Looks like Ryanair maybe expanding at DSA
Managing director David Ryall said the former RAF Finningley, which yesterday celebrated six months since the first flights on April 28, would seek to build on its successful start.
It has been used by almost 500,000 passengers and handled 900 tonnes of freight, one-and-a-half times the amount transported last year through all Yorkshire's airports put together.
Mr Ryall said: "It's been an excellent start and we're already having bookings for next year, when flights are launched to Florida, the Caribbean and Mexico.
"P&O and Princes Cruises have also recognised the airport's potential. From 2007, they will be providing direct flights from Robin Hood to connect with their cruises in the Caribbean. In addition to the ever increasing number of routes and destinations around Europe, including Thomsonfly's regular flights to Amsterdam which begin on Friday, Ryanair have been performing extremely well on their daily route to Dublin.
"The demand has been strong and they are bringing in a larger aircraft for the service.
"I'd anticipate that in the not-too-distant-future the airline will be announcing an extension to their services from our airport."
He said he was unable to give further details and Ryanair was unavailable for comment.
Mr Ryall said the airport attracted passengers from across Yorkshire and Newcastle, Peterborough and Coventry.
He responded to criticism about noise from people living near the airport, saying it was trying to minimise problems suffered by neighbouring residents.
The airport was allowing a number of houses under the flightpath to claim sound insulation grants even though they would not be eligible until the airport expanded, increasing the number of larger planes.
Only a small area of housing close to the north and south ends of the runway qualify because their noise levels are above those set by the Government.
Mr Ryall said the airport had carried out a computer study to show how affected areas will increase in the next two years and the additional areas had also been allocated grants.
He added a tracking system monitoring the routes of aircraft approaching and taking off from Finningley was being brought in more quickly than it is obliged to by law. This normally applies when airports carry more than 1.5 million passengers a year.
The system will show how many pilots follow recommended 'tracks' in the sky to avoid areas such as Bawtry but Mr Ryall said the routes were not legally binding, and depended on factors such as weather conditions.
He added night flying of passengers and freight took place but that it was allowed under the airport's planning permission, which allows flying 24 hours a day.
Mr Ryall pointed out that the number of people complaining about noise was down from 62 in May to 23 in September.
He said: "We are aware aircraft make some noise but we are trying to be a good neighbour and are doing more than we are obliged to by law."
From the Doncaster Star