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...?

 

I don’t know if the phrase zero sum game is most appropriate here. If it reopens nobody wins. The other local airports will have to reduce their fees to maintain competitiveness, the TUI passengers will still be charged a premium for holidays departing DSA. The tax payer will have to foot the bill. Only winner potentially is the person getting voted for.,,

I can't wait to read all the moans when it opens and the passengers using DSA find that this time, they will be paying drop off fees and likely as not, considerably higher parking fees, because I can't see how they could possibly afford not to charge such fees. The debt they're going to accrue means they'll need every pound they can extract from the few customers they're likely to have.

 

I'm jolly glad I have zero involvement in the DSA project because there is so much at stake. If the project turns out to be successful, the likes of Coppard, Chadwick etc. will be regarded as local heroes. But I wouldn't want to be any such person if DSA should fail again.

I think it’s a but IF the project turns successful.. I can’t see from any direction how it will be if the airport ever reopens. Even to get to 1M pax which wouldn’t happen in the first year.

Chadwick again posting a big rant last night doesn’t like negative comments / people actually raising relevant and valid points because it’s blurring all narrative he wants to perceive. He is happy for every other airport to get negative comments / bashing etc. double standards, nothing but a clown who can’t even write a letter to the government with a capital M in his name!

 

I think it’s a but IF the project turns successful.. I can’t see from any direction how it will be if the airport ever reopens. Even to get to 1M pax which wouldn’t happen in the first year.

Chadwick again posting a big rant last night doesn’t like negative comments / people actually raising relevant and valid points because it’s blurring all narrative he wants to perceive. He is happy for every other airport to get negative comments / bashing etc. double standards, nothing but a clown who can’t even write a letter to the government with a capital M in his name!

He has to control the narrative. I can see why people get tired of the political point scoring but actually he has allowed his group to perpetuate myths which do nothing to aid in transparency.

There’s nothing at all wrong with wanting the airport to reopen, but justifying it by basing your views on flawed logic is only going to end in the same result.

CDC have the site now. They claim to have a revised business plan but this hasn’t even been released, not even an outline form. What are they going to do differently to ensure at least that the public are protected?

 

Perhaps they should get James Asquith as a board member. He is another one who seems to be living in cloud cuckoo land. Just don't see how, now only 12 months out, that any pax ops can happen from spring 2026. So another year's delay going to need even more funding. So perhaps the 5 airlines and routes in question are:
Global with a daily A380 to JFK
Ecojet with a daily Twotter to EDI
IPS with a daily UAV to ISB
Monarch with a daily PMI and ALC
Flybe with a daily BHD, CDG and AMS
Please excuse the extreme sarcasm but reality is going to have to hit sooner rather than later

 

Perhaps they should get James Asquith as a board member. He is another one who seems to be living in cloud cuckoo land. Just don't see how, now only 12 months out, that any pax ops can happen from spring 2026. So another year's delay going to need even more funding. So perhaps the 5 airlines and routes in question are:
Global with a daily A380 to JFK
Ecojet with a daily Twotter to EDI
IPS with a daily UAV to ISB
Monarch with a daily PMI and ALC
Flybe with a daily BHD, CDG and AMS
Please excuse the extreme sarcasm but reality is going to have to hit sooner rather than later

I’ve seen too many people saying they’re holding off booking something for next year in anticipation. That’s setting them up for some bad blood from the off surely?

Yes you could say that those people shouldn’t wait for a what if, but when they’re being told that it is reopening then expectations are already set. We already know that TUI high street trade teams have been having to tell people not to wait for DSA because it’s affecting forward bookings. This hasn’t gone unnoticed by other operators either. Politicians being told things yet choosing not to actually acknowledge these challenges in public.

 

He has to control the narrative. I can see why people get tired of the political point scoring but actually he has allowed his group to perpetuate myths which do nothing to aid in transparency.

There’s nothing at all wrong with wanting the airport to reopen, but justifying it by basing your views on flawed logic is only going to end in the same result.

