A consultation has begun into the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield airport after it closed almost four years ago.

The aviation hub ceased operations in 2022 after its operator said it was not financially viable, leaving South Yorkshire without a significant base for international flights.

Since its closure, local authorities and central government have explored ways to reopen the airport and restart passenger flights.

In an attempt to revive the airport, the City of Doncaster Council has launched a consultation which will remain open for responses until midnight on 4 October 2026.

It will gather views of residents, businesses and stakeholders about the proposal to reinstate controlled airspace, allowing airlines to operate on new flight routes.

In a consultation summary document, the council makes a case for bringing flights back to the area, saying that the reopening would support thousands of new jobs across advanced manufacturing, engineering, logistics and green technologies.

It also acknowledges concerns residents may have about the impact on their daily lives. The document admits there will be increases in noise for some areas, but suggests that flights will only have a negligible impact on local air quality.

After the airport closed, the city council secured a 125-year lease for the site from the previous owners and began work to reinstate its airport licence, which is ongoing.

In the interim, the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) removed the site’s controlled airspace status, meaning air traffic control can no longer operate.

The consultation feedback will be used in a final proposal to the CAA to see its controlled airspace reinstated. The proposal will be submitted in January 2027, with the intention of receiving a response by May 2027.

The council hopes that the airport can reopen as early as 2027 for freight movements that do not require airspace change, ahead of the controlled airspace being reinstated in 2028 if all goes to plan.

After reinstatement, the council would like to see at least three departures daily from the airport, rising up to 17 a day by 2037, which by then would equate to 12,329 departing flights per year.

Local residents and businesses are invited to give their views on the airspace change on the council’s portal.

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