Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) is in its final stages of reopening, following the sudden closure of the airport late last year.
In November 2022, Doncaster residents were puzzled when the Peel Group, announced they were closing the airport due to unprofitability, despite the airport being voted 4 times consecutively as the UK’s best airport.
“It was a bit of a travesty, really,” said Mark Chadwick, former employee and founder and manager of #saveDSA.
Chadwick, 57, is the owner of Stadium Garage, a vehicle service centre in Doncaster.
He said the shutdown had affected many jobs, including 800 ex-airport employees and an estimate of 1900 indirectly associated jobs.
Mr Chadwick said: “I searched for information on the airport when it was announced they were considering closing it and couldn’t find anything, so I suggested setting up a Facebook group and see what happens.
“First week, 1,000 members. First month, 4,000. Now, we have more than 26,000 supporters involved in the group.
“We post updates from the local council, we are in the process of trying to agree terms to a lease with Peel, and we’re carrying out a procurement process to employ an operator and investors for the airport.”
Doncaster council is now on the verge of leasing the airport from the Peel Group and bringing the airport back to business.
They are currently awaiting a new airport operator and the right investors.
Chadwick expects the airport to reopen by at least 2025.
“I’ve been informed that there is very good interest in the reopening. It’s still in the process of waiting for an appeal to agree final terms and sign the lease to Doncaster Council,” he said.
According to the Financial Viability Assessment, the local economy is estimated to be boosted by up to £1.6 billion in the next 30 years by the reopening, and more than 15,000 jobs will be created.
What made the Peel Group change their minds?
Chadwick pointed out that the people’s voices were one of the main factors for how the airport managed to get so close to reopening.
“I don’t think they (the Peel Group) realised the public outcry that would happen,” he said.
“There was a petition set up from Yorkshire Plane Spotter on change.org – that got over 100,000 signatures.
“The biggest union based at the airport, the GMB union – they had a petition that got 15,000 signatures.”
The latest updates can be found on the #saveDSA facebook group.