First aircraft in two years lands in Doncaster
Council grants permission to aerospace company 2Excel for ‘unlicensed flight’ into Doncaster Sheffield Airport, which otherwise closed to aviation in November 2022.
A 1977 Piper Panther PA31 Navajo twin-engined utility aircraft has landed on the tarmac at Doncaster Sheffield Airport – the first flight to land there in two years. In good news for local industry and the associated tech sector, more inbound flights are planned over coming months.
Photo courtesy of City of Doncaster Council
Admittedly, it’s not quite a return to business as before for the airport. In this case, the aircraft, which is used as a search and rescue spotter plane, flew in on an ‘unlicensed flight’: a managed process involving no passengers or cargo. It will now be housed in a hangar at the airport as part of the winter maintenance programme being carried out by aviation and aerospace experts 2Excel.
The company has occupied the hangar at the airport for more than a decade. Since the site closed to aviation in November 2022, the company has continued its technical delivery operations there while having to relocate its aircraft fleet to other airports and airfields.
Having received permission received from City of Doncaster Council to fly this aircraft back to the hangar, 2Excel now plans to fly in several other aircraft from bases around the country – effectively, bringing them home. The hope is that this is just the start, rekindling interest and industry in the area.
Ros Jones CBE, Mayor of Doncaster, says: ‘We know how important the airport is to local people and businesses so it is great to see an already established aviation business in our city being able to use the site again. 2Excel is a great supporter of the airport and a strong advocate for the aviation industry in Doncaster and them returning their aircraft to the site as part of their winter planning is really a positive step. Their presence sends a signal to others about the importance of the site as a strategic base.
‘I have made reopening our beloved airport my number one priority. We are still working steadfastly to reopen the airport by Spring 2026 and there will be further news forthcoming in early 2025. Progress is going well and further updates will be given in the New Year.’
Andy Offer, Director and Co-founder at 2Excel, adds: ‘It’s a testament to all at 2Excel that we absorbed the pain caused by the unexpected closure of Doncaster to aviation in November 2022. It’s a place we’ve been proud to call our home for more than a decade. But it’s important to recognise that we never left! Throughout the past two years, some 150 people have continued to work in Hangar 3, day in, day out.
‘City of Doncaster Council have never lost sight of the goal to reopen the airport and we’ve remained in constant contact. We look forward to continuing to work with both the council and the new operator to return Doncaster airport to its rightful place as a major employer in the South Yorkshire region. The airport can regain its status as a hub for creating economic prosperity and employment for well-paid and highly skilled people – including our employees who create nationally strategic technologies and delver critical services to the British public and government.’
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