CDC have the site now. They claim to have a revised business plan but this hasn’t even been released, not even an outline form. What are they going to do differently to ensure at least that the public are protected?

Have they even responded yet to the questions raised earlier in the year by the government agency regarding the impact on surrounding airports etc,? Its all gone very quiet yet again on the public subsidy/funding issues they have to respond to.

So assuming they were planning to be operational by April 2026 , all they need to do is blag loads of money from Mr Mayor, resurface their super long runway (the longest in the UK/Europe/the World don't you know), install some landing lights (assuming they can re-lease the land they stand on), buy some fire engines, find some people to drive them, buy some luggage scanners (the new, compulsory posh variety that come from the USA so suddenly cost more ), get some airspace from the CAA, find some people to do ATC from somewhere, find , get government security approval for, and train up lots more people to do all the fun jobs in the terminal , fix up the terminal and let loads of shop/hire car/ eatery/bar contracts, so that the owners can also find people to work in them, let a contract with a ground handling agent, who (guess what?) has to find, and get government security approval for lots more people, and ideally, sort out some public transport services to and from there. Not forgetting getting those nice Home Office people to do the Border Force jobs, then there's the tricky bit. Finding airlines who gave forgotten what happened between 2005 and 2022, and think Doncaster, being a city now, and having a wildlife park next door, will sustain a few based aeroplanes to make them lots of money.

Easy peasy.

Not!

 

Mayor could seek further government support to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport

South Yorkshire leaders could seek further government support for Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), with Mayor Oliver Coppard saying the reopening is “not an inevitability”.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

I’d be more concerned about this. Coppard, always the more sensible head (though won’t hold back from saying he hopes it’s a positive outcome) is still trying to manage expectations. I can’t read the full thing cos I refuse to pay but if anyone else has done please post what it says. I assume it’s trying to get the full lot covered by Government, cos you know how it can be the Heathrow of the north etc? Well not only that but he’s in the unenviable position of being responsible when it goes the same way again..

 

Mayor could seek further government support to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport

South Yorkshire leaders could seek further government support for Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), with Mayor Oliver Coppard saying the reopening is “not an inevitability”.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

I’d be more concerned about this. Coppard, always the more sensible head (though won’t hold back from saying he hopes it’s a positive outcome) is still trying to manage expectations. I can’t read the full thing cos I refuse to pay but if anyone else has done please post what it says. I assume it’s trying to get the full lot covered by Government, cos you know how it can be the Heathrow of the north etc? Well not only that but he’s in the unenviable position of being responsible when it goes the same way again..

Passing the buck? Literally?

 

Passing the buck? Literally?

Attempting to, if central government get behind it properly (and not just soundbites but actually make it a national priority) then he can’t get blamed when it fails again. I sense he is anticipating a less than favourable outcome if the independent scrutiny. I bet there’s more to this than is made public after Grant Thornton. They won’t be the only ones with concern.

 

Attempting to, if central government get behind it properly (and not just soundbites but actually make it a national priority) then he can’t get blamed when it fails again. I sense he is anticipating a less than favourable outcome if the independent scrutiny. I bet there’s more to this than is made public after Grant Thornton. They won’t be the only ones with concern.

Might as well nationalise DSA then! I wonder what neighbouring airports would say to DSA being funded to reopen by Government? Especially given their business model is based around removing traffic from those other airports. Surely a legal challenge would be inevitable. It's just plain wrong.

