Four companies have been invited to tender to run Doncaster Sheffield Airport if it is able to re-open, the local Mayor has confirmed.

Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones said she expects an operator to be finalised early next year.

On Wednesday, Mayor Jones said: “This afternoon I updated Doncaster Council councillors that negotiations are ongoing with the current landowners, and that positive progress is being made on a potential lease.

“We have launched a procurement exercise to obtain an airport operator. The first stage has now closed. I can report that eight bidders submitted an interest which have been carefully considered and assessed and we are now in a position where four have been invited to the next stage of the procurement process which is the Invitation to Tender stages.

“We are currently on track to have an operator finalised for spring 2024.”

She added: “Whilst we are at this critical juncture with negotiations, we will continue to engage with UK government and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) in relation to protecting our airspace to aid efforts to re-open our airport.”