An environmental group have voiced concerns about the planned re-opening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) next year.
Last month, City of Doncaster Council approved a one-off £10 million funding package to continue with re-opening DSA, previously known as Robin Hood Airport, in Spring 2026. That figure was also matched by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority.
But environmentalists have criticised the decision, saying flying makes up a significant and ever-growing proportion of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions.
A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Climate Alliance, Chris Broome, said: “Reopening Doncaster’s airport would be completely incompatible with a serious and adequate response to the climate emergency.
“It is also less fundamental to people’s well-being than other sectors, such as housing, energy and land transport, all of which are also failing to ‘decarbonise’ rapidly enough through existing efforts.
“We are also aware that experts are seriously questioning the soundness of the confidential business case for the airport.
“That case will fall apart if much-needed and proportionate measures to moderate the number of flights people take, such as a frequent flyers’ tax, are introduced.”
Speaking in February, Mayor of Rotherham Ros Jones said: “The financial package will enable critical mobilisation works to continue and drive forward momentum in our drive to reopen the airport given its strategic importance to Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the North.
“The residents and businesses of Doncaster are behind us, proven by the over 130,000 people who signed a petition.
“This is the people’s airport and I will do all I can to ensure it drives forward economic success, new jobs, growth and prosperity.”
Once re-opened, DSA will be operated by FlyDoncaster, owned by the City Council, alongside Munich Airport International and FP Services UK.
The airport originally operated from 2005 to 2022, with its closure meaning that Sheffield is the UK’s largest city not directly served by a major airport.