 

Seems Scunthorpe steelworks is taking centre stage, and rightly so! If we lose steel making capability in this country it will not be replaced and this hasn’t far wider ramifications than reopening a failed air

I don’t know if the phrase zero sum game is most appropriate here. If it reopens nobody wins. The other local airports will have to reduce their fees to maintain competitiveness, the TUI passengers will still be charged a premium for holidays departing DSA. The tax payer will have to foot the bill. Only winner potentially is the person getting voted for.,,

Yes - will be a race to the bottom except of course public sector funds only last so long and politicians are notor

Mayor could seek further government support to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport

South Yorkshire leaders could seek further government support for Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), with Mayor Oliver Coppard saying the reopening is “not an inevitability”.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

I’d be more concerned about this. Coppard, always the more sensible head (though won’t hold back from saying he hopes it’s a positive outcome) is still trying to manage expectations. I can’t read the full thing cos I refuse to pay but if anyone else has done please post what it says. I assume it’s trying to get the full lot covered by Government, cos you know how it can be the Heathrow of the north etc? Well not only that but he’s in the unenviable position of being responsible when it goes the same way again..

its a load of waffle really…..the government funding relates to seeking further government support, either through MOD contracts or in the sustainable aviation sector…..
Apparently the £30m will unlock an additional £26.5m which would have gone towards interest payments, strengthening the business case for reopening….
Lastly there are hopes that Munich Airport International, which will operate and manage DSA will charge lower landing fees than the previous owners, given the public funding that has gone into the reopening…..Best described a fake news!
He also says the financial test will be in the benefits to the regional economy……

 

Yes - will be a race to the bottom except of course public sector funds only last so long and politicians are notor

its a load of waffle really…..the government funding relates to seeking further government support, either through MOD contracts or in the sustainable aviation sector…..
Apparently the £30m will unlock an additional £26.5m which would have gone towards interest payments, strengthening the business case for reopening….
Lastly there are hopes that Munich Airport International, which will operate and manage DSA will charge lower landing fees than the previous owners, given the public funding that has gone into the reopening…..Best described a fake news!
He also says the financial test will be in the benefits to the regional economy……

Lower than Peel? See this is the problem again, he’s believing baseless rumours. MAI can offer what they like, that doesn’t translate into profitability. The GVA stuff we’ve already determined as nonsense because they’ve based it on wider catalytic benefits than LGW, LGW being the busiest single runway airport in the world.

Fake news and distraction.

 

Yes - will be a race to the bottom except of course public sector funds only last so long and politicians are notor

its a load of waffle really…..the government funding relates to seeking further government support, either through MOD contracts or in the sustainable aviation sector…..
Apparently the £30m will unlock an additional £26.5m which would have gone towards interest payments, strengthening the business case for reopening….
Lastly there are hopes that Munich Airport International, which will operate and manage DSA will charge lower landing fees than the previous owners, given the public funding that has gone into the reopening…..Best described a fake news!
He also says the financial test will be in the benefits to the regional economy……

How can they charge less than Peel, given that (I am reliably informed) at least one airline didn't pay fees at all. Quite the opposite.

 

Starmer gives Doncaster Sheffield Airport plans lift off - but will it be a success?

When the Prime Minister pitched up in Doncaster this week, it felt like lift off for the plans to reopen the airport.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

YP opinion piece suggesting that PMs visit to DSA has basically rubber stamped reopening. Once again I can’t read the article so if someone else could review and enlighten?

I personally don’t believe this weeks visit was anything other than a PR stunt because this local election is predicted to be close and that’s why they saw tactical advantage in being there. Unfortunately for them it was overshadowed by the issues in Scunthorpe, but be interesting to see how strong the support is when it comes to 1st May.

 

Nothing new really - just mentions a Labour MP getting all excited saying it will happen and that Starmer thinks it will be a success . Also mentions some engineering firm considering a location close by but suspect that’s nothing to do with the airport…Again mentions lower landing fees and that it has to be a success given the amount of public £ at risk……

 

Nothing new really - just mentions a Labour MP getting all excited saying it will happen and that Starmer thinks it will be a success . Also mentions some engineering firm considering a location close by but suspect that’s nothing to do with the airport…Again mentions lower landing fees and that it has to be a success given the amount of public £ at risk……

In other words, 'failure is not an option'. The longer this saga goes on, the less likely I feel the project will be ultimately successful. I hope I'm wrong.

 

In other words, 'failure is not an option'. The longer this saga goes on, the less likely I feel the project will be ultimately successful. I hope I'm wrong.

