Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Airport in South Yorkshire, England

"Robin Hood Airport" redirects here. For the airport in Big Rapids, Michigan, see Roben-Hood Airport.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Robin Hood Airport

* IATA: none
* ICAO: EGCN

Summary
Airport type| Public
Owner| Peel Group
Operator| Doncaster Sheffield Airport Limited
Serves| South Yorkshire, Lincolnshire
Location| Finningley
Opened| 28 April 2005 (2005-04-28)
Closed| 30 November 2022 (2022-11-30)
Passenger services ceased| 4 November 2022 (2022-11-04)
Elevation AMSL| 56 ft / 17 m
Coordinates| 53°28′31″N 01°00′15″W﻿ / ﻿53.47528°N 1.00417°W﻿ / 53.47528; -1.00417
Map

EGCN

Location in South Yorkshire

Runways
| Direction | Length  | Surface

|
|

m  | ft
02/20  | 2,893  | 9,491  | Asphalt
Statistics (2019)
| Passengers| 1,407,862

|

Passenger change (18–19)| 15.2%
Aircraft movements| 23,043
Movements change (18–19)| 21.7%

Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (ICAO: EGCN), formerly named and commonly referred to as Robin Hood Airport, was an international airport in Finningley near Doncaster in South Yorkshire, England, in operation between 2005 and 2022. The site lies 6 mi (10 km) south-east of the centre of Doncaster and 19 mi (31 km) east of Sheffield. Plans to reopen the airport were announced in April 2025.

## History

[edit]

Aerial view of Doncaster Sheffield Airport

### 1915–1995: RAF Finningley

[edit]

Main article: RAF Finningley

The airport was opened as Finningley Airfield in 1915.

During the First World War, it was a base for the Royal Flying Corps to intercept German Zeppelins targeting industrial cities of Northern England. In the Second World War the airfield was primarily used for training,[3]: 127–128  serving RAF Bomber Command crews; only a few combat missions took off. It was a key facility for nuclear-armed Vulcan bombers in the Cold War before downgrade to training in the 1970s / 1980s and decommissioning by 1995.[3]: 132

The long runway was a Space Shuttle emergency landing site.[citation needed]

### 2005–2016: Robin Hood Airport

[edit]

Following the end of scheduled services from Sheffield City Airport, Peel Group opened former RAF Finningley as Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield in April 2005.[4][5] The Robin Hood label controversially referenced historical accounts placing him in nearby Barnsdale Forest not Sherwood Forest but 11,000 people petitioned to oppose the name.[6] In May 2006, Thomsonfly launched the first long-haul flight from Doncaster to Puerto Plata.[7]

Promoters initially hoped for 25 million passengers a year.[8] In 2007, one million used the airport. This decreased to 700,000 in 2012, before increasing to just 1.25 million in 2016.[2]

### 2016–2022: Doncaster Sheffield Airport

[edit]

Robin Hood statue by Neale Andrew at Doncaster Sheffield Airport

In December 2016, Robin Hood Airport rebranded as Doncaster Sheffield Airport.[citation needed]

Flybe closed its facility at the airport in 2019, relocating crew and aircraft,[9] though Wizz Air based two aircraft there in 2020.[10][11] However in 2022, it too announced the end of flights from the airport[12] stating the airport operators were "unable to guarantee the terms of its commercial agreement".[citation needed] That left TUI Airways as the airport's sole regular customer.[12]

After an extended review and public consultation and the airport closed.[13][14][15] Peel proposed an expansion of their adjacent Gateway East property development[16] TUI operated the final flights on 4 November 2022,[16] and Wizz Air transferred its routes to Leeds Bradford Airport.[17]

Doncaster Council applied for judicial review of the closure process but was refused.[18] In response, the Mayor of Doncaster announced the council's intention to compulsory purchase.[19]

Nevertheless, air traffic control was withdrawn from the airport in December 2022,[20] and the Civil Aviation Authority began to reclassify surrounding airspace.[21]

### Post-closure

[edit]

After protracted negotiation,[22][23][24] in March 2024 the mayor of Doncaster obtained a 125 year lease over the airport.[25] That November, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority agreed to £3m funding of reinstatement activities and commercial negotiation,[26] as part of a £138m re-opening budget.[27]

On 6 December 2024, a utility aircraft, operated by 2Excel Aviation, landed at the airport, the first in over two years.[28]

