Doncaster Sheffield Airport

The airport was opened as Finningley Airfield in 1915.

During the First World War, it was a base for the Royal Flying Corps to intercept German Zeppelins targeting industrial cities of Northern England. In the Second World War the airfield was primarily used for training,[4] serving RAF Bomber Command crews; only a few combat missions took off from Finningley. It was a key facility for nuclear-armed Vulcan bombers in the Cold War before downgrade to training in the 1970s / 1980s and decommissioning by 1995.[5]

1999 purchase by Peel.

Following the end of scheduled services from Sheffield City Airport, former RAF Finningley was reopened as Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (DSA) in April 2005. Low-cost flights and rising passenger demand made a new commercial airport feasible.[6] The name of the airport was controversial and 11,000 people signed a petition to oppose it.[7]

The airport's first commercial flight flew to Palma de Mallorca, departing at 09:15 on 28 April 2005.[8][9] The airport was projected to serve at least a million passengers during 2006. The actual figure for its first year was 899,000, making the airport the 23rd largest in the UK. By August 2007, 2.28 million passengers had transited.

Long haul flights to North America began in summer 2007, with short-lived Flyglobespan routes to Hamilton, Ontario (for Toronto), and Thomsonfly to Orlando, Cancún and Puerto Plata. In 2007, over one million passengers used the airport, however, this had decreased to around 700,000 by 2012, before increasing again to 1.255 million in 2016.[2]

In April 2010, easyJet began flights from Doncaster to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Faro, Palma de Mallorca and Prague. They were expected to carry 300,000 passengers in the first year[10] but ceased from 4 January 2011.

Peel Group sought outside investment and in 2010 Vantage Airport Group, the former Vancouver Airport Services, agreed to buy a 65% stake in Peel's airports,[11] but following a decline in passenger numbers[12] Peel bought back the stakes in Durham Tees Valley[3][13] and Robin Hood Airports in 2012.[14] As a result, by January 2013 only Liverpool John Lennon Airport was 65% owned by Vantage Airport Group.[15] Robin Hood Airport was once again wholly owned by Peel,[16] and it majority owned Durham Tees Valley Airport, local councils retaining a minority stake. In 2014, Peel also recovered full ownership of Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

In September 2016, Doncaster Sheffield Airport became Sheffield United Football Club's official air travel provider. Promotion included advertising at Bramall Lane Stadium and provision of some free flights to the club's fans.[17]

December 2016 rebranding included a change of name to Doncaster Sheffield Airport, with the Robin Hood label downgraded, and in September 2017 Sheffield Arena was renamed to Fly DSA Arena.[18]

In October 2019, Flybe closed its facility at the airport, relocating crew and aircraft,[19] though Wizz Air based two aircraft there in 2020.[20][21]

In June 2022, Wizz Air announced it would terminate the majority of its flights from Doncaster/Sheffield,[22] stating that the airport operators were "unable to guarantee the terms of its commercial agreement".[23] This would leave TUI Airways as the airport's sole regular customer.[22]

In July 2022, the airport's board said aviation activity at the site "may no longer be commercially viable" and that there would be a six-week consultation into the airport's future.[24][25] Peel L&P stated the airport had "never achieved the critical mass required to become profitable".[26] The closure proposal drew strong local reaction, with an on-line petition established by local interest group Yorkshire Plane Spotters citing concerns over the loss of local employment opportunities, to the overall detriment of the region.[27]

Robin Hood statue at Doncaster Sheffield Airport

In late August 2022, the consultation period was extended until 16 September, with the result of the consultation announced on 26 September.[28][29][30] On 26 September, it was announced the airport would start winding down activity from 31 October 2022, after 17 years of operation. The airport's sole based operator, TUI, operated its final flights on 4 November 2022.[30]

Wizz Air announced it would transfer its Doncaster/Sheffield routes to Leeds Bradford Airport.[31] They operated the airport's final scheduled departure on 29 October 2022.[32] Arrivals of inbound flights continued until 4 November 2022.[33]

The local authority covering the airport, Doncaster Council, made an application for a judicial review in an attempt to question the legality of the closure process.[34] However, the application was refused.[35] Subsequently, the Mayor of Doncaster stated that the council was beginning the process of attempting to compulsorily purchase the airport and bring it into public ownership.[36]

There has been increasing public support for the re-opening of the airport with a ongoing online petition gathering over 100k signatures, a GMB trade union petition with 100k+ signatures that was handed in to the Department for Transport in October 2022,[37] a growing facebook group campaign to push for the re-opening of the airport[38] and support from several MP's from the towns and counties surrounding the airport.[39][40][41]

