German firm signed up as operator for airport

A subsidiary of Munich Airport has been revealed as the international firm that will help run Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), should it reopen.

Doncaster Council has been working with South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard to reopen the site since it closed in November 2022 after former operators Peel Group said it was no longer financially viable.

The local authority said German firm Munich Airport International (MAI) would "provide operational and management services" to FlyDoncaster, a company set up by the council to run the airport.

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones said the news was a "significant milestone" in the council's plans to reopen DSA by spring 2026.

Jones said MAI "bring a wealth of experience, capacity and influence".

The business, which will run DSA along with UK firm FP Airports, also manages Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport near New York, and is the management partner for airports in Bulgaria, Honduras, and El Salvador.

MAI's managing director Lorenzo Di Loreto said the company wanted to turn DSA into "a top modern and competitive UK airport".

According to the council, the travel hub could be profitable within five years of reopening and bring almost 5,000 direct jobs as well as creating up to 11,500 jobs in the wider economy.

However, last month it was revealed more than £100m of public money - low-cost loans from the council to be repaid over a total period of 50 years - will be needed to reopen DSA.

South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) previously agreed "in principle" to release £138m to the council to be used towards reopening the airport, "subject to the right deal being struck with the right partner".

A decision on whether to release the money is expected by summer.

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