Doncaster Sheffield airport owners, The Peel Group, have said there are no new takeover offers despite rumours of interested parties, but insist they remain open to negotiation.
It is now five months since the closure of the airport and the future of the site is still very uncertain.
Why did the airport have to close?
Doncaster Sheffield airport closed in November 2022 after having never made a profit according to the owners.
Before the closure, Ros Jones, the Mayor of Doncaster said on twitter: “I will continue to do all I can to save DSA. I have already initiated legal steps with the aim of preventing the removal of critical infrastructure.”
Who are the owners?
The Peel Group is a property development company that owns the airport land and everything on it.
They turned down an offer from an investor in November and since then have said they are open to talks.
What was the public reaction?
The uncertainty surrounding the progression of talks has led to frustration.
Spencer Davies, 34, aviation enthusiast, has taken to writing letters to The Peel Group after they blocked him on twitter.
He said: “The absolute worst case scenario in my opinion is the government doesn’t back Doncaster council and South Yorkshire authorities and Peel ultimately win and get the airport land.
“We then lose an airport which has got fantastic facilities given its age, it loses the heritage of the runway… it makes no sense to get rid of the airport in my eyes.”
Who opposes the decision?
Doncaster Sheffield airport used to employ about 800 people and was one of the nations most popular airports.
The save DSA Facebook group now has over 20,000 members and opposition to the decision to close Sheffield Doncaster airport has grown throughout 2023.
Mr Davies, a member of the group, said: “I think PEEL didn’t give it a chance. There’s no way in hell’s chance they wanted the airport to work.
“It adds a lot to the region. You look at South Yorkshire in general, it’s a significant area in history where it never got massive investment. We finally have a gateway and we get it taken away from us.
“By taking the airport away, what you’ve effectively done is shut down South Yorkshire in terms of a tourism factor.”
What happens next?
Doncaster council will continue to pursue ways of re-opening the airport as well as the Save DSA Facebook group and the civil aviation authority is to decide in the next few months whether the airspace should be closed which could be a huge factor in attracting potential buyers.