Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening takes “crucial” step forward, amid funding uncertainty
Plans to reopen the airspace around the airport have gone out to consultation
The reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport has taken a “crucial” step forward as airspace proposals at the site will progress to public consultation.
FlyDoncaster Ltd (FDL), the City of Doncaster Council’s arms-length operator for the airport, announced on July 16, 2026, that its airspace application to the Civil Aviation Authority will be seeking feedback from the public from August 3, 2026, to October 4, 2026.
FDL director Christian Foster said: “A reopening project of this scale includes a number of important milestones, but being able to go out to public consultation around our airspace is one that is absolutely crucial.
“We want to hear the views of people from across Doncaster and beyond, so that they can have a meaningful say about the airspace connected to this airport.”
The news comes amid continued uncertainty over future funding for the project, following a private briefing for city councillors where officials said funding could “run out” by September 2026.
Multiple sources with knowledge of the briefing said that if £160million in funding is not released by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority by its Board meeting that month, then the reopening “is over basically”.
The funding is subject to the successful renegotiation of the airport lease with the landowners, the Peel Group.
Any details of the renegotiation have been kept strictly confidential, however, both Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones and the South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, have claimed there has been positive progress.
When the consultation on the airspace opens in August, members of the public will be invited to view detailed plans and submit their views, both online and at dedicated in-person sessions, including:
Thursday 13 August 2026, 2pm-7pm. Bawtry Mayflower School, Station Road, Bawtry, Doncaster, DN10 6PU
Wednesday 19 August 2026, 2pm-7pm. St. Joseph’s Parish Centre, 101 Wingfield Ave, Worksop, S81 0SF
Wednesday 2 September 2026, 2pm-7pm. Finningley Village Hall, Rectory Ln, Finningley, Doncaster, DN9 3DA
Thursday 10 September 2026, 2pm-7pm. Thornesians Rugby Club, Church Balk, Thorne, Doncaster, DN8 5BU
Saturday 19 September 2026, 10:30am-2:30pm. The Corn Exchange, Market Place, Doncaster, DN1 1NG
Confirmation that the proposal has passed stage three has not yet been confirmed on the CAA’s airspace portal, where the progress of the application can be tracked online.
Doncaster Council is looking to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport using public money.
It was closed in 2022 after Peel, who had operated the site for a number of years, stated it was no longer commercially viable.