Doncaster Sheffield Airport: 11 pictures to take you back to opening day as the airport approaches closure

Published 1st Oct 2022, 04:45 BST

With the news that Doncaster Sheffield Airport is due to close – we thought we would take a look back at the early days of the aviation hub.

The site, in Finningley, is to shut after its owner Peel Group said "no tangible proposals" had been received regarding its future ownership.

The company said services at the airport, which employs 800 workers, would start winding down starting from October 31.

Here you can reminisce at days gone by when the region took to the skies.

Preparations begin for the first flight out of the then Robin Hood airport.

1. First Flight

Preparations begin for the first flight out of the then Robin Hood airport. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd

The first commercial flight out of the then Robin Hood airport. 28/04/2005

2. First flight

The first commercial flight out of the then Robin Hood airport. 28/04/2005 Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd

Plane watchers at Robin Hood airport stood around the fencing as the first flight prepares for take off.

3. Plane Watchers

Plane watchers at Robin Hood airport stood around the fencing as the first flight prepares for take off. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd

Alex Hunter (front), then Thomsonfly.com chief commercial officer, and David Ryall, then Robin Hood Airport managing director designate, are pictured at the announcement of the low cost airline's 'On Sale Date For Doncaster Flights' at the Mount Pleasant Hotel, Doncaster, yesterday.

4. Thomson Fly

Alex Hunter (front), then Thomsonfly.com chief commercial officer, and David Ryall, then Robin Hood Airport managing director designate, are pictured at the announcement of the low cost airline's 'On Sale Date For Doncaster Flights' at the Mount Pleasant Hotel, Doncaster, yesterday. Photo: Sheffield Newspapers Ltd