Munich Airport International (MAI) has been confirmed as the global firm set to assist in the reopening and management of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA).
The announcement marks a major step forward in Doncaster Council’s efforts to revive the site, which shut down in November 2022 after former operators Peel Group deemed it financially unviable.
The council, working closely with South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, has established a new company, FlyDoncaster, to oversee the airport’s operations.
MAI, a subsidiary of Munich Airport, will provide expert operational and management support, working alongside UK-based firm FP Airports.
Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones hailed the partnership as a “significant milestone” in the city’s ambitious plans to get DSA back in business by spring 2026. She emphasised that MAI brings “a wealth of experience, capacity and influence” to the project.
MAI has an extensive track record in the aviation industry, managing Terminal A at Newark Liberty International Airport in the US and serving as a strategic partner for airports in Bulgaria, Honduras, and El Salvador.
Managing director Lorenzo Di Loreto expressed the company’s commitment to transforming DSA into “a top modern and competitive UK airport.”
According to Doncaster Council, the airport could become profitable within five years of reopening, generating nearly 5,000 direct jobs and up to 11,500 jobs in the wider economy.
However, significant public investment will be required to make the project viable. Last month, it was revealed that more than £100 million in low-cost council loans—repayable over 50 years—would be necessary for DSA’s revival.
Additionally, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Authority (SYMCA) has provisionally agreed to release £138 million in funding, contingent on securing the right deal with the right partners.
A final decision on the funding is expected by summer, bringing the long-awaited reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport one step closer to reality.
