Doncaster Sheffield Airport

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Doncaster Sheffield Airport (Template:Comma separated entries), formerly named and commonly referred to as Robin Hood Airport, was an international airport in Finningley near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England, in operation between 2005 and 2022. The site lies Script error: No such module "convert". south-east of the centre of Doncaster and Script error: No such module "convert". east of Sheffield. Plans to reopen the airport were announced in April 2025.

History

File:Leeds Bradford Airport to Warsaw Chopin Airport (27th March 2025) 018.jpg
Aerial view of Doncaster Sheffield Airport

1915–1995: RAF Finningley

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". The airport was opened as Finningley Airfield in 1915.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

During the First World War, it was a base for the Royal Flying Corps to intercept German Zeppelins targeting industrial cities of Northern England. In the Second World War the airfield was primarily used for training,[1]Template:Rp serving RAF Bomber Command crews; only a few combat missions took off. It was a key facility for nuclear-armed Vulcan bombers in the Cold War before downgrade to training in the 1970s / 1980s and decommissioning by 1995.[1]Template:Rp

2005–2016: Robin Hood Airport

Following the end of scheduled services from Sheffield City Airport, Peel Group opened former RAF Finningley as Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield in April 2005.[2][3] The Robin Hood label controversially referenced historical accounts placing him in nearby Barnsdale Forest not Sherwood Forest but 11,000 people petitioned to oppose the name.[4] In May 2006, Thomsonfly launched the first long-haul flight from Doncaster to Puerto Plata.[5]

Promoters initially hoped for 25 million passengers a year.[6] In 2007, one million used the airport. This decreased to 700,000 in 2012, before increasing to just 1.25 million in 2016.[7]

2016–2022: Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Robin Hood statue at Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Robin Hood statue by Neale Andrew at Doncaster Sheffield Airport

In December 2016, Robin Hood Airport rebranded as Doncaster Sheffield Airport.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Flybe closed its facility at the airport in 2019, relocating crew and aircraft,[8] though Wizz Air based two aircraft there in 2020.[9][10] However in 2022, it too announced the end of flights from the airport[11] stating the airport operators were "unable to guarantee the terms of its commercial agreement".[12] That left TUI Airways as the airport's sole regular customer.[11]

After an extended review and public consultation and the airport closed.[13][14][15] Peel proposed an expansion of their adjacent Gateway East property development[16] TUI operated the final flights on 4 November 2022,[16] and Wizz Air transferred its routes to Leeds Bradford Airport.[17]

Doncaster Council applied for judicial review of the closure process but was refused.[18] In response, the Mayor of Doncaster announced the council's intention to compulsory purchase.[19]

Nevertheless, air traffic control was withdrawn from the airport in December 2022,[20] and the Civil Aviation Authority began to reclassify surrounding airspace.[21]

Post-closure and reopening plans

After protracted negotiation,[22][23][24] in March 2024 the mayor of Doncaster obtained a 125 year lease over the airport.[25] That November, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority agreed to £3m funding of reinstatement activities and commercial negotiation,[26] as part of a £138m re-opening budget.[27]

On 6 December 2024, a utility aircraft, operated by 2Excel Aviation, landed at the airport, the first in over two years.[28]

In February 2025, Munich Airport International were appointed airport operators[29] for a potential reopening in spring 2026.[30] However, several industry commentators questioned Doncaster Sheffield Airport's viability.[31][32][33]

In late August 2025, the mayor confirmed there would be no commercial or passenger flights until at least 2028, with the airport not reopening in 2026 or possibly ever.[34][35]

Facilities

File:Three Thomson Airways 737-800s Parked at Doncaster Terminal.jpg

The airport has a single runway designated 02/20, with dimensions of Script error: No such module "convert".. It was designed for long-range nuclear armed bombers and so is wider than other commercial airports in the north of England.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The passenger terminal has 24 check-in desks, six departure gates and three baggage carousels.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

A 102-bed Ramada Encore hotel opened in 2008.[36]

There are four on-site car parks.[37]

Airport business park

In 2014, a Script error: No such module "convert". site on the airport's business park became part of Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone.[38]

Hangars

No. 3 Hangar was occupied by 2Excel Aviation providing Design, production and Maintenance services. Defence company BAE Systems formerly operated its Aircraft Maintenance Academy from No. 3 Hangar at the airport, before moving to Humberside Airport.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".Script error: No such module "Unsubst". Other activities within the hangars included from 2012, a Cessna Citation service centre.[39]

Flight training

The airport was home to Yorkshire Aero Club[40] and Hummingbird Helicopters.[41]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Statistics

Traffic statistics

Doncaster Sheffield Airport
passenger totals 2005–2019 (millions)
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color:blue width:20
bar:2005 from:start till:0.600907
bar:2006 from:start till:0.900067
bar:2007 from:start till:1.078374
bar:2008 from:start till:0.968481
bar:2009 from:start till:0.835768
bar:2010 from:start till:0.876153
bar:2011 from:start till:0.822877
bar:2012 from:start till:0.693661
bar:2013 from:start till:0.690351
bar:2014 from:start till:0.724885
bar:2015 from:start till:0.857109
bar:2016 from:start till:1.255907
bar:2017 from:start till:1.335590
bar:2018 from:start till:1.222347
color:darkblue
bar:2019 from:start till:1.407862

