#FlyDSA: A sea of giddy faces at Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Scott and Georgina Brown, and Richard Gosling and Zoe Colley, two husbands and wives from Rotherham, have arrived at Doncaster Sheffield Airport with their five children in tow.

The weather may be a little gloomy today, but the two families are full of smiles as they pour into the terminal. The children - all aged three to 11 - are playing excitedly and giggling among themselves as they pull their bags along, and the parents look relaxed. Not surprising really as, in just 90 minutes, they’ll be jetting off for a week in sunny Tenerife.

“We’ve had this getaway planned for a while,” reveals Scott.

“We’ve never flown from Doncaster Sheffield Airport before, but everything, from booking to getting here this morning, has been so easy.

“It took us just 35 minutes to get here from our homes in Rotherham; we came on the link road and it’s been really quiet, no hassle at all, which is exactly what you want when you’re going on holiday.

“When we got here, we could pull up right infront of the terminal and just cross the road to come inside. It’s been great.”

And they’re not the only smiling and relaxed faces I can see. Nearby, Shaun Pargin and his wife Lindsay are waiting to check their bags.

“This is our fourth time flying from DSA,” smiles 46-year-old Shaun, who lives in Pontefract.

“I think it was last June the last time we were here. We choose Doncaster Sheffield Airport whenever we can, if they offer the flights, as it’s so easy, straight down the motorway for us.”

Sat on the neighbouring bench, Roseline and Alan Johnson - both 74 - agree.

“This is our second flight from Doncaster Sheffield,” nods Roseline.

“It takes us about 45 minutes from our home in Ferrybridge, and that was in a bit of traffic today.

“We really enjoy coming to this airport. It’s lovely and quiet, so different to Manchester Airport.

“This morning we used the meet and greet service, so we literally dropped out car at the door and strolled inside.”

Last month The Star launched its #FlyDSA campaign to promote Doncaster Sheffield Airport – to help the region fly.

We’re making it our mission to promote DSA as the first choice for millions of holidaymakers and businesses who, in turn, could pump billions into our own economy.

With the new link road putting the commute to DSA, from Sheffield city centre, at just 25 minutes, we are keen to help banish the decades-old habits of travelling outside the region to catch a plane, and instead focus on attracting more investment and business to our own city, rather than continue to see it sent outside the region.

And, after giving a ‘scrummy’ welcome to Doncaster Knights Rugby Football Club recently, airport bosses have revealed they are expecting a whole host of rugby fans to make the most of the new Flybe route, from Doncaster Sheffield Airport to Dublin, in the next two weeks, for the Six Nations game in Dublin, between Ireland and England, on March 18.

Steve Gill, chief executive of Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “It was great to welcome the players from Doncaster Knights to Doncaster Sheffield Airport recently. We know that there are a lot rugby fans in Yorkshire and we are delighted that they can reach Dublin for the big six nations game directly from Doncaster Sheffield Airport with Flybe.”

Doncaster Knights marketing and communications manager, Michael Casey, added: “It is fantastic that rugby fans can fly from our local airport directly to Dublin for what could prove to be this year’s title deciding clash.

“Last season the Knights flew from Doncaster Sheffield Airport to our away fixture with Jersey and are looking forward to working with DSA ahead of the return game at Castle Park on April 8. We hope that we can encourage many travelling fans to come to Doncaster and show their support.”

Flybe operate Dublin and Jersey routes out of Doncaster Sheffield Airport along with Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Alicante, Malaga, Palma, Faro and Newquay.

Visit Fly DSA for details.

LETS MAKE IT WORK

To support Doncaster Sheffield Airport, use it.

* Start your search here: www.flydsa.co.uk

* When booking a trip via a travel agent, ask for it by name: “Can I fly from Doncaster Sheffield Airport?”

Or: “Does DSA fly there? Can you add DSA into the mix and let me know the cost from there?”

Unless you ask for a specific airport you might not be offered it as an option.

Some travel agents will always offer you the closest airport to you, while others, out of habit, will only offer the more established airports unless asked.

* Businesses might consider targeting the cities and markets the airport already serves

* Ask the other airlines, such as Jet2, to fly into DSA - so you don’t have to go to Leeds or trek over to Manchester.