A new airport.... South Yorkshire Airport City?

Doncaster Sheffield Airport Strategic Review Announcement​

Forums4airports discusses the latest press release from Doncaster Sheffield airport where the airport questions the future of the airport. The owners of the airport, the Peel Group have announced they are looking at their options as the group has decided the airport is no longer viable as an operational airport. Here's the press release:

"The Board of Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA) has begun a review of strategic options for the Airport. This review follows lengthy deliberations by the Board of DSA which has reluctantly concluded that aviation activity on the site may no longer be commercially viable.

DSA’s owner, the Peel Group, as the Airport’s principal funder, has reviewed the conclusions of the Board of DSA and commissioned external independent advice in order to evaluate and test the conclusions drawn, which concurs with the Board’s initial findings.

Since the Peel Group acquired the Airport site in 1999 and converted it into an international commercial airport, which opened in 2005, significant amounts have been invested in the terminal, the airfield and its operations, both in relation to the original conversion and subsequently to improve the facilities and infrastructure on offer to create an award winning airport.

However, despite growth in passenger numbers, DSA has never achieved the critical mass required to become profitable and this fundamental issue of a shortfall in passenger numbers is exacerbated by the announcement on 10 June 2022 of the unilateral withdrawal of the Wizz Air based aircraft, leaving the Airport with only one base carrier, namely TUI.

This challenge has been increased by other changes in the aviation market, the well-publicised impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and increasingly important environmental considerations. It has therefore been concluded that aviation activity may no longer be the use for the site which delivers the maximum economic and environmental benefit to the region. Against this backdrop, DSA and the Peel Group, will initiate a consultation and engagement programme with stakeholders on the future of the site and how best to maximise and capitalise on future economic growth opportunities for Doncaster and the wider Sheffield City Region.

The wider Peel Group is already delivering significant development and business opportunities on its adjoining GatewayEast development including the recent deal for over 400,000 sq ft logistics and advanced manufacturing development on site, creating hundreds of new jobs and delivering further economic investment in the region.

Robert Hough, Chairman of Peel Airports Group, which includes Doncaster Sheffield Airport, said: “It is a critical time for aviation globally. Despite pandemic related travel restrictions slowly drawing to a close, we are still facing ongoing obstacles and dynamic long-term threats to the future of the aviation industry. The actions by Wizz to sacrifice its base at Doncaster to shore up its business opportunities at other bases in the South of England are a significant blow for the Airport.

Now is the right time to review how DSA can best create future growth opportunities for Doncaster and for South Yorkshire. The Peel Group remains committed to delivering economic growth, job opportunities and prosperity for Doncaster and the wider region.”

DSA and the Peel Group pride themselves on being forward-thinking whilst prioritising the welfare of staff and customers alike. As such, no further public comments will be made whilst they undertake this engagement period with all stakeholders.
During the Strategic Review, the Airport will operate as normal. Therefore passengers who are due to travel to the airport, please arrive and check in as normal. If there are any disruptions with your flight, you will be contacted by your airline in good time.
For all press enquiries, please contact Charlotte Leach at [email protected]."

"Not great news for DSA or the region"

Should the government or local council foot the bill and provide a financial subsidy to keep the airport open, thoughts...?

 

And closure, if indeed it ever does re-open, is still a very realistic possibility. A look at all the airports MAI have been involved in identifies that they have brought zero capital into any of those projects. Their relationship has always been based upon a contracted basis.

So the question remains where is the Council going to get the extra funding which will no doubt be required going forward??

Indeed, and all of the airports appear to be high critical mass mostly backed by private sector funds. Which leads me to wonder how much deviation occurred from the original tender process to arrive at a point where they have a management consultants they’re calling ‘an operator’ but a small mention of Fly Plymouth who apparently have £1500.00 of assets to their name with £-665,00.00 reserves according to a Facebook post I saw earlier.

This really is dodgy as hell. It’s tantamount to bullying SYMCA into giving them the money in spite of admitting that it’s a high risk venture. Of course you have the social media commentators appearing to pull anyone with an alternative view aside and threaten with libel or pretending that they know ‘but aren’t telling’. One of those seemingly being an ‘life skills instructor’ whatever one of those is. Asking for transparency isn’t libellous. Anyway it all plays into the narrative, but one way or another it’ll bite them.

BREAKING NEWS…International airport expertise has been secured to reopen Doncaster’s airport

Today Mayor Ros Jones confirms that one of Europe’s most successful airport operator’s subsidiary will strategically partner the reopening of the former Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

Germany-based Munich Airport International GmbH (MAI) will provide operational and management services to FlyDoncaster, the airport’s operator – a wholly owned City of Doncaster Council (CDC) company - along with FP Airports Ltd, aviation sector specialists in the UK, to progress the airport’s reopening.

