South Yorkshire’s proposed purchase of Doncaster Sheffield Airport puts public money behind a reopening plan that could restore flights and attract investment, but official papers warn of substantial commercial risk and losses in the early years.
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard is seeking approval for the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to buy the former airport and surrounding land from Peel Land. The airport closed in 2022 after its owners said it was no longer financially viable. The amount proposed for the acquisition has not been disclosed publicly, with officials citing commercial confidentiality.
What is being bought?
The transaction would bring the airport and more than 1,000 acres of adjoining development land into public ownership, according to the authority’s board papers. Supporters argue the site could accommodate freight, passenger services, manufacturing and jobs, rather than being judged solely on airline revenues.
The proposal follows years of campaigning since Doncaster Sheffield Airport shut in November 2022. Campaigners gathered more than 130,000 signatures in support of reopening.
How much would taxpayers pay?
The purchase price remains undisclosed. That should not be confused with the £160 million funding package conditionally approved in September 2025 for the broader Airport City programme. The authority proposes using borrowing supported by devolved funding, including £121.62 million of previously allocated gainshare funds retained to support the acquisition.
Gainshare is funding awarded under South Yorkshire’s devolution arrangements. Borrowing would be paid back over a period of up to 30 years, and putting that funding towards the airport means it cannot simultaneously be allocated to other local priorities.
Officials also examined the cost of leasing the site. The board papers indicate that the proposed turnover-rent structure could have imposed an estimated additional £60 million over 30 years. The purchase route changes the nature of the risk by moving ownership and a greater share of financial exposure to the combined authority.
What are the risks?
The combined authority’s own assessment identifies significant inherent commercial risk. All modelled scenarios envisage airport losses in the early years. Advisers also caution that the return of significant passenger operations could be delayed by several years in a less favourable scenario.
That makes the biggest question not simply whether the runway can reopen, but whether the airport can secure enough airlines, freight business and development activity to support its long-term finances. An operating loss does not automatically mean the entire regeneration project fails, but it does increase the importance of transparent reporting on the costs and economic benefits.
When could flights return?
In a Sky News report published on 27 October, the airport’s reopening team outlined a working ambition for freight services in autumn 2027 and commercial passenger flights around Easter 2028. Those are plans, not guaranteed opening dates. Regulatory, commercial and operational requirements still have to be met.
Could public ownership work?
Coppard argues the authority is stepping in where the private sector withdrew, in order to secure a long-term regional economic asset. Public ownership is not, in itself, unprecedented: Greater Manchester’s councils retain a majority stake in Manchester Airports Group. But Manchester operates an established airport business. Doncaster must rebuild its customer base from a standing start.
What we know and what remains unclear
- The airport closed in 2022 and the authority is pursuing purchase of the airfield and surrounding land.
- The proposed price is commercially confidential and cannot yet be independently assessed against the site’s valuation.
- The business plans project early operating losses, with uncertainty over passenger volumes and launch dates.
- The scale of ultimate taxpayer exposure will depend on the final deal, borrowing costs, operating performance and returns from surrounding land.
The authority’s board was due to consider the acquisition proposal at 3.30pm on 27 October. Approval, completion and transfer of ownership are separate steps. At the time of writing, we have not independently confirmed that the transaction has completed.
