Key Highlights
Here is a quick overview of what you should know about airports in Doncaster:
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Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), also called Robin Hood Airport, was the main international airport for people in South Yorkshire. The airport stopped serving passengers in November 2022.
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This airport started as a military base known as RAF Finningley, before it became used by the public as a commercial airport.
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Because of the closure, there are now plans to open Robin Hood Airport again, possibly around 2026. But full services at the airport may take more time.
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Right now, there are no airports in Doncaster running flights.
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People who need to fly can use other airports nearby, for example Leeds Bradford, Manchester, and East Midlands Airport. All of these airports can be reached from Doncaster or Sheffield using public transport.
This information will help you to get a better idea about the current airport choices in Yorkshire and the changes after DSA’s closure.
Introduction
Are you looking to travel to or from Doncaster and want to know about your airport choices? You’re in the right place. This guide shares all the key details to help with your 2026 trip. Robin Hood Airport served the south yorkshire region for many years. But things have changed lately. We will go over the story of robin hood airport and air travel in doncaster, including what the airport was, where it is now, and what might come in the future. This will help you find your way for your trip. Here are what you need to know about air travel in yorkshire.
Overview of Airports in Doncaster
Doncaster used to be home to Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), also called Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield. This international airport was an important place for travel across South Yorkshire and the United Kingdom. It helped people get to many places in and out of Yorkshire. But it stopped running passenger flights in late 2022.
Right now, there is not any commercial airport open in Doncaster. You might think this causes problems if you want to fly in or out. Still, there are talks and plans to bring back the old Doncaster Airport soon. In the sections below, you will see more about the story of this airport and find out what might be next.
The Evolution and Current Status of Doncaster Sheffield Airport
Doncaster Sheffield Airport has a unique story. At first, it was a military site. Later, it became a place for people to travel. In 2022, the airport closed, which was a big change for both the aviation industry and the people in south yorkshire. Even though over 1.4 million passenger numbers passed through in 2019, the operator, Peel Group, said it was not making enough money. This is why they chose to stop flights at sheffield airport. Still, there was a strong commitment from local leaders who wanted to help bring the airport back.
The story did not end there. Things started to look up when the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority and Doncaster Council got involved. In March 2024, through complex negotiations, they secured a lease for the site. This showed that they would really work to see Sheffield airport open its doors again.
Now, things are getting ready for a fresh start. Money is set aside to help. There is an experienced company, Munich Airport International, now picked as the operator. They are all planning for sheffield airport to open, maybe as soon as 2026. This will help carry people into and out of the south yorkshire region. It is also expected to add to the economic growth and bring good things back to doncaster and the rest of yorkshire after the closure.
Key Features and Facilities at the Airport
When it was open, Doncaster Sheffield Airport was able to handle over a million people each year. The airfield had one long and wide runway. This was built for big military planes. It is used by many types of planes. This runway, called 02/20, is 2,893 metres long. It is longer than the ones at many other airports in the north of England.
The passenger terminal was made to help easy public transport of passengers. There were modern features for smooth travel. People could fly to a good range of destinations in Europe.
Key facilities at the airport included:
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24 check-in desks
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Six departure gates
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Three baggage carousels
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On-site hotel and car parking options
These things made it a good choice for people before closure. The infrastructure is still there. This is important in plans to reopen the airport.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport: A Historical Perspective
The place now called Doncaster Sheffield Airport has a long story. It was important even before people started to call it Robin Hood Airport. Back then, it was not for passengers. It was a military base called RAF Finningley. The change from a military base to a busy passenger airport played a big part in the history of flying in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster.
Knowing about its move from RAF Finningley to a commercial airport helps to see why the airport matters to Doncaster and Sheffield. In this text, we will look back at its start as a military base. We will also talk about its time as Robin Hood Airport and how it served people in this area later as Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
RAF Finningley and Military Beginnings
The story of Doncaster’s airport in south yorkshire started in 1915 when Finningley Airfield was first opened. Back then, it was used as a base for the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. The job was to stop German Zeppelin airships that were a threat to the factories in Northern England. This military work carried on for many years and got bigger as time passed.
When the Second World War came, the airfield became a training place for RAF Bomber Command crews. During the Cold War, its importance grew. It acted as a main base for the UK’s nuclear-powered Vulcan bombers. This was a big part of the nation’s defence. The strong and long runway used by passenger planes later was built in that time.
The Cold War ended and the base became mainly a training centre. But then, in 1995, there was a closure and the airfield was shut down. This allowed the place to be changed and used differently. The end of its military use marked the fresh start of its life as a civilian airport in the south yorkshire region.
