At her first prime minister’s questions in parliament, Liz Truss was asked about Peel Group’s planned closure of the airport, which it claims is unsustainable after Wizz Air closed its base there in June.

Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher thanked Truss for supporting his campaign and asked: “Will she now help further by writing to South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard and Peel Holdings chairman John Whittaker to remind them of their powers, duties and responsibilities to the people of South Yorkshire and beyond? 

“Will she use the full weight of her office on these decision makers to keep our Doncaster Sheffield airport open?”

Truss said she would ensure new transport secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan was “immediately on the issue”.

Truss added: “I can tell that she is – she is already contacting people in Doncaster and Sheffield to make sure that we protect the airport and protect that vital infrastructure and connectivity that helps our economy to grow.”

Truss had previously said the airport has a “viable future” in correspondence with Fletcher. A consultation procedure will end on 16 September, with 800 jobs said to be at risk if closure is confirmed.