Mayor Ros Jones said an as-yet-unnamed operator had been secured following a complex and lengthy procurement process, with a view to the airport reopening next year.
Update: Major European airport operator to support DSA reopening
However, Jones stressed that there were "several milestones" that had to be achieved before the aim of restoring commercial flight operations in spring 2026 could be realised.
These include liaising with government to unlock further funding via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, and making a case for why using public money is an "appropriate mechanism" to support efforts to reopen the airport.
City of Doncaster Council has also established a wholly owned limited company, FlyDoncaster, to run the airport in partnership with the chosen operator. The mayor’s proposals will go before a full meeting of the council late next month to seek final budgetary approval.
"I want to confirm to council and the people of Doncaster that we have an international airport operator, ready and waiting in the wings to work with us,” Jones told a meeting of the full council.
Jones said FlyDoncaster’s "key initial role" would be to "mobilise" efforts to reopen the airport by spring 2026, and stressed the tone was positive as various mechanics of the process go through council decision-making processes.
"We are not over the line yet, but we are nearly there," she added. "This is set to be the largest single investment in Doncaster for more than a generation, hence the considerable level of due diligence and our rigorous and logical approach to accomplish this monumental challenge of saving and reopening our airport."
Doncaster Sheffield shut in November 2022 after owner, Peel Group, said it was no longer financially viable. This followed several carriers pulling out of the airport, including Wizz Air, which was DSA’s last based airline.
Tui has also operated from the airport in the past, and last year said it was excited about the prospect of DSA reopening and was "keen to return".
Late last year, asked whether Jet2.com and Jet2holidays might put any capacity into a reopened DSA, chief executive Steve Heapy said Jet2 would be open to meeting with the airport "in the near future".