In February 2025, Munich Airport International were appointed airport operators[29] for a potential reopening in spring 2026.[30] However, several industry commentators questioned Doncaster Sheffield Airport's viability.[31][32][33]

## Facilities

[edit]

The airport has a single runway designated 02/20, with dimensions of 2,895 by 60 m (9,498 by 197 ft). It was designed for long-range nuclear armed bombers and so is wider than other commercial airports in the north of England.[citation needed]

The passenger terminal has 24 check-in desks, six departure gates and three baggage carousels.[when?][citation needed]

A 102-bed Ramada Encore hotel opened in 2008.[34]

There are four on-site car parks.[35]

### Airport business park

[edit]

In 2014, a 10-hectare (25-acre) site on the airport's business park became part of Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone.[36]

### Hangars

[edit]

No. 3 Hangar was occupied by 2Excel Aviation providing Design, production and Maintenance services. Defence company BAE Systems formerly operated its Aircraft Maintenance Academy from No. 3 Hangar at the airport, before moving to Humberside Airport.[citation needed][when?] Other activities within the hangars included from 2012, a Cessna Citation service centre.[37]

### Flight training

[edit]

The airport was home to Yorkshire Aero Club[38] and Hummingbird Helicopters.[39][when?]

## Statistics

[edit]

### Traffic statistics

[edit]

Doncaster Sheffield Airport
passenger totals 2005–2019 (millions)

Traffic statistics at Doncaster Sheffield[2] Year  | Passengers
handled  | Passenger
% change  | Cargo
(tonnes)  | Cargo
% change  | Aircraft
movements  | Aircraft
% change

|
|
|
|
|
|

2005 | 600,907 |  | 31 |  | 6,914 |
2006 | 900,067 | 49.8 | 167 | 438.7 | 10,642 |  53.9
2007 | 1,078,374 | 19.8 | 1,602 | 859.3 | 12,667 |  19.0
2008 | 968,481 | 10.2 | 1,350 | 15.7 | 13,066 |  3.1
2009 | 835,768 | 13.7 | 344 | 74.5 | 10,854 |  16.9
2010 | 876,153 | 4.8 | 216 | 37.2 | 11,030 |  1.6
2011 | 822,877 | 6.1 | 102 | 52.8 | 11,876 |  7.7
2012 | 693,661 | 15.7 | 276 | 170.6 | 11,724 |  1.3
2013 | 690,351 | 0.5 | 354 | 28.3 | 11,197 |  4.5
2014 | 724,885 | 5.0 | 858 | 142.4 | 11,697 |  4.5
2015 | 857,109 | 18.2 | 3,201 | 273.1 | 11,998 |  2.6
2016 | 1,255,907 | 46.5 | 9,341 | 191.8 | 16,098 |  34.2
2017 | 1,335,590 | 6.3 | 8,656 | 7.3 | 17,435 |  8.3
2018 | 1,222,347 | 8.4 | 7,107 | 17.8 | 18,930 |  8.5
2019 | 1,407,862 | 15.2 | 17,647 | 148.3 | 23,043 |  21.7

### Busiest routes

[edit]

20 busiest routes to and from Doncaster Sheffield Airport (2019)[40] Rank | Airport | Passengers
handled | % change
2018–19

|
|
|

1 | Bucharest | 96,612 |  52.0
2 | Katowice | 82,279 |  1.1
3 | Gdańsk | 80,842 |  10.1
4 | Alicante | 68,583 |  9.7
5 | Warsaw | 67,711 |  1.5
6 | Vilnius | 58,793 |  43.3
7 | Palma de Mallorca | 55,197 |  4.4
8 | Poznań | 54,514 |  7.9
9 | Tenerife–South | 51,309 |  0.6
10 | Amsterdam | 48,840 |  16.2
11 | Riga | 43,937 |  3.6
12 | Málaga | 42,299 |  12.5
13 | Budapest | 42,116 |  592.6
14 | Cluj Napoca | 41,165 |  14.3
15 | Lanzarote | 39,993 |  1.5
16 | Kraków | 39,345 | n/a
17 | Wroclaw | 35,194 |  1.4
18 | Debrecen | 33,605 |  2187.6
19 | Dublin | 29,779 |  11.5
20 | Paphos | 24,528 |  9.4

## Vulcan XH558

[edit]

