DSA Set to Reopen by 2028 After SYMCA Vote

South Yorkshire leaders have unanimously backed the return of Doncaster Sheffield Airport – a £160m investment forecast to deliver thousands of jobs and billions to the regional economy.

At 2.30pm today, Oliver Coppard sat down with the rest of the board of the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to vote on the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA). The board, comprising Barnsley Council leader Sir Steve Houghton, Doncaster Council leader Ros Jones, Rotherham Council leader Chris Read and Sheffield Council leader Tom Hunt, had been debating the issue since the airport’s closure in 2022. Now, with enough economic backing, the airport is set to reopen by 2028.

Coppard explained his reasoning for voting in favour of the motion, balancing the protection of taxpayers’ money with the creation of job opportunities in the region. He described the airport as a perfect way to achieve both, saying: “This is the single biggest opportunity for well-made jobs.”

After attending the meeting, here are five key takeaways:

The vote was unanimous. Every member was impassioned about the cause and confident in the airport’s future.
The economic potential is vast. SYMCA has earmarked £160m for the project, with forecasts suggesting the airport could boost the regional economy by up to £5bn and create 5,000 jobs.
Sustainability is the number one priority. The authority is working with experts to research how best to decarbonise operations and adopt sustainable practices.
Public transport must improve. Plans are under way to build better transport links around the airport as early as possible – reducing carbon emissions and improving accessibility.
International expertise will be enlisted. Munich International Airport will provide management and operational support to FlyDoncaster, the new body overseeing the airport.

Commenting on the decision reached today, Carrie Sudbury, Chief Executive, Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber said: "The decision to re-open Doncaster airport today is a milestone moment for South Yorkshire and we welcome the decision reached today.

"Today marks the end of an extensive consultation period, which clearly laid out the strong business case for re-opening. I hope that with funding now secured and consultations completed, this marks the beginning of an exciting new phase which will ultimately see flights return to the skies in South Yorkshire.

"My hope is that the re-opening of Doncaster airport will act as a catalyst towards boosting growth across the region, helping to connect the truly unique and innovative work being delivered throughout South Yorkshire, as well as helping our business community to explore new opportunities within international markets. At the same time, the decision is likely to create many new jobs within the regional economy as well as helping to drive inward investment into South Yorkshire."