As part of the process of winding down operations at the airport, air traffic control service was withdrawn on 3 December 2022.[42] In addition, the UK Civil Aviation Authority began the formal process of downgrading the airspace surrounding the airport from controlled to uncontrolled, due to the expected decrease in large aircraft movements in the area following the closure of the airport.[43]

As of March 2023, there have been no takeover offers or talks for months according to Peel.[44] South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority previously offered to subsidise Peel's losses operating the airport for two years whilst negotiations with a buyer took place but that was rejected,[45][46] as was an acquisition proposal from Doncaster City Council.[47][48]

On 2 April 2023, there were rumours that the airline could reopen with confirmation from the Peel Group. However, no official statement has been made from DSA or Peel. The Council have considered leasing the airport and re-opening it to the public.[49]

On 12 April 2023, the City of Doncaster Council's cabinet supported a request for £3.1 million worth of funding towards the legal and programme costs associated with a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) if it is required following all other avenues, such as a sale or lease, are exhausted. There has also been an offer to the council of a lease to take over the site with Peel as landlords. Conversations are still ongoing regarding this and one of the steps is to negotiate what that could look like legally.

Finally, the council is proposing to put in place planning restrictions to ensure the airport site does not lose its essential buildings and infrastructure without first obtaining planning permission. This is known as an Article 4 Direction which in this case would mean planning permission is required before any buildings are demolished at the airport.[50]

The programme to re-open DSA has been called South Yorkshire Airport City. It aims to see the airport re-open and grow a cluster of businesses and commercial activity that complements traditional aerospace functions.

In September 2023, 1 year after DSA announced they would be closing, the mayor stated there could be 'light at the end of the tunnel'. He also stated the hunt was on to reopen the airport by March/April (spring) of 2024. [51][52]

Apron view

The airport had a single runway designated 02/20, with dimensions of 2,895 by 60 m (9,498 by 197 ft), making it longer and wider than those at many other airports in Northern England. This stems from the airport's history as a former long-range nuclear bomber base (RAF Finningley). The runway was long enough that the airport was designated a Space Shuttle emergency landing site.

The passenger terminal had 24 check-in desks, six departure gates and three baggage carousels.

A Ramada Encore chain hotel opened on 10 November 2008, with a 102-bed capacity.[53] It is situated less than ten minutes walk from the Terminal building.

There are four on-site car parks at the airport: Short Stay, Long Stay, Premium Parking and Meet & Greet. All car parks are operated and managed by the airport and are all within walking distance of the terminal building.[54]

Work is also progressing on a new business park across from the terminal, which will link to the access road into the airport. In March 2014 the 10-hectare (25-acre) site for the park became part of Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone.[55]

No. 3 Hangar was occupied by 2Excel Aviation providing Design, production and Maintenance services. Defence company BAE Systems formerly operated its Aircraft Maintenance Academy from No. 3 Hangar at the airport, before moving to Humberside Airport. Other companies that operated within the hangars included Bespoke Training Systems Limited, a Cessna Citation service centre,[56] and Anglo European Express (Doncaster) Ltd (onsite regulated agents for air freight and cargo operations).

The airport was home to Yorkshire Aero Club[57] who provided training for fixed wing aircraft and Hummingbird Helicopters[58] who provided training for rotary wing aircraft. Yorkshire Aero Club and Hummingbird Helicopters provided introductory flying lessons and training towards the Private Pilot's Licence for aeroplanes and helicopters respectively.

The airport is located close to the M18 motorway; a road link from Junction 3 of the M18 to Parrot's Corner (junction of the A638 and the B6463) was opened on 29 February 2016[69] before being extended to the airport on 15 June 2018.[70] Part of the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme, the road is called the Great Yorkshire Way, and is a continuation of the A6182 road from Doncaster town centre. In addition the M18 has been widened to three lanes northbound from junction 2 (for the A1(M)) to Junction 3. Also nearby are the A1(M) and the M180.

Taxis are available directly outside the terminal building. These are operated by the airports official partner Little Arrow Taxis.

There are regular First South Yorkshire bus services directly linking the airport with Frenchgate Interchange.

The 57a and 57c bus services link the airport with Doncaster town centre calling at a number of local areas along the journey before arriving at Doncaster Frenchgate Interchange.[71]

Doncaster railway station, located on the East Coast Main Line, is 7 mi (11 km) from the airport and is adjacent to the Frenchgate Interchange.

In addition, the airport lies alongside the Doncaster to Lincoln railway line, and plans for a station at Finningley to replace the station that closed in 1961 were granted planning permission in 2008. However, a 2012 report by Network Rail stated that more trains on the line would be required to make the station viable.[72] There have also been plans to connect the airport to the East Coast Main Line with a dedicated rail link.[73]

• Delve, Ken (2006). The Military Airfields of Britain – Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire. Marlborough: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.