Doncaster Councils own statement is clear. FlyDoncaster are the operator with FP Airports Ltd.

 

Indeed, and all of the airports appear to be high critical mass mostly backed by private sector funds. Which leads me to wonder how much deviation occurred from the original tender process to arrive at a point where they have a management consultants they’re calling ‘an operator’ but a small mention of Fly Plymouth who apparently have £1500.00 of assets to their name with £-665,00.00 reserves according to a Facebook post I saw earlier.

This really is dodgy as hell. It’s tantamount to bullying SYMCA into giving them the money in spite of admitting that it’s a high risk venture. Of course you have the social media commentators appearing to pull anyone with an alternative view aside and threaten with libel or pretending that they know ‘but aren’t telling’. One of those seemingly being an ‘life skills instructor’ whatever one of those is. Asking for transparency isn’t libellous. Anyway it all plays into the narrative, but one way or another it’ll bite them.


Doncaster Councils own statement is clear. FlyDoncaster are the operator with FP Airports Ltd.

I’d missed that, that’s even more comical if it wasn’t a serious risk of a waste of public £s…..how on earth have FP pass public sector procurement regulations??

 

Heard the first airline and routes set to be announced in the coming days.

New start up Fly NO1 are set to operate 4 times daily DSA-Plymouth using the 777X.

Someone put earlier this is set to be fascinating or such, its utterly farcial and frankly beyond a joke. Now OC and RJ have openly admitted they are on a different wavelength with this. Maybe it isn't a headache for OC having this round his neck constantly he wasn't fussy to start with the idea but played the game has become more withdrawn from the idea but now decided to draw it out even longer its bonkers.

 

Heard the first airline and routes set to be announced in the coming days.

New start up Fly NO1 are set to operate 4 times daily DSA-Plymouth using the 777X.

Someone put earlier this is set to be fascinating or such, its utterly farcial and frankly beyond a joke. Now OC and RJ have openly admitted they are on a different wavelength with this. Maybe it isn't a headache for OC having this round his neck constantly he wasn't fussy to start with the idea but played the game has become more withdrawn from the idea but now decided to draw it out even longer its bonkers.

Coppard strikes me as quite sensible in the midst of the usual political stuff. I don’t think I’m the only one who senses some

Heard the first airline and routes set to be announced in the coming days.

New start up Fly NO1 are set to operate 4 times daily DSA-Plymouth using the 777X.

Someone put earlier this is set to be fascinating or such, its utterly farcial and frankly beyond a joke. Now OC and RJ have openly admitted they are on a different wavelength with this. Maybe it isn't a headache for OC having this round his neck constantly he wasn't fussy to start with the idea but played the game has become more withdrawn from the idea but now decided to draw it out even longer its bonkers.

Coppard strikes me as quite sensible in the midst of the usual political stuff. I don’t think I’m the only one who senses some tensions between the offices of the two mayors as someone wide put it.

The hastily arranged promotional video makes no mention of the elephant in the room, they’ve already asked for more money ahead of the request for Gainshare drawdown. It’ll be getting on for £20million before they even request the £105 million. Is it just me or did anyone else who watched it expect her to reach into her handbag and offer you a humbug? Perhaps I’ve just reached a certain age..

Anyway, whatever capacity MAI are to be involved, it’ll be at no risk to themselves owing to their shareholders. They have no expertise in the competitive U.K. market and judging by the councils own statement as posted above, they appear to be faking a management/advisory role. It’s completely different to the model that was sold to the public and yet they’ve lapping up in the name if ‘the people’s airport’.

I think there’s more to come on this, particularly after the local elections.

 

I see Yorkshire Post has written about the mechanic over his accusations. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/bus...ed-on-public-funding-plans-chris-burn-4975158

 

I see Yorkshire Post has written about the mechanic over his accusations. https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/bus...ed-on-public-funding-plans-chris-burn-4975158

Behind a paywall, anyone got the full copy?

 

Indeed, on a ‘multi year deal’. Multi would imply more than one, so are MAI consulting in re-establishing the airport by which point they’ll have over to FP Avistion Ltd? Devil in the detail, which is not forthcoming

I have had a polite and constructive discussion with a contributor on another FB page (who has changed identity) but I recognise 'her' style of comments from previous exchanges and 'she' always had a good handle on information. According to 'her' it is actually FP airports who are advising FlyDoncaster in order to get the airfield licensed and then MAI will step in to run it (and charge FlyDoncaster ) at that point for a minimum contracted 10 years with all liability accruing to FlyDoncaster - so the reverse as to how I interpreted it No clarity from the Mayor however to enable a definitive interpretation.

