Sign in Subscribe
Airports

Ryanair Agrees to Meet with Fly Doncaster to Reconsider Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Ryanair has agreed to meet with Fly Doncaster, the company managing Doncaster Sheffield Airport on behalf of the City of Doncaster Council, to discuss the airline's position on returning to the airport, according to Labour MP Lee Pitcher. This development comes after the airline's boss, Michael O'Leary, previously suggested that returning to DSA would be "a hard sell" due to the Labour Government's increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD). However, Mr. O'Leary hinted that if the APD hike was scrapped, Ryanair could consider basing flights in Doncaster.

Key Takeaways:

  • Ryanair has agreed to meet with Fly Doncaster to discuss the possibility of returning to Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
  • The airline's boss, Michael O'Leary, previously suggested that returning to DSA would be "a hard sell" due to the Labour Government's increase in Air Passenger Duty (APD).
  • O'Leary hinted that if the APD hike was scrapped, Ryanair could consider basing flights in Doncaster.
  • The new timeline for reopening the airport has been pushed back, with the decision on releasing gainshare funding now due in September 2025.
  • City of Doncaster Council remains committed to reopening the airport by the spring of 2026.
  • The Mayor of Doncaster, Dan Jones, welcomed the news of Ryanair's agreement to meet with Fly Doncaster, emphasizing the importance of the Gainshare decision in September.
  • The Gainshare funding is crucial for the South Yorkshire Airport City project, which includes reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
  • Ryanair has previously condemned Labour's APD on short-haul low fare air travel by £2 per passenger, citing it as a burden on ordinary UK families traveling abroad.

Statistics:

  • 8 months left for project completion after potential Gainshare funding decision in September 2025.
  • £150m of taxpayers' money invested in the South Yorkshire Airport City project.
  • £30m of funding from the Government announced in April 2025.
  • £2 per passenger increase in APD on short-haul low fare air travel introduced by the Labour Government.
  • 5-6 years of rapid growth in passenger traffic at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Sources:

  • Lee Pitcher, Labour MP for Doncaster East and Isle of Axholme MP.
  • Mayor Jones, Doncaster Mayor.
  • Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire Mayor.
  • Ryanair (Michael O'Leary)
  • Sky News
  • Local Democracy Reporting Service (LocalGov)/Local Democracy Reporting Service (LocalGov)/ Doncaster Sheffield Airport and the Government

Read more