South Yorkshire Mayor pledges to try to keep Doncaster Sheffield Airport open

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard has said he will do everything he can to keep Doncaster Sheffield Airport open.
By Julia Armstrong
Published 19th Aug 2022, 13:02 BST
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In response to questions put during an event held at the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield to mark his first 100 days in office, Mayor Coppard said that airport operator Peel Group had been “disrespectful” not to let his office know sooner that it may no longer be viable.

The operation was hit by the effects of Covid on the travel industry and then by the decision of airline Wizz Air to pull out.

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Mayor Coppard said that a working group had been set up to look at the airport’s future. He added: “You’re looking at the commercial reality of running that airport.

Passengers arriving at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which may be closed by owners the Peel Group after problems following the pandemic and the departure of Wizz Air. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said he is working to avert the threatPassengers arriving at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which may be closed by owners the Peel Group after problems following the pandemic and the departure of Wizz Air. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said he is working to avert the threat
Passengers arriving at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which may be closed by owners the Peel Group after problems following the pandemic and the departure of Wizz Air. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said he is working to avert the threat

“I want to keep it open and do everything we can to keep that airport open.”

‘My frustration is the lack of powers’

He pointed out, though, that owners Peel can “do what they like with their airport”.

Mayor Coppard said that Doncaster Council’s 15-year plan for the borough states that the area around the airport can only be used for aviation-related activities.

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South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard at an event held in the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield to mark his first 100 days in office. The mayor said he is working to avert the threat to the survival of Doncaster Sheffield AirportSouth Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard at an event held in the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield to mark his first 100 days in office. The mayor said he is working to avert the threat to the survival of Doncaster Sheffield Airport
South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard at an event held in the Millennium Gallery, Sheffield to mark his first 100 days in office. The mayor said he is working to avert the threat to the survival of Doncaster Sheffield Airport

He added: “My frustration is the lack of powers I have as Mayor of South Yorkshire to do something more fundamental than offer them money to go away.

“We need more powers and control. Assets of community value should be under our control.”

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He has previously said that taking the airport into public ownership would be a huge financial risk.

He said Teesside Airport, which was taken under control from Peel, has required a £20 million injection of taxpayers’ money after it struggled.

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Related topics:MayorSouth YorkshireWizz AirSheffield