Statement: The future of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport

Since Peel Group announced the closure of Doncaster-Sheffield Airport back in 2022, 2Excel has been continuously engaged with City of Doncaster Council to support the local authority’s ambition to reopen the airport.

Doncaster airport is a nationally significant, strategic asset that should never have been allowed to close. The loss of 2Excel’s Main Operating Base has cost our Company millions of pounds in additional expenses from being forced to relocate our aircraft and engineering functions to a clutch of other airports.

We are greatly appreciative of the Council’s tireless efforts to take on a lease for the DSA site and its determination to restore commercial air transport. While returning Doncaster’s facilities to what we previously enjoyed may take many months, we are together exploring options that would enable unlicensed flights to and from the site, similar to how we operate at Lasham airfield, home of our sister company 2Excel Engineering, until such a time that Doncaster reopens to commercial traffic.

We want to reiterate our support for City of Doncaster Council and the fantastic work they’ve completed so far, never losing sight of the end goal of reopening the airport by partnering with an established operator. Reopening would see 2Excel restart flight operations from Hangar 3, bringing back high-value, highly-skilled and well-paid jobs to the local area and pave the way to increase our presence at the site to match our Company’s ambitious growth plans.