Interestingly one of the former SYMCA bods and DSA proponents is now claiming, seemingly without and documented evidence, that this £30 million is a completely new £30 million and absolutely not the £30 million set aside for the non starter rail link. So he’s claiming this is an additional £60 million available to the SYMCA/CDC to enable reopening.

The below is from the Government announcement, see what you think;

Government backs mayor to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport

The South Yorkshire Mayor has announced a £30m devolved funding investment into reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, in a major economic boost for the region.

www.gov.uk

 

Interestingly one of the former SYMCA bods and DSA proponents is now claiming, seemingly without and documented evidence, that this £30 million is a completely new £30 million and absolutely not the £30 million set aside for the non starter rail link. So he’s claiming this is an additional £60 million available to the SYMCA/CDC to enable reopening.

The below is from the Government announcement, see what you think;

Government backs mayor to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport

The South Yorkshire Mayor has announced a £30m devolved funding investment into reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, in a major economic boost for the region.

www.gov.uk

It's totally vague. It could mean anything. Smoke and mirrors.

Funny that Angela Rayner refers to DSA as a thriving regional airport in one breath, then the fact the previous Government stood by as it closed (because it was NOT thriving). That statement in itself makes me feel unable to take any of what they say seriously. It all feels like political posturing to me.

In the end, they can throw their money at it, get it open, but that in no way guarantees success as an airport, nor as this mythical sustainable aviation hub. OC should be made to publish the independent advice he gets on the airports future so taxpayers can see what their finds are being wasted on as well as a full breakdown of costs on the DSA project.

 

It's totally vague. It could mean anything. Smoke and mirrors.

Funny that Angela Rayner refers to DSA as a thriving regional airport in one breath, then the fact the previous Government stood by as it closed (because it was NOT thriving). That statement in itself makes me feel unable to take any of what they say seriously. It all feels like political posturing to me.

In the end, they can throw their money at it, get it open, but that in no way guarantees success as an airport, nor as this mythical sustainable aviation hub. OC should be made to publish the independent advice he gets on the airports future so taxpayers can see what their finds are being wasted on as well as a full breakdown of costs on the DSA project.

With an election coming up it seems unlikely there will be any clear explanation which might have a negative element to it. I am not a political animal but it is clear to me that they have seen an opportunity for some blatant electioneering as the word on the street apparently is that there may be significant changes to the composition of CDC. I'm not sure that the Government have really done their homework here but are simply regurgitating the political 'yuk-speak' from the CDC Mayor. Your point - does anyone know what this 'sustainable aviation hub' is actually going to be or is it just some phrase that sounds positive to help sell the project but without substance?? The 5,000 jobs one assumes are going to be created by development of the surrounding land and most certainly only a much smaller number at the airport. To avoid all the speculation it would be helpful to all (probably mandatory in due course?) if the FBC was published for scrutiny but it seems unlikely unless there is a big political change. Walking through a minefield with paper bags on their heads??

 

Interestingly one of the former SYMCA bods and DSA proponents is now claiming, seemingly without and documented evidence, that this £30 million is a completely new £30 million and absolutely not the £30 million set aside for the non starter rail link. So he’s claiming this is an additional £60 million available to the SYMCA/CDC to enable reopening.

The below is from the Government announcement, see what you think;

Government backs mayor to reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport

The South Yorkshire Mayor has announced a £30m devolved funding investment into reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, in a major economic boost for the region.

www.gov.uk

Coppard and Fletcher have had a big spat on social media over this……not very becoming of two individuals who have or had held public office….https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/politics/sy-mayor-and-doncaster-conservative-mayoral-hope-in-fiery-facebook-clash-over-airport-5083886
The fact that Coppard has not said directly that this is new cash or provided any evidence to that effect in this latest spat, plus the fact the U.K. gov release states “…will enable the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to use their devolved funding to invest in the creation of a sustainable aviation hub” leads me to believe it’s not new money but just an announcement that Coppard to use his devolved funding without and prerequisite.