About Us
We are Fly Doncaster Ltd, a newly formed operating company set up to mobilise, reopen and manage the running of Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Established by the City of Doncaster Council, we are committed to establishing a top-class regional airport and maximising its potential to bring economic growth to the region.
The Airport
Doncaster Sheffield operated as a commercial airport between 2005 and 2022. Today this means the site already boasts an established terminal, several hangars and top-class facilities. Having this infrastructure in place, alongside an excellent proximity to transport links, makes it the ideal location for both passenger and commercial flights.
27 November 25
Full Council backs financial support to reopen airport
This decision taken today (Nov 27) now means that the airport programme can progress.
Funding to fully reopen the airport of £193m has been secured from a mix of funds including £160m funding from South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), SY Local Growth Fund and City of Doncaster Council (CDC).
Full Council has approved up to £57m of borrowing to fund the upfront and reopening costs. These are not additional costs but a mechanism for providing the cash to support the reopening and funded by the resources that are part of the overall financial package approved by SYMCA in September.
Mayor Ros Jones welcomed the decision: “I would like to thank councillors who supported this critically important decision because without this funding support we would not be able to fully reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Had we not secured this cross party support the programme would have had to stop, that was the enormity of the decision taken by Full Council.
“This decision now underlines the council’s commitment and determination to see our airport fully reopen and is a significant moment in our reopening journey. I would like to thank councillors for their support. Thank you on behalf of Doncaster residents and businesses who want to see our airport open again.”
As part of the Council’s Constitution new additions to the Capital Programme and borrowing requirements require Full Council approval. To provide for the upfront investment and to secure the full reopening of the airport the Council needs to borrow the necessary funds which will be repaid in the future and won’t impact on the wider CDC budget. Councillors voted in favour of the borrowing proposal by 42 – 9.
“Fully reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport is set to be the largest single investment in Doncaster for more than a generation, with unrivalled economy opportunities for our residents and businesses,” added Mayor Jones.
“I know that the airport can be a huge success for Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the north.”
The report noted that reopening the airport would bring ‘bring the significant benefits forecast to Doncaster and the wider region in the form of skilled employment, inward investment, tourism, economic growth and increased economic resilience.’
It also sets out the financial details including that the borrowing would peak by 2032-33 before reducing and will not impact on the wider CDC budget. There is also the potential upside, detailed in the Cabinet report [November 5], if profits are generated as forecast, the loan payments from FlyDoncaster Ltd could repay the borrowing quicker. Cabinet was told that it is forecast that the airport could generate a pre-tax and interest profit of potentially up to £230m from 2035 up to 2049.
Over 8,700 have so far responded to an ongoing survey with 93% supporting the reopening. More information about the outcome of the poll will be shared before Christmas.