Main article: Avro Vulcan XH558

In 2011, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust flew Avro Vulcan XH558 to the airport, its former operational base. It was the last airworthy example of the Vulcan bomber fleet, restored to flight by the trust in 2007.[41] XH558's final flight was a display over the airport, on 28 October 2015.[42]

In 2022, the trust announced it would leave the airport because its lease could not be renewed.[43] Nevertheless, as of October 2024, the trust and XH558 remained at the airport awaiting negotiations with a new operator.[44]

## Transport

[edit]

The airport is close to M18 motorway junction 3 and a road to it was completed in 2018.[45]

Doncaster railway station on the East Coast Main Line, and the Frenchgate Interchange are 7 mi (11 km) away.[citation needed]

The airport abuts the Doncaster to Lincoln railway line, and plans for a station to replace one that closed in 1961 were granted planning permission in 2008. However, a 2012 report by Network Rail stated that more trains on the line would be required to make it viable.[46] There have been proposals for a dedicated link to the East Coast Main Line.[47]

## Accident

[edit]

On 15 August 2014, Jestream 31 G–GAVA, operating a Links Air flight from Belfast City Airport, crashed on landing at the airport following a landing gear failure; this caused substantial damage to the aircraft. One passenger was taken to hospital with minor injuries. The airport was closed for several hours.[48][49]

## In media

[edit]

In 2007, the airport featured in the BBC Two documentary Should I Really Give Up Flying? Brian Blessed explored local attitudes to flying and its impact on the environment.[citation needed]

It has been a location for television series including ITV's Emmerdale,[50] BBC One's drama Hustle[51] and In the Club.[citation needed]

The airport appeared in Four Lions[52] and was a setting for the BBC mockumentary Come Fly with Me. Matt Lucas and David Walliams spent two weeks at the airport filming.[53]