Behind a paywall, anyone got the full copy?

Perhaps we should all chip in and pay the £1 Be interested if anyone does have the copy - YP bites back!!

 

Behind a paywall, anyone got the full copy?

I have had a polite and constructive discussion with a contributor on another FB page (who has changed identity) but I recognise 'her' style of comments from previous exchanges and 'she' always had a good handle on information. According to 'her' it is actually FP airports who are advising FlyDoncaster in order to get the airfield licensed and then MAI will step in to run it (and charge FlyDoncaster ) at that point for a minimum contracted 10 years with all liability accruing to FlyDoncaster - so the reverse as to how I interpreted it No clarity from the Mayor however to enable a definitive interpretation.


Perhaps we should all chip in and pay the £1 Be interested if anyone does have the copy - YP bites back!!

I have had a polite and constructive discussion with a contributor on another FB page (who has changed identity) but I recognise 'her' style of comments from previous exchanges and 'she' always had a good handle on information. According to 'her' it is actually FP airports who are advising FlyDoncaster in order to get the airfield licensed and then MAI will step in to run it (and charge FlyDoncaster ) at that point for a minimum contracted 10 years with all liability accruing to FlyDoncaster - so the reverse as to how I interpreted it No clarity from the Mayor however to enable a definitive interpretation.


Perhaps we should all chip in and pay the £1 Be interested if anyone does have the copy - YP bites back!!

I don't think Anne Marie is the best source, she posted for a month with the LBA ramp worker Rob that it was Dublin Airports Authority, every day with her Dublin posts. She is just makng stories up, there are some people I follow who have been ahead of the game, she is just a Tory mouthpiece

 

I have had a polite and constructive discussion with a contributor on another FB page (who has changed identity) but I recognise 'her' style of comments from previous exchanges and 'she' always had a good handle on information. According to 'her' it is actually FP airports who are advising FlyDoncaster in order to get the airfield licensed and then MAI will step in to run it (and charge FlyDoncaster ) at that point for a minimum contracted 10 years with all liability accruing to FlyDoncaster - so the reverse as to how I interpreted it No clarity from the Mayor however to enable a definitive interpretation.


Perhaps we should all chip in and pay the £1 Be interested if anyone does have the copy - YP bites back!!

I don’t believe that to be the case. Unless the Councils own statement is incorrect, the FlyDoncaster will be the operator with some management/advice from MAI under contract. It’s not totally clear the role FP Airports Ltd will play as the wording is slightly ambiguous but I’m not sure how they can be called specialists in anything since they don’t appear to have been particularly active until now. This person might have a handle on public sector procurement and contracts but we all know how efficient (and finance intensive!) they tend to be..

The mention of Munich is designed only to deflect and distract. The council were always going to have to pay an SME to do that because they don’t have the expertise in house. Interested to know why FP are involved considering there are far more experienced specialists in the U.K. it’s very strange indeed.

 

Behind a paywall, anyone got the full copy?

I have had a polite and constructive discussion with a contributor on another FB page (who has changed identity) but I recognise 'her' style of comments from previous exchanges and 'she' always had a good handle on information. According to 'her' it is actually FP airports who are advising FlyDoncaster in order to get the airfield licensed and then MAI will step in to run it (and charge FlyDoncaster ) at that point for a minimum contracted 10 years with all liability accruing to FlyDoncaster - so the reverse as to how I interpreted it No clarity from the Mayor however to enable a definitive interpretation.


Perhaps we should all chip in and pay the £1 Be interested if anyone does have the copy - YP bites back!!

 

Interesting, thanks for posting.

Interesting that the council have chosen not to comment. It’s also interesting that they appear to be placating those unduly calling them biased. I still believe they are incorrect regards YA and their submission to the SAU, do not believe it was on behalf of LBA but this is not clear either way so can’t say for sure.

I can’t see how the benefits of Gateway East could be predicated by having an airport there. Doesn’t make sense and there don’t appear to be any synergies between the two.. The Council really need to explain this but don’t appear to be willing to.

Regards FP Airports Ltd, someone I know has tried to research them and come back blank. Their CEO appears to have been heavily involved in the attempt to reopen Plymouth Airport for the past 14 years, including most recently arguing that there’s a gap in the market there to exploit. Operational restrictions aside (I understand Plymouth was more restricted than Sheffield City), there may be a market there but no airlines capable of serving it. So it’s a bit of a moot point. As for the rest of the team, the other directors also have no tangible aviation experience other than one being involved in the reopening of Plymouth AirPort. Needless to say Plymouth AirPort has remained closed for around 15 years.

