History was made today, when a Thomsonfly.com aircraft became the first commercial airliner to leave the Robin Hood Airport runway. The aircraft took off at 0915 local time, carrying 149 passengers bound for Palma.

Robert Hough, Chairman of Peel Airports Limited announced today that Robin Hood Airport was launched as the first full service, purpose built airport to be constructed and licensed by the Civil Aviation Authority in over 50 years. It will act as an important catalyst for economic regeneration in the regions it will serve. With a catchment area East of the Pennines close to 5 million people, and encompassing Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and North Nottinghamshire, the airport became a gateway to the UK for both the business and tourism passengers.

Recent and increased inward investment around the airport illustrates the excitement within the region’s business community at the prospect of having an international gateway ‘on the doorstep’. The combined advantages of the Airport’s location, the major motorway networks serving Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire and Derbyshire, and the excellent connection with the East Coast Main line, together with opportunities for future rail links all add up to a transport Mecca in South Yorkshire. Plans have been submitted for an airport railway station on the Doncaster-Lincoln line which runs close by the terminal building and which will provide a rail link to Doncaster.

Robin Hood Airport offers an extensive choice of destinations to the traveller and the modern terminal building provides an enjoyable and comfortable experience, both fundamental factors influencing how passengers and in particular how frequently they fly.

David Ryall, Managing Director at Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield:

“Today is the first of many milestones for us and we are delighted to showcase
the airport. It is important to remember the dedicated team who have worked consistently throughout this first phase of project development, I am certain they will all be as proud as I am of what has been achieved in an incredibly short time since the start of construction.

Robin Hood Airport has the potential to be the fastest growing regional airport in the UK, we are aiming to become the ‘Airport of Choice’ east of the Pennines for passengers and airlines alike. We hope to achieve that goal within the next five years, if not sooner”.