Plans to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport have reached what airport leaders describe as a key milestone, after the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) published the first findings from the airport’s Airspace Change Proposal (ACP) process.
Securing controlled airspace around the site is considered central to the airport’s relaunch strategy, as it would provide greater operational freedom in attracting both passenger airlines and freight operators.
The documents published by the CAA cover the outcomes of the first two stages of the process and will now allow airport management and its consultants to refine the proposal ahead of a public consultation.
Christian Foster, director of airport operator FlyDoncaster, said the airport has always been clear that dedicated controlled airspace is essential if the site is to reach its full commercial and operational potential.
He added that feedback received so far has been broadly positive, including supportive comments from other airport operators, highlighting both the collaborative nature of the UK aviation sector and the wider recognition of what a reopened Doncaster Sheffield Airport could contribute.
The latest ACP documents also introduce a revised Option 3, which reduces the amount of controlled airspace requested — a key requirement from the CAA. This revised option is now expected to become the preferred approach going into consultation.
Foster stressed that the reduced airspace proposal would not restrict the airport’s growth potential in terms of air traffic movements, passenger throughput or cargo volumes, which are governed separately by planning policy. Current planning limits allow for around 40,000 annual air traffic movements, enough to support millions of passengers and hundreds of thousands of tonnes of freight.
Alongside the airspace work, reopening preparations are continuing on several fronts. Around 40 key positions have already been filled, and further recruitment is planned in the coming weeks and months, with the airport aiming to have around 200 staff on site by the end of the year.
Operational upgrades are also under way, including improvements to safety and security infrastructure such as new fire training facilities. Procurement is also progressing for critical airport equipment, including radars, air traffic control simulators and fire appliances.
