A new financial report forecasts a ‘likely’ operating loss of £81.1m in the first nine years of the Doncaster Sheffield Airport operation.
The City of Doncaster Council’s cabinet will meet next week to discuss whether they support the funding requirements outlined in the report.
The Mayor for Doncaster, Ros Jones, said: “Fully reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport is my number one priority.
“I have said all along that reopening the airport is a massive undertaking but one that is vital for the future prosperity, well-being and economic growth of our city, our region and UK PLC.
“The Cabinet report appraises where we are today and sets out with clarity and probity the challenges and opportunities that are inherent in a programme of this size and scale.”
After that initial nine year period, the report expects the business will become profitable, earning up to £230.2 million in total profit before tax and interest.
It also highlights other essential airport functions such as the annual site operational costs of between £5.5m to £9.4m over 24 years of operation which is the timeframe of the financial plan.
In next weeks cabinet meeting on 5 November, there will also be an overview of the airport’s reopening journey to date including the financial support from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and the Government.
The report states that: “Therefore, a proposition that utilises external resources for the purpose of reopening the DSA which acts as a catalyst for housing, jobs, skills and economic growth are hugely significant to Doncaster.
“The rationale for the recommendations is to provide the very best possible scenario for Doncaster, simply there is no other proposition that can deliver this impact and scale of opportunities.”
City of Doncaster Council’s Cabinet, meeting next week (Nov 5), is being asked to support the funding requirements needed to progress the airport’s full reopening as well as an overview of the airport’s reopening journey to date.
— City of Doncaster Council (@MyDoncaster) October 29, 2025
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In total up to £160m is available across a range of funding mechanisms to support the airport relicensing process and early operations in order to get the airport fully operational.
Mayor Ros Jones added: “The ambition is that the airport does become a success story for Doncaster and South Yorkshire.
“The report, which Cabinet is being asked to support, sets out the range of factors that come into play to make this happen, including approving the finances and setting the timeframe for economic profit.
“This could be significant after a relatively short space of operating time, given the length of the programme, in under ten years to multi-million-pound forecasts of profitability.”
The funding provided to FlyDoncaster Ltd is a loan from CDC, which will be paid for through the SYMCA funding approved in September.
These loans to FlyDoncaster are set to be repaid to CDC in full and with interest.
The report also states that the airport and Gateway East will bring in ‘considerable’ business rates, with an investment zone destination, this could cover the 25 year plan result in around £300m of income.
If plans are approved, the decision in relation to the additional borrowing requirements will then progress to Full Council which meets on November 27.