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The previous Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) might stage a exceptional return to lively aviation after the native council signed a lease with the positioning’s proprietor, Peel Group.
The announcement got here 16 months after the South Yorkshire airport noticed its final departure. The ability occupies the positioning of a former air power base, RAF Finningley. It’s six miles from Doncaster and 19 miles from Sheffield.
The proprietor, Peel Group, stated on the time of the closure: “No tangible proposals have been acquired relating to the possession of the airport or which deal with the basic lack of monetary viability.”
Within the autumn of 2022, the then-prime minister Liz Truss vowed to “defend this airport and this infrastructure” however took no precise steps to reserve it.
Now, although, the mayor of Doncaster, Labour’s Ros Jones, has signed a deal for the native council to take over the airport.
Ms Jones posted on X: “Right this moment I can announce that we’ve signed a 125-year lease for the previous DSA which can assist to make sure the way forward for the airport web site with the ambition to see planes flying as soon as extra from Doncaster.”
The mayor later stated: “It is a main step within the reopening course of. The subsequent is appointing an operator and investor who will handle and develop the airport.
“This course of is effectively underneath approach and I’m optimistic that I can announce a partnership later within the spring.”
It isn’t clear which airport operator is likely to be excited by operating DSA. Manchester Airports Group, which owns Stansted and East Midlands in addition to Manchester, is unlikely to develop into concerned in a undertaking that might dilute its present enterprise.
If and when the airport opens, Doncaster Sheffield might have a brand new title. When first opened to passengers in 2005, it was often known as Robin Hood airport.
The aviation schedule analyst, Sean Moulton, stated the brand new operator would discover it “powerful” to convey airways right into a revived Doncaster Sheffield airport and to make it worthwhile.
“It wasn’t profitable underneath earlier possession, and with airways showing to consolidate at bigger airports, it’ll be a problem.”
Doncaster Sheffield has 4 competing airports inside an hour’s drive. It’s 28 miles from Humberside, 38 miles from Leeds Bradford, 46 miles from East Midlands and 53 miles from Manchester.
