It was not until 2005 that Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which emerged from a former RAF base, was opened to passenger flights. One was never really successful, because one accumulated considerable losses in the last 17 years. If a new owner is not found soon, the lights will go out at the end of October 2022.

The board of the Peel Group considers the regional airport, which has an oversized "greenhouse terminal", to be no longer economically viable. It has amassed losses of £170 million since opening. In not a single fiscal year were the numbers in the black. The forecast for the next five years is bleak: another 45 million pounds of misery is expected. The current owner no longer wants to do this and wants to sell the airport. If no buyer can be found, the area is to be converted into a logistics center including warehouses. There should then be no more flight operations.

For a short time there was hope that the Wizz Air UK opens a base could bring the trend reversal. The airport never had more than 1,4 million passengers per year and that is clearly not enough to be able to operate the oversized infrastructure economically. The expectations of the low-cost airline have not been met, because the carrier has closed this base in the meantime.

Not so long ago, Doncaster Sheffield put a lot of money into expanding the terminal and clearly missed the need. It only has two customers left who are scheduled to fly into the airport: Tui UK has aircraft based here and Wizz Air continues to fly to Doncaster from other airports. Due to the closure of the base, the pink-colored low coster has severely reduced the offer.

The board of Peel Group has now come to the conclusion that the airport "may no longer be economically viable". Within the next six weeks they want to try to find a buyer or investor. You also want to decide during this period of time how to proceed. There are currently signs of closure by the end of October 2022. The property is then to be used as a logistics center without flight operations.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport was particularly successful. According to official figures, the airport has only been used by 2005 million passengers since it was converted from a military to a civil airport in 14,9. The highest mark was reached in 1,4 with 2019 million travelers.

Also with regard to the airlines, in 17 years of existence as a civil airport, there were only a few customers. Only seven airlines had the airport in their route network. Only Tui UK and WIzz Air remain, both of which are among the first users. No longer active are: Flybe (reason: bankruptcy), Ryanair (reason: withdrawal), Easyjet (reason: withdrawal), Aer Lingus (reason: withdrawal) and Links Air (reason: bankruptcy).