Doncaster Sheffield Airport could be back in business in April or May if a deal can be struck, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard says.

The airport closed on 4 November but talks between owner Peel Group and a business consortium from the United Arab Emirates are ongoing, according to local reports.

The Mayor was speaking during an online Q&A organised by businessman Mark Chadwick, creator of the Save Doncaster Sheffield Airport Facebook page, local newspaper The Star reports.

Mr Chadwick said: “We will be waiting for the investors and Peel to do a deal before we know what’s happening with the future of DSA.

“If all goes well and a deal is done the airport could be open to passenger travel by April/May time.”

Travel Gossip understands that the UAE investor has made a second offer for the airport, which is ‘substantially’ more than its market value.

“If all fails, talks stop and no purchase happens, then Doncaster Council and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority are prepared to take this further and carry out a Compulsory Purchase Order on the airport site,” said Mr Chadwick after the online Q&A.

Doncaster Metropolitan Council has a judicial review next week to prevent any assets being removed from the airport while negotiations with prospective buyers are ongoing.

A compulsory purchase order is ‘the last option available’, said Mr Chadwick, adding that it could take two years and it won’t save the airport.

Peel Group announced in the summer that it was planning on closing DSA, saying it did not make financial sense to keep it open.

See also: TUI confirms date of last flights from Doncaster Sheffield