Airport operator Peel Group has been urged to extend consultation on the future of Doncaster Sheffield Airport to the end of the year.

Three Doncaster MPs, Aviation Minister Robert Courts and two local mayors have all signed a letter saying they were disappointed with the six-week consultation period Peel put in place after announcing last month the regional airport ‘may no longer be commercially viable’.

Don Valley MP Nick Fletcher, Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband, Doncaster Central MP Rosie Winterton, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard and the Mayor of Doncaster Ros Jones joined Mr Courts in urging Peel to ‘outline all of the options they are open to exploring for the future of the airport’, including the sale of the site.

They say the are disappointed consultation period was launched with little notice and for a six-week period over the summer months.

“You should be under no illusion about the strength of public and political feeling onthis matter and how damaging this is for Peel’s brand locally and nationally.

“We encourage Peel Group to extend the consultation period until the end of 2022 to enable a meaningful engagement and consideration of options,” the letter says.

Mayor Coppard said he has not ruled out public ownership of the airport.