Doncaster Sheffield - General Thread

[lysander]

Once again, DSA has won the "Which" award for favourite airport. The National BBC News made a splash of it. With a half empty car-park ( which, to be fair, is very close to the Terminal), maybe a dozen passengers at check in and a departure board with just 10 flights for the day, on one of the busiest days of the year, the Reporter had no problem in explaining the almost personal service every passenger can expect.

 

[lysander]

In an article which ,doubtless ,will receive very little publicity from the management of DSA, the airport was included in a list of "Zombie" regional airports which the report suggests are facing closure as passenger numbers fall. ( "I" newspaper 4 Oct)

 

[TheLocalYokel]

In an article which ,doubtless ,will receive very little publicity from the management of DSA, the airport was included in a list of "Zombie" regional airports which the report suggests are facing closure as passenger numbers fall. ( "I" newspaper 4 Oct)

The ubiquitous Mr Simon Calder in action again I believe. If we are talking about the same article I believe the thrust of it was correct.

He also included struggling Welsh, Irish and Scottish airports that have had the good fortune to be taken in hand by their respective national governments/assemblies. Were they English regional airports they would have to survive on their own merit as is/will be the case with DSA and a number of other candidates for the zombie appellation.

And you're right, the article is never going to be the top of the publicity list for the management of DSA nor of the other airports mentioned.

 

[Aviador]

Doncaster airport is far from having to survive on it's own merit having had numerous EU and government handouts since it was opened with FARRS and other associated projects.

 

[lysander]

I was told by my MEP that the airport, at one stage, had received more in the way of EU grant than any other European airport. It is being heavily backed by the Sheffield City Region's LEP and will benefit from FARRRS... which will now be extended to its very front door. Much faith ( and reputation) is being placed on FARRRS bringing with it more demand and more services.

 

[lysander]

At a dinner to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Airport its MD strongly suggested that within 5 years, following the opening of the new road, the airport would be as big as LBA.

 

[Aviador]

I've just been reading an article about this in the Doncaster "The Star"

Doncaster Airport ‘to rival Leeds-Bradford in five years’

I don't see why the airport can't achieve it's goal. Managers of LBA are showing little interest in developing their airport further. Peel have invested heavily in Doncaster and their investment could pay off with improved access to the airport.

 

[lysander]

Let's not forget the very substantial public investment that has gone into the project including EU grants.

 

[a300boy]

Its a bit like the Bristol / Cardiff situation. One little problem airfield versus one large underserved ideal airport.
However the punters like to decide where they fly from.
The one thing I would say is that Peel have already stated they would rival Lbia in the past and it never happened.
However Robin Hood has the runway and space to do so much more than can be achieved at Lbia even if the present owners choose to do so which at the moments seems unlikely.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Its a bit like the Bristol / Cardiff situation. One little problem airfield versus one large underserved ideal airport.
However the punters like to decide where they fly from.

So many similarities between LBA and BRS: small in area and sometimes difficult to operate into; challenging surface connectivity; not ideally situated in terms of location; weather sometimes an issue with the two airports being the highest in elevation of any top 20 UK airport; serving two of the most economically vibrant city regions in the UK; with larger airports nearby in the sense that they have longer runways and bigger sites.

BRS serves a far larger and economically stronger core catchment than CWL's and also benefits from relative ease of access to secondary catchments in the further South West, South Midlands, Thames Valley and South Wales itself, hence the punters deciding where they will fly from.

Is the catchment situation relatively similar re LBA/DSA?

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

There is nothing wrong in that statement and I agree with the views above in regards to BRS/CWL and LBA/DSA.

The only problem I have seeing this is who they going to get the growth from?! We know wizz air have a presence and continue to grow but who else? Jet2 are not going to set up base at DSA, TOM seem fairly happy with the operation, with growth cautious. I very much doubt Ryanair will up sticks and move over to DSA but will they operate a dual base in Yorkshire?!

The only realistic option is easyJet since they have next to no presences in Yorkshire apart from a successful GVA link from LBA. And look what happened last time when they set up base. They could do it and the market is probably there just about aggressive marketing. A 3 base aircraft perhaps?!

Odd balls - Flybe, Monarch, Vueling, Norweigan.

Interesting note; could cargo services grow even with the large EMA operation down the road.

 

[pug]

The airport was always developed on attracting airlines away from neighbouring airports. Hence the current situation. I tend to agree re. easyjet, but I just don't think the will is there with easy at the moment.. They would probably require a backbreaking deal to move in, and of course it's important to keep TOM happy..

 

[lysander]

Easy were, by all accounts, given a "back breaking" deal a few years ago...they withdrew almost as soon as people had got used to them being there. The airport was developed on the basis of Peel's limited experience at Liverpool where they had seen exponential growth with lo-co operators. Quite clearly, from their original proposal this was expected to be repeated at RHADS. The fact is it wasn't and all the other problems highlighted at the Public Enquiry have now come back to haunt Peel.

Incidentally, Sheffield Wednesday has just agreed a "partnership" with LBA!

 

[pug]

I do think there is scope for growth, but the majority of the time it's much easier for an airport to retain a service than for them to leave for a competitor. LBA has grown substantially since DSA opened, and whilst I would never doubt the enthusiasm and capability of those in charge at DSA, they can only play with the resources available to them. The DSA to rival LBA in 5 years comment was more than likely a response to the agreement between Sheffiekd Wednesday and LBA..

 

[muddycoffee]

It appears that the terminal is being expanded.
However it is not massively exciting, just a covered area to shelter passengers as they wait to have their passports checked. I seem to remember that when I arrived at DSA we were left waiting in the cold as the passport check area dis not seem to have enough space for a full aircraft full of passengers.

 

[Aviador]

A bit of an odd oversight for a custom built airport or is it just a case of UK Border Force don't provide enough staff to get passengers checked quick enough?

 

[lysander]

With increased security and now exit checks I imagine more queueing is inevitable.

 

[yorkguy]

The only time we used DSA we were astonished to have to queue outside in the pouring rain for passport control. Ours was the only plane landing that evening. We said we'd never go back following our total drenching. May even reconsider returning if they build a shelter!

 

[lysander]

In a Which survey the airport was voted second best of all small airports...with an 84% approval rating.

 

[jfy1999]

Not bad, I've never been to DSA but from the pictures it looks a very smart little airport :s_yes

I'm guessing Southend was top again??