Doncaster Sheffield airport welcomes first flight in two years
Gary NoakesDoncaster Sheffield airport has hailed the first flight in two years as another step towards its reopening.
A search and rescue spotter aircraft has flown in for winter maintenance. Its owners, 2Excel, have a hangar at the airport but was forced to relocate its fleet when Doncaster Sheffield closed in late 2022. Doncaster mayor Ros Jones said reopening the airport was her “number one priority”.
She said: “We are still working steadfastly to reopen the airport by spring 2026 and there will be further news forthcoming in early 2025. Progress is going well and further updates will be given in the new year.”
Doncaster Council signed a 125-year lease on the airport in March but has yet to announce an operator for the site. The owners, Peel, claimed it was unviable after Wizz Air pulled out.
Both Tui and Jet2.com/Jet2holidays have voiced their interest, with Jet2 boss Steve Heapy recently saying he would “see what the opportunities are”.
Meanwhile, the Piper Navajo aircraft is due to take several more flights in the coming months. Andy Offer, 2Excel director and co-founder, said the company had stayed on at the airport following its closure in November 2022.
“Throughout the past two years, some 150 people have continued to work in Hangar 3, day in, day out,” he said. “City of Doncaster Council have never lost sight of the goal to reopen the airport and we’ve remained in constant contact.”
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Gary Noakes
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