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The airport project was championed by the local authority's Labour mayor, Ros Jones, who is thought to have been re-elected by a slim margin largely due to her determination to get the potentially transformational project done, despite a surge in support for Reform.

Behind the scenes pictures have given an exciting glimpse of what a UK airport set to reopen will look like, after a funding row was finally resolved. Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) near Finningley in Doncaster was once an important regional flight hub called Robin Hood Airport, with flights launching from 2005 to a variety of popular holiday destinations including Alicante, Majorca, and Paris.

But it was forced pull down the shutters for good in 2022 after its owners, Peel Group, deemed it financially "unviable". As a result, South Yorkshire without an international airport in a major blow for the county. But, in September last year, the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) formally approved a £160million funding package built on earlier commitments to reopen the airport as DSA, in a potentially transformational moment for the local economy. Its revival came after campaigning by residents and local politicians, and with the backing of the Labour Government.

However, the plans were thrown into doubt in recent weeks amid a dispute within the council Doncaster City Council a £57million loan from the local council to support the reopening efforts, with Reform UK councillors raising concerns about whether taxpayers would see a return on investment.

But the deadlock was broken after they dropped their opposition this week, meaning the plans are continuing. The team behind the airport reboot previously shared some snaps revealing how the flight hub is looking, as it eyes a return to commercial flights.

Read on to get a look at where you could soon be flying from.

The structure of local Government in Doncaster means Ms Jones maintains executive control as Mayor despite Reform winning a majority in the council in the last election, and now holding the purse strings.

Nigel Farage's party initially supported the airport project, but in April said they would consider voting to rescind approval, as they sought further information about how the money would be spent and benefit residents.

At the end of last month, Mr Farage criticised the terms of the lease deal being negotiated with the current owners of the site, The Peel Group, insisting the council needed to get the freehold to avoid it being a "massive drain" on taxpayers.

Ms Jones told the BBC News at the time: "Last week Reform said DSA should be privately funded and today they're saying it should be acquired by the council or government, even if that means through a compulsory purchase order (CPO).

"It is important to remember we offered to buy the freehold back in 2022 and Peel refused, the offer of a lease effectively killed off any chance of a successful CPO," Ms Jones said.

She added that a CPO application could take between five to seven years with little prospect of succeeding. The face-off prompted fears that the project would have to be axed, despite considerable progress in efforts to get it ready for commercial air traffic once again.

But at an extraordinary meeting of the council on Monday, Reform dropped its opposition to the loan provided they're able to see copies of the new lease before it's greenlit, ITV News reported.

Ms Jones said she was "delighted to see Reform's done the U-turn", dismissing the threat to halt the project from the hard-right party as a "political stunt".

Freight services at the flight hub could begin next year, with passenger flights launching in 2028, reports suggest.

Reacting to the news that the funding row had been resolved, GMB Organiser Sarah Barnes, said: "It's a massive relief - both personally and for everyone South Yorkshire - that the airport project hasn't been killed.

"Thanks to pressure from workers, unions and politicians, Reform has executed a screeching U-turn and will no longer cancel the £57 million loan. This is a huge victory for the people of Doncaster."

FlyDoncaster, the Council-owned company formed to reopen and manage the airport, has partnered with German operator Munich Airport International (MAI) on the project.

It was confirmed this week that DSA had officially passed the first two stages of its Airspace Change Process (ACP), giving it greater autonomy were flight movements are concerned, Airport Industry News reports.

It now moves into stage three, in which a more detailed public consultation on airspace plans will take place. This is set to held this summer.

The estimated cost of the works to return the airport to full operation is now around £193million, including the £160million approved by the SYMCA.

You can find out more about the reopening plans here.