Plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport have taken a major step forward, with senior roles now being advertised and airline talks under way nearly three years after the site’s closure.
Recruitment continues this week with new advertisements for air traffic controllers, offering salaries between £55,000 and £65,000.
Christian Foster, Director of South Yorkshire Airport City, the programme overseeing the reopening, said: “These roles come hot on the heels of the three heads of service posts we advertised last month.
We are pressing ahead at pace in recruiting vital roles to help the airport reopen as soon as possible.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor, Oliver Coppard, said: “Reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport isn’t just about restoring flights – it’s about unlocking opportunity. DSA is a vital part of our plan to grow South Yorkshire’s economy, improve our connectivity, and build a region where people can stay near, and go far.
At the same time, TUI has confirmed it is considering a return, saying the airport had previouslt served its holiday customers well.
During a panel debate at the ABTA Travel Convention, TUI UK managing director Neil Swanson has said: “Clearly that is something we are talking about. We were in there before, it is part of an ongoing discussion.”
Another airline Jet2 has also not ruled out resuming operations, though the airline said no decisions has yet been made.
Munich Airport International has been secured to help support the reestablishment of operations over a multi-year period.
Doncaster Council has been pushing to reopen the airport by spring next year, but South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said in August that flights are “unlikely” to be fully operational before 2028.
On 12 November, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard will host a public meeting at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster.
Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from South Yorkshire’s Mayor and about the progress made so far, the challenges ahead, and how the reopening of DSA fits into South Yorkshire’s broader ambitions for economic growth, connectivity, and sustainability.
Originally opened in 2005 on the site of the former RAF Finningley base, Doncaster Sheffield Airport was once among the fastest-growing regional airports in the UK, handling more than a million passengers a year at its peak.