Doncaster Sheffield to close due to 'lack of financial viability'

Peel said it received a letter from the mayor of South Yorkshire and mayor of Doncaster earlier this month, stating they had completed an economic impact study of DSA which identified its economic benefit to the region – yet provided no solution to its lack of financial viability.

Robert Hough, chairman of Peel Airports Group, said: "We recognise that this will come as a great disappointment to many. The intractable problem remains the fundamental and insufficient lack of current or prospective revenue streams, together with the airport’s high operating costs.

"Our employees have always been DSA’s greatest asset, and we are grateful to them all, past and present, for their dedication and diligence over the years. The immediate priority remains to continue engaging closely with them over the next few weeks."

Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen said: "My heart goes out to staff at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, with hundreds of jobs now at risk due to this unfortunate announcement, and to those local people who have lost their airport on Peel’s watch.

"This would have been us. It’s easy to get carried away with the progress we’re making at Teesside Airport – with the excitement of new flights, investment zones and private businesses like Willis investing £25 million – and forget that closure was the alternative if we didn’t bring it into public ownership three-and-a-half years ago."