmly behind this process and urges swift progress."

Louisa Harrison-Walker, Chief Executive of the Sheffield Chamber, added: “Reliable air connectivity underpins competitiveness, investment and international trade. The reinstatement of controlled airspace at Doncaster Sheffield Airport will play a critical role in supporting the region’s businesses, particularly those operating globally. A flexible, freight enabled airport is essential to futureproofing South Yorkshire’s economy.”

Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive of the Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce said: “Reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport is a once in a generation opportunity for South Yorkshire. Restoring the airport’s-controlled airspace is a proven, safe solution that will unlock growth across advanced manufacturing, logistics and exports — sectors that are vital to our local economy. We strongly support the swift reinstatement of the former airspace structure to keep momentum moving.”

Support for the reopening of DSA across the South Yorkshire Business Community, whilst not unanimous, is strong. The three Chambers have consistently shown their support, on behalf of the majority view, for the economic growth catalyst that is the DSA.

Recognising the need for swift progress, the Chambers support reinstating the tried-and-tested airspace structure that operated safely for more than 17 years, describing this as the quickest safe route to reopening. They reaffirm their commitment to working with partners to ensure DSA reopens for freight in 2027 and passenger services in 2028.