Doncaster Sheffield Airport: "Bittersweet accolade' as base named UK's best for fourth year

The Which? survey of Britain’s best airports saw Doncaster Sheffield Airport retain its crown as the UK’s number one – just days before owners Peel close it down.

Doncaster topped the consumer champion’s survey for the fourth consecutive time, after almost 7,500 Which? members were asked to rate their experiences at UK airports over the past two years.

The airport is due to shut down in the coming days, with the final flight scheduled for November 4.

With a customer score of 85 per cent, travellers praised the ‘fantastic, helpful staff’ and ‘faultless service’, awarding the airport's employees a full five stars.

The airport also scooped five star ratings for queues through security and at baggage reclaim, as well as for seating and toilet facilities, with one respondent enthusing their experience was ‘how air travel should be’.

The airport did however drop to 4 stars for queues at check-in and bag drop, while it received its lowest ratings for the shopping experience offered - rating three stars for the price of goods, and just two stars for the range of shops.

Exeter and Liverpool John Lennon Airports tied in second place in the consumer champion’s survey, with a customer score of 83 per cent. Both airports earned Which? Recommended Provider status for the first time. Exeter scored a near-perfect set of five- star ratings, dropping to two stars only on the choice of shops available.

Multiple respondents commented on the ‘small, friendly’ feel of the airport, with travellers praising the ease and convenience they experienced, and notably, a lack of queues.

Guy Hobbs, Editor of Which? Travel said: “This year we’ve witnessed unprecedented chaos at many of the UK's largest airports. Travellers reported extensive queues and unhelpful staff, with resources pushed to breaking point.

“Just a few years ago, travellers may have paid little attention to their choice of airport – but now it may just make or break your trip. Wherever possible, we’d recommend opting for smaller airports, which have generally offered a smoother and less stressful experience for their passengers over the last two years."

Owners Peel have been blasted by GMB, the union fighting to save the jobs of 800 workers, with organiser Sarah Barnes saying: “Once again Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been named the best in the country for customer satisfaction.

“It’s an incredible transport hub, with huge scope for expansion. It needs to be saved.

“Instead, Peel Group seem hell bent on getting as much cash as they can by closing the airport and flogging the site for housing.

“It makes no sense for any one but the Peel Group top we cannot let them get away with it.”

Meanwhile, Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones has urged new Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to step in and save the airport – after previous PM Liz Truss promised to do all she could to save the airport on three separate occasions, before washing her hands of the situation.

Mayor Jones has also launched legal action against Peel and said: “I have made it clear that if there is no collaborative arrangement for the airport’s future, we will initiate the process for Compulsory Purchase Order.”