AN airport that was forced to close in 2022 is inviting people back – and they even even walk on the runway.
Doncaster Sheffield Airport axed all flights and shut its doors three years ago, due to financial viability issues.
With new plans being pushed to relaunch operations in the next year years, it is opening to the public for a special event.
Being organised by Libra Races, the new Run the Runway event will let people run a race directly on the abandoned runway.
Guests can choose between a 3.5k – which is open to anyone over the age of seven – or a 5.8k race – for anyone aged 12 and above.
Runners will be given a ‘bespoke’ medal with the race being chip timed.
At the end, there will also be t shirts on sale, and people will able to take pictures with a Vulcan Bomber aircraft currently on the tarmac.
Proceeds from the race are going towards the upkeep of it, as it also offers rare cockpit and wing tours still.
Libra Races said: “We are very excited to announce that Run the Runway is now open for entries, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to run a race on the Doncaster Sheffield Airport Runway ahead of flights returning hopefully in 2027.”
The one-day event is set to take place next year on March 21.
Tickets are on sale with the shorter race costing £14 and the longer route costing £20.
More than 300 tickets have already been sold since they went on sale yesterday.
A huge drive to reopen Doncaster Sheffield has resulted in plans to relaunch passenger flights.
The airport first opened in 2005, then called Robin Hood Airport, before being renamed to Doncaster Sheffield in 2016.
The airport welcomed both TUI and Wizz Air, operating to destinations across Europe.
This included destinations such as Paris, Alicante, Dubrovnik and Berlin.
However, the airport closed back in 2022 after Peel Group – the then operator – said it was making yearly losses.
But new plans will see a £193million reopening project, the City of Doncaster Council confirmed.
Airlines such as Ryanair and TUI have been in talks with the airport, and it is hoped that some flights could relaunch as soon as 2027.
Yet this is likely to initially be limited to cargo flights, with commercial routes following in 2028.
Reopening the airport could boost the economy by as much as £5billion.
Here is another closed UK airport that wants to reopen.