Labour and Conservative MPs in Yorkshire have united to support calls to keep Doncaster Sheffield airport open.
The future of the South Yorkshire airport is in doubt, after its owner said the site “may no longer be commercially viable”, especially following the withdrawal of Wizz Air.
The board has begun a review of strategic options for the airport, whose owner and principal funder is the Peel Group.
More than 57,000 people have now signed a petition demanding the airport stays open.
Conservative Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher and Labour MPs for Doncaster Central and Doncaster North, Dame Rosie Winterton and Ed Miliband, are calling on Peel to keep the airport open, reported the Doncaster Free Press.
Fletcher tweeted that he had spoken to transport secretary Grant Shapps, saying the minister “fully supports the steps being taken to prevent the closure” and “he made it clear that the Government does not want our airport closed”.
AIRPORT CRISIS DAY 6
I spoke to @grantshapps over the weekend. He fully supports the steps being taken to prevent the closure of the @DSA_Airport . He made it clear that the Government does not want our airport closed. #SaveDSA#Doncasterisgreat 1/6 pic.twitter.com/Z7y7LUNTFn
— Nick Fletcher MP (@NickFletcherMP) July 18, 2022
He has raised the issue in Parliament, warning that 800 jobs at risk as well as the local economy.
Louise Haigh, Labour MP for Sheffield Heeley and shadow transport secretary, has written to Shapps asking him “to do everything in his power to ensure that South #Yorkshire doesn’t lose Doncaster Sheffield Airport”.
“We must not lose this strategic asset,” she tweeted.
She said: “The announcement from Peel Group is extremely worrying for jobs and investment in South Yorkshire. Peel must not renege on the ambition that has been set for our airport and our region.
“The Government has completely failed to support the aviation sector as we recover from Covid, and jobs have been lost as a result.
“The government has neglected the aviation industry in its recovery and must now do everything in its power to support our region.”
She has also written to the board of Peel Group to ask that it reconsiders this decision and to offer to work with it to secure the future of the airport.
A government spokesman said: “We recognise Doncaster Sheffield Airport’s announcement of a review into the future of the airport will be concerning for passengers and workers, and the Government is in close contact with the airport to understand its plans.
“While this will be a commercial decision for the owners of the airport, we hope they conclude after consultation with stakeholders that there is a viable aviation future for the airport.
“Regional airports are key in serving our local communities, supporting thousands of jobs in the regions and act as a key gateway to international opportunities.
“We will continue to bring forward our plans to level up and ensure the whole of the UK has the connections people need.”