The following correction was printed in the Observer's For the record column, Sunday May 1 2005

In the article below, we repeated a claim by Robin Hood Airport, Doncaster, that it is the first commercial airport to open in Britain since 1966, overlooking Belfast City (1983), London City (1987) and Sheffield City (1998).

Britain's first new commercial airport for 39 years opens this week. Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, an ex-RAF base, is the first to open since Stansted in 1966.

The airport will operate flights to European destinations with its key airline partner Thomsonfly.com. The inaugural flight will be to Palma, departing on Thursday morning and routes to Malaga, Faro and Alicante will also start that day. Those to Jersey, Prague and Dublin will begin on Friday, followed by Valencia, Pisa and Paris on 20 May.

Although the development has largely been welcomed by residents as it will create jobs, some environmentalists have opposed the airport.

Richard Dyer, of Friends of the Earth, said: 'Robin Hood Airport is unnecessary and it's irresponsible of the government to have allowed it. Unneccessary, because there is spare capacity at existing airports. Irresponsible, because opening new airports encourages further growth in aviation which is the fastest growing source of the gases causing climate change.'

The name has also been a source of strife, but airport officials argue Doncaster's links with Robin Hood are strong enough and he married Maid Marian nearby.