Passenger flights unlikely to return until 2028

The date for passenger flights to return to Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been put back to Easter 2028, according to the City of Doncaster Council.

Agenda papers for an extraordinary meeting of the council to be held on 11 May, revealed the new estimated return date.

The meeting has been scheduled after Reform UK councillors revealed they want to reverse the decision to permit a £57m loan to pay for the reopening of the airport.

The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) have long suggested passenger flights would not return until well into 2028.

The agenda papers also include information on the future of the airport if the loan is rescinded.

The papers state that if alternative funding is not found the land "would have no future as an airport".

Additionally, it states it would not be possible to find alternative funding quickly enough to continue the reopening on the current timescales, resulting in further delays.

The council would also need to find alternative funding to close the airport project if no funding to continue the reopening is found.

If funding to close the project is not found, the council faces an increased risk of bankruptcy.

Reform UK has long stated it would prefer private investment in the airport – a position reiterated by Nigel Farage.

However, Reform UK Doncaster has not provided any indication of alternative funding options if they reverse the decision to fund the reopening of the airport.

Listen to highlights from South Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North