HOME | FP Airports

www.fpairports.com

If they’re consulting on the processes of reopening then I’d have little confidence. Where are Cyrrus or Northpoint Aviation or indeed Jacob’s in all of this? All the regulatory hoops are complex enough and will need people with technical expertise to help navigate them. Is it a case of FP simply reaching out to CDC to put them in touch with MAI? We know Cyrrus had started the new ACP last year.. Have the others turned their backs on it? Are their services simply too expensive at the moment?

Too many unanswered questions, particularly about the operational capacity MAI will have. Is it going to be management over email? I imagine their services don’t come cheap.

 

£145m now according to the Yorkshire Post

 

And the rest probably. Getting dafter by the day. Perhaps the politicians think that the more they spend the more impressed the airlines will be and they'll be queuing up to fly there.

Thanks for posting.

 

seem the YP has already picked up on the costs of this vanity project going north https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/bus...-to-over-ps145m-council-paper-reveals-4977457
Needles to say the YP is getting hammered again on their Facebook stream by the DSA fanatics…..

Interesting to see Coppards comments as posted in the screenshots above by EK. So they appear to be asking for another £10m and then a £10m again? But who is Coppard going to commission to do an ‘independent audit’ of the plan? Because if they audit based on the growth models shown in the apparent base pessimistic and optimistic projections that CDC have seen, there’s no way they’ll reach a different result.

What needs to happen is large scale industry stakeholder consultation. Yes that would include current airports who may appear biased but will be well versed in the challenges facing ALL regional airports in the U.K. and the huge barriers to entry for an airport that has failed once and is located in an area that the proponents keep calling an area of high economic deprivation. It’s not going to be much use if people can’t afford to fly is it!

Ignore York Aviation at your peril. I hope LBA and others have their legal teams on this now.

 

I have now seen a Yorkshire Post article on Facebook with one commenter stating

"one of either etihad or emirates had planned to fly from DSA but as Peel Holdings had a stake in Manchester they were afraid all flights would transfer to FSA so it never went ahead."

I have responded to that post and also the person to whom his ill advised comments were signposted to (to whom I just dropped the possibility of being included in libel action for those falsehoods unless he were to denounce those comments).

Utterly delusional with no sense of fact checking

 

I have now seen a Yorkshire Post article on Facebook with one commenter stating

"one of either etihad or emirates had planned to fly from DSA but as Peel Holdings had a stake in Manchester they were afraid all flights would transfer to FSA so it never went ahead."

I have responded to that post and also the person to whom his ill advised comments were signposted to (to whom I just dropped the possibility of being included in libel action for those falsehoods unless he were to denounce those comments).

Utterly delusional with no sense of fact checking

They're all bonkers.....

 

I have now seen a Yorkshire Post article on Facebook with one commenter stating

"one of either etihad or emirates had planned to fly from DSA but as Peel Holdings had a stake in Manchester they were afraid all flights would transfer to FSA so it never went ahead."

I have responded to that post and also the person to whom his ill advised comments were signposted to (to whom I just dropped the possibility of being included in libel action for those falsehoods unless he were to denounce those comments).

Utterly delusional with no sense of fact checking

See this is the problem, people can just make utter rubbish like that up and because DSA apparently has the longest runway in the U.K. (used to be able to land the space shuttle there don’t you know) and therefore people just believe this bilge and it plays into some kind of confirmation bias. Throw Peel and their supposed dodgy dealings into the mix and you have an airport that could have been the Heathrow of the north had Peel not thwarted it.

What do these people think the erstwhile town of Doncaster actually is? But there’s just too many of them to change their opinion, it’s stuck like Brexit has to the stereotype…

FWIW though, nobody is chasing anyone for libel. Peel have better things to do, and as for the people silencing others on social media for having the gall to challenge an elected leader on her lack of transparency, I’d love to see that go to court!

 

not to worry, I been called a puerile remark by him. now Just by raising the spectre of libel action I just wanted to put the wind up him as although it's not likely, there is always the chance of Peel wanting to make an example of those who perpetrate lies.

 

not to worry, I been called a puerile remark by him. now Just by raising the spectre of libel action I just wanted to put the wind up him as although it's not likely, there is always the chance of Peel wanting to make an example of those who perpetrate lies.

With Peel dignified silence is the order of the day. If anything they could have probably done CDC a blinder when they were saying that Peel did things wrong and shouldn’t have closed the airport, but of course the courts saw to it that they were in fact within their rights. Hence the council going back with begging bowl cos the runway is the longest in the U.K. and could be the Heathrow of the north. If only someone would realise.

 

could be the Heathrow of the north. If only someone would realise.

but peel started that idea, and promoted it.

on a side note 2 massive warehouses near the airport have just leased, and the occupier wants to remain anonymous. with them being long term leases , they will push ahead with the construction of more warehouse space as planning is already passed.