RAF Finningley was destroyed by a Soviet nuclear warhead in the 1984 TV film Threads.[54]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Doncaster Sheffield – EGCN" (PDF). NATS. Archived from the original (PDF) on 25 May 2012. Retrieved 9 January 2016.
2. ^ a b c "UK Annual Airport Statistics". CAA. 3 March 2017. Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 15 March 2017.
3. ^ a b Delve, Ken (2006). The Military Airfields of Britain – Northern England : Co. Durham, Cumbria, Isle of Man, Lancashire, Merseyside, Manchester, Northumberland, Tyne & Wear, Yorkshire. Marlborough: Crowood Press. ISBN 1-86126-809-2.
4. ^ "Background Information". Durham Tees Valley Airport. 10 February 2012. Archived from the original on 6 November 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
5. ^ "Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield". Flights Network. Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 30 October 2008.
6. ^ "Airport's new name misses target". BBC News. 12 November 2004. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
7. ^ "Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield celebrates first anniversary with Thomsonfly.com". Thomsonfly. 28 April 2006. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 30 December 2024.
8. ^ "Doncaster Sheffield Airport's future in doubt". BBC News. 13 July 2022. Archived from the original on 13 July 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2022.
9. ^ Dyson, Molly (4 April 2019). "Flybe to stop using Embraer jets". Buying Business Travel. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019.
10. ^ "Wizz Air announces new base and major expansion at Doncaster Sheffield Airport". Wizz Air. 13 August 2020. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
11. ^ "Doncaster Sheffield Airport - latest news". Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
12. ^ a b Eisling, Stefan (28 September 2022). "Rückzug von Wizz bricht britischem Flughafen das Genick". Aero Telegraph (in German). Archived from the original on 2 October 2022.
13. ^ "Review into Doncaster Sheffield Airport future extended". BBC News. 23 August 2022. Archived from the original on 24 August 2022. Retrieved 24 August 2022.
14. ^ Klein, Josie (24 August 2022). "Doncaster Sheffield airport consultation extended". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 26 August 2022. Retrieved 26 August 2022.
15. ^ The end for DSA? Aviation News November 2022 pages 6/7
16. ^ a b "Bosses confirm closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport". ITV. 26 September 2022. Archived from the original on 26 September 2022. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
17. ^ Himefield, Dave (29 September 2022). "Doncaster Sheffield Airport closure update as Wizz Air confirms flight transfer to Leeds Bradford". Leeds Live. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022.
18. ^ "Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Judicial review over airport closure refused". BBC News. 1 December 2022. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
19. ^ Kessen, David (1 December 2022). "Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Officials start the process of nationalising airport". The Sheffield Star. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
20. ^ Burke, Darren (2 December 2022). "Over and out:' Air traffic control ends at Doncaster Sheffield Airport as talks go on". Doncaster Free Press. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
21. ^ "Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Airspace to be downgraded". BBC News. 2 December 2022. Archived from the original on 3 December 2022. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
22. ^ Mower, Shannon (27 October 2022). "Doncaster Sheffield Airport: 'Credible offer' submitted to owner Peel Group, claims mayor". Yorkshire Post. Archived from the original on 7 January 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2023.
23. ^ "Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Owners reject council offer to buy site". BBC News. 14 January 2023. Archived from the original on 16 January 2023. Retrieved 17 January 2023.
24. ^ Kershaw, Tom (25 September 2023). "Doncaster Sheffield Airport latest as mayor sees 'light at the end of the tunnel'". Examiner Live. Archived from the original on 28 September 2023. Retrieved 30 September 2023.
25. ^ "Lease for former Doncaster Sheffield Airport signed". South Yorkshire MCA. 21 March 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
26. ^ Davies, Phil. "Regional leaders agree £3m to support Doncaster Sheffield airport reopening". Travel Weekly. Archived from the original on 14 November 2024. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
27. ^ Ashton, Lucy (12 November 2024). "Doncaster Sheffield Airport costs expected to rise, meeting hears". BBC News. Retrieved 21 November 2024.
28. ^ "First aircraft lands at Doncaster Sheffield Airport since closure". BBC News. 7 December 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
29. ^ "International airport expertise secured to reopen Doncaster's airport". Doncaster Council. 4 February 2025. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
30. ^ Greenbank, Chloe (10 February 2025). "Munich Airport partner for Doncaster Sheffield". Regional Gateway. Retrieved 4 March 2025.
31. ^ Jones, Steve; Dale, Tim (1 February 2025). "Take-off or bail out? The airport even Ryanair thinks is a tough sell". BBC News. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
32. ^ "Government backs mayor to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport". Retrieved 17 April 2025.
33. ^ Doncaster Sheffield set for comeback Airliner World May 2024 page 22
34. ^ "Ramada Encore Hotel Lands at Airport Business Park". Robin Hood Airport. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
35. ^ "Car parking". Doncaster Sheffield Airport. Archived from the original on 7 May 2017. Retrieved 13 May 2017.
36. ^ Newton-Syms, Ellie (11 March 2014). "Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone announces expansion plans". The Business Desk. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
37. ^ "Cessna announces first UK Citation Service Centre". Flyer. 25 September 2012. Archived from the original on 3 January 2017. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
38. ^ "Welcome". Yorkshire Aero Club. Archived from the original on 23 December 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
39. ^ "Welcome". Hummingbird Helicopters. Archived from the original on 2 September 2018. Retrieved 9 October 2018.
40. ^ "International Air Passenger Traffic To and From Reporting Airports for 2019 Comparison with 2018" (PDF). CAA. Archived from the original (PDF) on 18 March 2020. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
41. ^ "Welcome Home – Vulcan XH558 returns to Doncaster". Global Aviation Resource. 5 April 2011. Archived from the original on 26 November 2015.
42. ^ "Final Flight report". Vulcan To The Sky. 30 October 2015. Archived from the original on 9 January 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
43. ^ "Doncaster: Vulcan XH558 to be moved from South Yorkshire home". BBC News. 15 August 2022. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
44. ^ "Update from Vulcan to the Sky Trust". Vulcan to the Sky. 31 October 2024.
45. ^ "Second phase of 'hugely significant' Great Yorkshire Way in Doncaster completed". BDaily News. 15 June 2018. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
46. ^ Network Rail, Route Specifications 2012 – London North Eastern, p. 76
47. ^ "Proposed £280 million Doncaster airport rail link could create 70,000 jobs". Doncaster Free Press. 21 March 2018. Archived from the original on 14 July 2018. Retrieved 14 July 2018.
48. ^ "Robin Hood airport remains closed". Press Associatiom. 16 August 2014. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018 – via The Guardian.
49. ^ "British Aerospace 3102 Jetstream 31 G-GAVA Doncaster/Sheffield-Robin Hood Airport". Aviation Safety Network. Archived from the original on 18 July 2018. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
50. ^ "Emmerdale filming takes place at Doncaster's Robin Hood Airport". Doncaster Free Press. 26 January 2017. Archived from the original on 18 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
51. ^ "Hustlers take over airport for two days of filming". Robin Hood Airport. Archived from the original on 27 February 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2012.
52. ^ "Four Lions (2010) : Filming Locations". IMDb.com. Archived from the original on 16 March 2016. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
53. ^ Burke, Darren (14 July 2022). "Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Call for TV's David Walliams and Matt Lucas to join fight". Doncaster Free Press. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
54. ^ Hogan, Michael (9 April 2018). "Britain after the atomic bomb: why Threads is more terrifying than ever". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2023.

