BRITAIN’S biggest ghost airport is set to reopen next year after the council signed a £363million lease agreement.
After being closed for three years, Doncaster Sheffield Airport is set for take-off once again.
It will be run by council-owned company FlyDoncaster after the council signed a 125-year-long lease in March last year.
Munich International Airport will also provide operational and management services.
However, the council can exit the agreement after six years.
This break clause is possible if the project “proves unviable”, according to The Yorkshire Post.
Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones previously said they hoped to reopen the airport by spring 2026.
Council bosses also said they want “four to five airlines” to launch flights when they open.
Christian Foster, council programme director and director of FlyDoncaster, unveiled the ambitious plans at a council meeting in February 2025.
Mr Foster said: “Working with our advisers from Munich we are very clear we want to target a number of airlines and have already been having those conversations for over 12 months with certain airlines.
“Having a strategy where you only have an airport with one airline doesn’t work for Doncaster and hence we want a minimum of four to five and that’s where we are working at.”
He also added: “We are very keen to get our airspace returned back to 24 hours for next year.”
Before its closure, the airport operated flights to destinations like Spain and Cyprus.
This included TUI, who has already hinted at offering flights from Doncaster Sheffield Airport when it opens up again.
A TUI spokesperson previously said: “TUI has always supported Doncaster Sheffield Airport, proudly flying customers from the region and were disappointed when the airport closed.
“We’re excited about actively engaging with stakeholders about a potential re-opening.”
Two other UK airports with plans to reopen
Here are two other UK airports with relaunch plans.
- Plymouth Airport – Despite closing more than 13 years ago, the local council confirmed that it could one day reopen.
- Manston Airport – The Kent-based airport closed back in 2014 after it reported huge losses. Despite being closed for over a decade, airport bosses remain hopeful that passenger flights will one day resume, although it will need a huge overhaul
