VIDEO: Doncaster Sheffield Airport sets sights sky high for 2018

Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named by Which? magazine as the best small airport in the UK - is setting its sights sky high in 2018 in a bid to become the region's airport of choice, say bosses.
DSA also winners of the Doncaster Business Awards for Excellence in Customer Service AwardDSA also winners of the Doncaster Business Awards for Excellence in Customer Service Award
DSA also winners of the Doncaster Business Awards for Excellence in Customer Service Award

With a record year of 1.33 million passengers in 2017 and 50 per cent more passengers choosing DSA over the past three years, the airport has also announced five new routes to take off this summer.

It will fly to Belfast with Flybe, and Antalya, Hurghada, Naples and Kefalonia with TUI – providing travellers with even more destinations to choose from.

DSA FLIGHTS AND MORE: For more details about Doncaster Sheffield Airport and its routes visit www.flydsa.co.uk.

VIDEO: Watch our Facebook Live stream from the airport, now available to view on demand at the top of this page, when we chatted to CEO Steve Gill, staff, air crews and passengers, on a guided tour of the airport, with a look at ambitious future plans. Also watch, read comments and tell us what you think of DSA on our Facebook page - CLICK HERE.

The airport's highly anticipated public consultation of its long-term plans will also be revealed at the end of March.

Next month the airport will also see the re-opening of its fully refurbished and expanded Premium Lounge, providing passengers with the option to 'upgrade their expectations with proper Yorkshire hospitality'.

Team celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazineTeam celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazine
Team celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazine

The Which? award came after it scored 87 per cent in the magazine's annual Best and Worst UK Airports survey last year.

In a category recognising airports with fewer than 10 million passengers DSA outperformed all airports in the North and Midlands by up to 20 per cent, scoring highly in key areas of the passenger journey such as queue times, passport control and passenger facilities.

Most notably, airport employees were awarded five stars for delivering excellent customer service, something which was underlined twice in 2017 after its win at the Doncaster Business Awards for Excellence in Customer Service Award.

Last year also saw the airport announce a major new partnership which gave DSA the naming rights to Sheffield Arena, one of the UK’s biggest venues.

Team celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazineTeam celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazine
Team celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazine

The investment from DSA saw the arena re-named as the FlyDSA Arena in September - a three year deal that will see the Sheffield City Region benefit not only from a varied calendar of exciting arena events and performances, but as a key international gateway via Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Today bosses vowed to continue the airport's legacy of the coveted Which? award, with customer service remaining a key priority to ensure that the passenger experience at DSA remains unrivalled in the region.

With plans afoot at both FlyDSA Arena and the airport, it is anticipated that 2018 will be a landmark year.

Chris Harcombe, Aviation Development Director at Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “We were delighted to welcome a record number of passengers through the doors in 2017 and to do so whilst retaining excellent standards of customer service. Working closely with our airline operators to provide the very best airport experience for all of our passengers is essential to our continued development.

Team celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazineTeam celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazine
Team celebrations at award winning Doncaster Sheffield Airport - named best small airport in the UK by Which? magazine

"The airport has also seen a fantastic uplift for cargo in the past two years with the cargo load increasing by 180 per cent since 2015; it’s testament to the fantastic team handling our cargo operation that we’ve been able to achieve this.

“We’re also working with our partners and stakeholders to develop the wider airport site, Aero Centre Yorkshire, which is backed by UK Government as one of the top investable projects in the North of England through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Portfolio.”

Doncaster Sheffield Airport already serves over 40 destinations, with its most recent airline Flybe adding 10 new low cost destinations to European travel hubs and popular leisure destinations.

The Airport’s other major airlines include TUI and WizzAir, which also offer leisure and business flights.

DSA, owned by Peel Group, sits within a wider 1,600 acre property and logistics development site known as Aero Centre Yorkshire and is accessible from across the region with improved transport links, including the The Great Yorkshire Way M18 link road, putting Sheffield city centre just 25 minutes away.

* For more details about Doncaster Sheffield Airport and its routes visit www.flydsa.co.uk and www.peel.co.uk.