The Robin Hood Airport Era and Recent Developments
In April 2005, the old military base became Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield. This was the start of a new time for commercial passenger flights in the area. The name was taken from the local Robin Hood story, but it did cause some debate. The airport soon began to grow. Wizz Air and TUI started to work with the airport, bringing flights to many places in Europe. These years were good for south Yorkshire. People had more travel options, and it helped the local economy, showing the airport’s crucial role.
But trouble came later. In June 2022, Wizz Air said they would stop their flights. This news was a big setback and meant TUI was the only major airline left. After looking at all options, the owners decided the airport in Doncaster had to close. The last passenger flights took off in November 2022. The closure was hard for many people in the area.
Doncaster Council and the South Yorkshire Mayor did not give up. After many talks, they got a lease that let them take hold of the Doncaster Sheffield Airport site. There are plans to start flights again at Sheffield Airport. Now, people have hope that passenger flights will be back and the airport will play a big part for Yorkshire and its economy once more.
Closest Airports to Doncaster in 2026
With Doncaster Sheffield Airport closed, you may want to know where to fly from next. You are lucky, because Doncaster is close to some big UK airports. There is a good choice of places to get to both in the UK and Europe.
The main options are Leeds Bradford Airport in the north-west and Manchester Airport in the west. You can also use East Midlands Airport or Liverpool John Lennon Airport nearby. If you want to go a bit further north, there is Durham Tees Valley Airport. These airports have many flight routes across the UK, Europe, and other places.
Sheffield, Leeds Bradford, and Manchester Connections
If you are travelling from Doncaster, accessing alternative airports is straightforward. The closest options are in Sheffield, Leeds, and Manchester, each offering different travel benefits. While there isn’t a major Sheffield airport for commercial flights, the city provides excellent transport links to other hubs. Leeds Bradford Airport and Manchester Airport are the two most popular choices for people in South Yorkshire.
To help you plan, it’s useful to know the approximate distances from Doncaster to these key airports. Manchester is a major international gateway with flights worldwide, while Leeds Bradford offers a great range of European destinations. Both are popular with travellers from the Doncaster area.
Here is a simple breakdown of the distances from Doncaster to nearby airports:
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Airport |
Distance in Miles |
Distance in KM |
|---|---|---|
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Leeds Bradford Airport |
42 miles |
68 km |
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Manchester Airport |
56 miles |
90 km |
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East Midlands Airport |
50 miles |
80 km |
These distances are approximate and can vary based on your specific route.
Distance and Transport Options to Major UK Airports
It is easy to get to big UK airports from Doncaster. This is because there are many ways to use public transport and travel by road. If you are going to Manchester for a long flight or to Leeds Bradford for a quick city trip, you can plan your journey. The trip is not hard to sort. The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority keeps working on making transport links better in the region.
Doncaster railway station is a key stop on the East Coast Main Line. It has direct train services to Manchester and Leeds, which links you to the airports. After that, you can use special buses or trains to reach your flight. Coach services are also good for travel between Doncaster and the airports. These are direct and often cheaper.
If you drive, the motorway network makes your trip simple. Some common ways to travel are:
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Train: There are many trains from Doncaster to Manchester Piccadilly and Leeds stations.
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Coach: National Express and others offer trips to big airports.
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Car: You can use the M18, M1, and M62 motorways to get there.
If you plan ahead, you will find it easy to pick the best and cheapest way for your journey.
Conclusion
To sum up, going through Doncaster’s airports gives you a mix of history, comfort, and up-to-date features. Doncaster Sheffield Airport has changed a lot over the years. Now, it stands as an important place for travel. The airport has good links to other airports close by and offers many things to do and use, so travellers get an easy trip. No matter if you want to catch a flight or see more of the Doncaster or Sheffield areas, it’s smart to plan ahead. That way, you can get the most out of your time. If you want more travel tips or help made just for you, you can book a free meeting with our travel experts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Doncaster Sheffield Airport also known as Robin Hood Airport?
Yes, Doncaster Sheffield Airport used to be called Robin Hood Airport. In 2016, the name changed from Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield to just Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Still, many people in Yorkshire, Doncaster, and South Yorkshire remember it as “Robin Hood” Airport. Lots of locals in Sheffield and the area around still use that old name when they talk about the airport.
Are there accommodation options near Doncaster’s airports?
When Doncaster Sheffield Airport was open, there was a Ramada Encore hotel right on the site. You could get to the terminal with just a short walk. Now, since there are plans to reopen the international airport, it looks like this hotel, or maybe other places to stay, will be there again for travellers. This will help people flying out of Doncaster Sheffield Airport or those going to Sheffield. There will likely be some good choices for places to stay near the terminal.
How can I travel between Doncaster and nearby airports using public transport?
You can take public transport from Doncaster to get to nearby airports. The Doncaster railway station has many trains to Manchester and Leeds. From there, you can take more trains to the airport. There are also national coach companies in the UK that run direct routes from Doncaster to major airports. This gives you another good and reliable way to travel.