Doncaster Sheffield Airport closure: Manchester Airports Group guarantees interviews for employees

Manchester Airport Groups has said all staff impacted by the impending closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport will be guaranteed an interview at its airports.

The group, which also oversees East Midlands Airport and London Stansted, has two up and coming jobs fairs at these sites.

A Manchester Airports Group (MAG) spokesperson said: “Following the sad news of the planned closure of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), Manchester Airports Group (MAG), will offer all affected staff a guaranteed interview for vacancies across its three airports – East Midlands, London Stansted and Manchester.

“East Midlands Airport will be participating in a jobs fair tomorrow, Tuesday 27 September at The Chatsworth Arts Centre in Long Eaton, and London Stansted Airport will host a jobs fair on Tuesday 4 October at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Stansted Airport.

“All affected staff from DSA are invited to attend, to learn more about available opportunities and the recruitment process.”

The group also provided information on how staff from Doncaster Sheffield Airport can keep up to date with the latest roles across all of its airports, including Manchester.

The spokesperson added: “For anyone unable to attend the upcoming events, or for more information about available roles across the Group, affected staff should visit MAG’s careers website, linked here.”

Why is Doncaster Sheffield Airport closing?

Following a strategic review The Peel Airports Group, which includes Doncaster Sheffield Airport, announced that “no tangible proposals” have been received in regards to ownership of the airport.

The airport concluded that a combination of “the high fixed costs associated with running a safe, regulated airport, together with recent events materially reducing prospective future aviation income streams,” resulted in “a break-even business plan cannot be identified for the foreseeable future.”

As a result, the airport will begin winding down its flight services at the end of October.

The airport has said it will “continue to work closely with airport customers and other users to explain the impact of this service reduction and work with them to minimise the disruption to their operations and customers.”

Robert Hough, Chairman of Peel Airports Group, said: “We recognise that this will come as a great disappointment to many.

“The intractable problem remains the fundamental and insufficient lack of current or prospective revenue streams, together with the airport’s high operating costs.

“Our employees have always been DSA’s greatest asset, and we are grateful to them all, past and present, for their dedication and diligence over the years.

“The immediate priority remains to continue engaging closely with them over the next few weeks.

“As such, DSA will now begin a formal process of consulting with team members.”

Mr Hough added: “We will do everything we can to minimise the impact of these proposals and work closely with local authorities and agencies to support our employees through what we know will be an extremely difficult period.

“DSA has remained in contact with union representatives on site throughout and we are committed to ensuring they are updated through every step of this next phase.”