## External links

[edit]

Media related to Doncaster Sheffield Airport at Wikimedia Commons

Portals:

* United Kingdom
* Aviation

* v
* t
* e

Airports in the United Kingdom, the British Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories

London|

* City
* Gatwick
* Heathrow
* Luton
* Southend
* Stansted

Smaller|

* Biggin Hill
* Lydd/Ashford
* Oxford

England|

* Birmingham
* Bournemouth
* Bristol
* East Midlands
* Exeter
* Humberside
* Leeds/Bradford
* Liverpool
* Manchester
* Newcastle
* Newquay
* Norwich
* Southampton
* Teesside

Smaller|

* Blackpool
* Brighton City
* Cambridge
* Carlisle
* Cotswold
* Coventry
* Cranfield
* Farnborough
* Gloucestershire
* Land's End
* Leicester
* Nottingham
* Penzance
* St Mary's
* Tresco
* Wolverhampton

Scotland|

* Aberdeen
* Edinburgh
* Glasgow
* Glasgow-Prestwick
* Inverness
* Kirkwall

Smaller|

* Barra
* Benbecula
* Campbeltown
* Coll
* Colonsay
* Dundee
* Eday
* Fair Isle
* Foula
* Islay
* Lerwick/Tingwall
* North Ronaldsay
* Oban
* Papa Stour
* Papa Westray
* Sanday
* Stornoway
* Stronsay
* Sumburgh
* Tiree
* Westray
* Wick

Wales|

* Cardiff

Smaller|

* Aberporth
* Anglesey
* Caernarfon
* Haverfordwest
* Hawarden
* Llanbedr
* Pembrey
* Swansea
* Welshpool

Northern Ireland|

* Belfast City
* Belfast International
* Derry

Smaller|

* Enniskillen/St Angelo
* Newtownards

Crown Dependencies|

* Guernsey
* Isle of Man
* Jersey

Smaller|

* Alderney

Overseas Territories|

* Anguilla
* Rothera
* RAF Ascension
* Bermuda
* Anegada
* Beef Island
* Virgin Gorda
* Cayman Brac
* Grand Cayman
* Little Cayman
* Mount Pleasant
* Port Stanley
* Gibraltar
* Montserrat
* Saint Helena
* Ambergris Cays
* Grand Turk
* Middle Caicos
* North Caicos
* Pine Cay
* Providenciales
* Salt Cay
* South Caicos

Statistics|

List of busiest airports in the United Kingdom

Smaller airports handle domestic, charter or private services only

* v
* t
* e

Civil airports in Yorkshire

Active major airports|

* Leeds Bradford Airport

Smaller airfields|

* Bagby Airfield
* Beverley/Linley Hill Airfield
* Crosland Moor Airfield
* Full Sutton Airfield
* Leeds East Airport
* Sherburn-in-Elmet Airfield
* Sutton Bank Airfield

Defunct airfields|

* Doncaster Sheffield Airport
* Hedon Aerodrome
* Sheffield City Airport

* v
* t
* e

Peel Group

* Harworth Group (14.1%)

Airports|

* Doncaster Sheffield
* Liverpool
* Manchester Barton Aerodrome

Canals|

* Bridgewater Canal
* Manchester Ship Canal

Ports|

* Glasgow Harbour
* Port of Liverpool

Media|

* MediaCityUK

Energy|

* Ince Park
* Scout Moor Wind Farm

Retail and Leisure|

* Gloucester Quays

Future projects|

* Atlantic Gateway
* Liverpool Waters, Port Salford
* Wirral Waters

Former assets|

* Teesside International Airport (2003–2018)
* Trafford Centre (1998–2011)
* EventCity (2011–2021)

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template