Munich Airport International will provide operational and management services to FlyDoncaster, the company set up by City of Doncaster Council to run DSA should it reopen.
Further support will come from FP Airports Ltd, a UK firm specialising in "strategies for retaining viable aviation infrastructure".
The latest steps in the mission to reopen DSA, which shut in 2022, were announced by mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, on Tuesday (4 February) and follow backing from chancellor Rachel Reeves in a recent major speech on growing the UK economy.
City of Doncaster Council said activity was already under way on restoring commercial flights, and stressed the latest developments would allow for progress specifically on restoring passenger flights. The council’s aim is for passenger flights to resume in spring 2026.
Last week, Jones said an "international operator" stood ready to step in and run the airport. DSA welcomed its first flight for two years late last year.
Jones said reopening DSA was her number one priority, and hailed the new partnerships "another significant milestone" that would bring "a wealth of experience, capacity and influence" to the plans. The mayor said a thriving DSA would serve as "a major economic stimulus for Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the North".
"The team at FP Airports has worked with us creatively to put together the right solution for DSA and we are confident the reopening and future operation of Doncaster’s airport is in good hands," said Jones, who reiterated her ambition to have the airport reopen in spring 2026.
Lorenzo Di Loreto, managing director of Munich Airport International, said: "Our mission is to participate in the development of the airport in Doncaster into a top modern and competitive UK airport and to make it an engine and driver for social, economic and environmental growth in Doncaster and its region.”
Raoul Witherall, FP Airports chief executive, added FP looked forward to playing a key role in reopening DSA and making it part of the city’s vision.
DSA shut after one of its few remaining major based airlines, Wizz Air, announced it was pulling out. Tui, which also operated from DSA, last year said it was "excited" by the plans to reopen DSA and "keen to return".
Jet2.com and Jet2holidays chief Steve Heapy late last year confirmed Jet2 would meet with officials working to reopen DSA to explore any opportunities there for the airline and operator. Jet2 has just opened its 12th UK base, Bournemouth, with its 13th – Luton – poised to open on 1 April.
