As the campaign to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) reaches a critical regulatory breakthrough, local business leaders are issuing a direct challenge to new Prime Minister Andy Burnham. With a crucial public consultation on reinstating airspace now underway, the pressure is on the government to provide the national backing and infrastructure investment required to secure the airport’s future and drive regional growth.
Call for national support as green light goes ahead
Newly appointed Prime Minister Andy Burnham is facing an immediate test of his commitment to regional economic growth as the campaign to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) reaches a critical regulatory milestone. The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has officially given the green light for a public consultation on reinstating the controlled airspace around the site. This consultation, which runs from Aug. 3 to Oct. 4, is a mandatory regulatory requirement that must be met before commercial flight operations can safely return. With regional partners having already done the heavy lifting to reach this stage, local business leaders are now urging the new prime minister to provide national backing for what they describe as a “transformational economic project” for South Yorkshire and the wider North.
Dan Fell MBE, chief executive of Doncaster Chamber, stated:
“Every time the business community has stepped in, it has been to remind decision-makers of the strength of support behind this project.” He added: “The economic prize is significant and becoming clearer every day.” And his message to Burnham is direct: “DSA is exactly the kind of ambitious regeneration project that deserves Government backing… including a railway station serving the airport.”
Business leaders this week have met to discuss commercial prospects
After being deemed unviable by owners the Peel Group, the airport (DSA) was closed in November 2022, removing a key aviation asset from the North’s network. Since this closure, local partners have spent nearly four years assembling an operator, securing site control, and preparing the technical groundwork needed for regulatory approval. The CAA’s consultation is the first major step forward in formal aviation progress since the shutdown.
Christian Foster, director for FlyDoncaster Ltd, highlighted the significance of this step, stating:
“Being able to go out to public consultation around our airspace is one that is absolutely crucial.”
He then stressed the importance of community involvement, noting:
“As a community asset, it’s vital that we engage with those who live and work nearby.”
Momentum is also building commercially, as over 100 businesses attended a “Meet the Buyer” event on July 20, signalling the urgency for aviation-linked supply chain opportunities. However, business leaders are insisting that reopening alone is not enough. They argue that DSA needs national investment, specifically a dedicated railway station, to expand passenger catchment, support route development, and relieve pressure on the East Coast Main Line.
Regarding aviation readiness, Foster added:
“Reaching another milestone in this process allows us to accelerate the good work that has already been done to engage with airlines and operators.”
The CAA will use consultation feedback to determine the next stage of the airspace approval process. Meanwhile, DSA’s broader economic potential and whether Burnham will back the infrastructure required to make the airport viable long-term is set to dominate discussion during a panel session at the South Yorkshire Development Update in September.
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