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Traffic statistics at Doncaster Sheffield[7]
Year Passengers
handled 		Passenger
% change 		Cargo
(tonnes) 		Cargo
% change 		Aircraft
movements 		Aircraft
% change
2005 600,907 Script error: No such module "sort". 31 Script error: No such module "sort". 6,914 Script error: No such module "sort".
2006 900,067 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 167 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 10,642 Increase 53.9
2007 1,078,374 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 1,602 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 12,667 Increase 19.0
2008 968,481 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 1,350 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 13,066 Increase 3.1
2009 835,768 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 344 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 10,854 Decrease 16.9
2010 876,153 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 216 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 11,030 Increase 1.6
2011 822,877 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 102 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 11,876 Increase 7.7
2012 693,661 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 276 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 11,724 Decrease 1.3
2013 690,351 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 354 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 11,197 Decrease 4.5
2014 724,885 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 858 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 11,697 Increase 4.5
2015 857,109 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 3,201 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 11,998 Increase 2.6
2016 1,255,907 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 9,341 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 16,098 Increase 34.2
2017 1,335,590 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 8,656 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 17,435 Increase 8.3
2018 1,222,347 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 7,107 DecreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 18,930 Increase 8.5
2019 1,407,862 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 17,647 IncreaseScript error: No such module "sort". 23,043 Increase 21.7

Busiest routes

20 busiest routes to and from Doncaster Sheffield Airport (2019)[42]
Rank Airport Passengers
handled		 % change
2018–19
1 Bucharest 96,612 Increase 52.0
2 Katowice 82,279 Increase 1.1
3 Gdańsk 80,842 Increase 10.1
4 Alicante 68,583 Increase 9.7
5 Warsaw 67,711 Decrease 1.5
6 Vilnius 58,793 Increase 43.3
7 Palma de Mallorca 55,197 Increase 4.4
8 Poznań 54,514 Increase 7.9
9 Tenerife–South 51,309 Decrease 0.6
10 Amsterdam 48,840 Decrease 16.2
11 Riga 43,937 Increase 3.6
12 Málaga 42,299 Decrease 12.5
13 Budapest 42,116 Increase 592.6
14 Cluj Napoca 41,165 Increase 14.3
15 Lanzarote 39,993 Increase 1.5
16 Kraków 39,345 n/a
17 Wroclaw 35,194 Decrease 1.4
18 Debrecen 33,605 Increase 2187.6
19 Dublin 29,779 Decrease 11.5
20 Paphos 24,528 Increase 9.4

Vulcan XH558

Script error: No such module "Labelled list hatnote". In 2011, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust flew Avro Vulcan XH558 to the airport, its former operational base. It was the last airworthy example of the Vulcan bomber fleet, restored to flight by the trust in 2007.[43] XH558's final flight was a display over the airport, on 28 October 2015.[44]

In 2022, the trust announced it would leave the airport because its lease could not be renewed.[45] Nevertheless, as of October 2024, the trust and XH558 remained at the airport awaiting negotiations with a new operator.[46]

As of October 2025, the trust had launched a new fundraising campaign, and hoped that the Vulcan could remain at Doncaster Sheffield as a static exhibit, despite the uncertain future ownership of the site.[47]

Ground transport

The airport is close to M18 motorway junction 3 and a road to it was completed in 2018.[48]

Doncaster railway station on the East Coast Main Line, and the Frenchgate Interchange are Script error: No such module "convert". away.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The airport abuts the Doncaster to Lincoln railway line, and plans for a station to replace one that closed in 1961 were granted planning permission in 2008. However, a 2012 report by Network Rail stated that more trains on the line would be required to make it viable.[49] There have been proposals for a dedicated link to the East Coast Main Line.[50]

Accident

On 15 August 2014, Jestream 31 G–GAVA, operating a Links Air flight from Belfast City Airport, crashed on landing at the airport following a landing gear failure; this caused substantial damage to the aircraft. One passenger was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The airport was closed for several hours.[51][52]

In media

In 2007, the airport featured in the BBC Two documentary Should I Really Give Up Flying? Brian Blessed explored local attitudes to flying and its impact on the environment.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

It has been a location for television series including ITV's Emmerdale,[53] BBC One's drama Hustle[54] and In the Club.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

The airport appeared in Four Lions[55] and was a setting for the BBC mockumentary Come Fly with Me. Matt Lucas and David Walliams spent two weeks at the airport filming.[56]

RAF Finningley was destroyed by a Soviet nuclear warhead in the 1984 TV film Threads.[57]

References

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  7. ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ The end for DSA? Aviation News November 2022 pages 6/7
  16. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  33. ↑ Doncaster Sheffield set for comeback Airliner World May 2024 page 22
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
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  47. ↑ Doncaster: Vulcan XH558 bomb-bay name appeal launched BBC News, 18 October 2023. Retrieved 21 October 2025
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Network Rail, Route Specifications 2012 – London North Eastern, p. 76
  50. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  55. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  56. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  57. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".

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External links

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