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...?

 

Not sure about ambivalence. I suspect the very idea would be met with hilarity.

Maybe so, but I just can’t understand why our political leaders refuse to tackle this issue head on. It just results in talking shops that go on for years with absolutely no resolution. This Parliamentary Debate is just another example, what exactly is there to debate? And what will the outcome of the debate be? It already looks like central government won’t be supporting the project financially, there’s no consultation with the key stakeholders of influence, there’s no technical advice, just a load of people talking about how great a reopened DSA will be for ‘Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the North of England’ with no tangibles or deliverables.

Off thread perhaps, but I’m a proponent of the ‘Northern powerhouse’ in principle, but there is zero impetus to see this through. Where is our high speed rail that will link Hull/Grimsby to Liverpool and every town and city inbetween? Where are the incentives to relocate businesses from London and the South East? What happened to dispersing Government departments en-mass?

It’s all soundbites with no substance. If these people really got a handle of things and wanted to reverse the inequity between London and the rest of the country they’d be fully embracing the work from home (anywhere?) culture. But they won’t, why? Seems it’s better to allow the brain drain to continue and people who want opportunities have to leave towns and cities like Doncaster to get them. Unviable airports aren’t the answer, but revolutionising the way people work could in future provide fertile ground for services such as airports in future as more people are able to afford to fly!

Even Ros Jones is quoted as saying she hopes to be on the first flight out of DSA if she can afford it.

 

So RJ states that the reopening will signal that the North is open for business! In a sentence she has demonstrated her delusional view about Doncaster, the airport, and its importance to the North.

As for the CDC auditors, I'm sure their views will be dismissed by the Mayor who seems fixated on the possible benefits and determined to be a hero by opening the airport no matter what the cost. Meanwhile, no doubt the mechanic and his merry men will presumably claim that the auditors are the latest experts to be nobbled by LBA management because they are so worried about the threat DSA poses.

I somehow doubt that any link to the article will appear on that FB page. A bit more difficult to put a positive 'spin' on that and in the spirit of 'positive posts only' needs hiding under the carpet!

 

At this stage I'd be simply amazed if jet2 would give more than a cursory glance in the direction of DSA. They seem like to operate relatively safe routes, where demand is demonstrable rather than taking big punts on huge unknowns. If any airline would be expected to take that level of risk with DSA, you'd expect it to be Ryanair, but O'Leary has made his feeling quite clear on the matter, calling it a "hard sell" (which I take to mean "Not a chance in hell any time soon").

TUI may show more of an interest of course, but it has to be remembered that they did benefit from favourable charges from Peel (as I understand it at least), something I suspect CDC / FlyDoncaster will not be as well positioned to offer. And we also have to remember that as others have said, a Spring 2026 opening is pretty much La-La Land stuff and 2027 is much more probable in reality. In this time both Manchester and LBA will have expanded their capacities, leaving even fewer scraps for a new DSA operation to scoop up. Plus in the meantime CDC will have to keep forking up for maintenance of the airport whist it lies empty, something that will not go down well with many locals the next time CDC increase their Council Tax.

Personally I think the final decision on financing being delayed is a purely political move to get local elections out of the way, and give wriggle room for CDC to line up scapegoats if the decision goes against DSA. There will be a lot less clamour from locals not wanting to get nose bleeds leaving South Yorkshire for their flights for the jollies, as holidays will be booked. So the summer would be a good time to deliver bad news if indeed this turns out to be the case.

Don't think anything Jet 2 would try at DSA would have any serious impact on LBA I think they'd be able to put a couple of aircraft in DSA on the normal sun routes and make it work no problem without really impacting PAX figures at LBA they would certainly not shift capacity to DSA not a chance. Lets be honest if one doesn't the other would in regards to TUI/Jet 2 otherwise you haven't a pax operation of any note and the whole things a non starter anyway maybe they have neither on board and really are trying to keep the crocodiles at bay.

Things continuue to progress at a snails pace more money chucked at it for potentially nothing, work on the airfield itself happening but it all seems a little slow and half hearted I see one final twist and one more delay myself before the big bang said from the start failed airports don't reopen can anyone name an airport anywhere that closed and reopened and even more so became a success???.

I really don't see it opening. CDC appear utterly clueless regardless of it opening or not or on the idea of opening it being correct which it isn't. I think most other local authorities would have gone about things in a far better manner the CDC have left it to a bunch of people without the foggiest from the outside it looks a complete mess I guess at least some on the inside must think the same the whole thing lacks a professional approach to it. It really appears they haven't surrounded themselves with the right people to try and put a meaningful argument for it opening together from the start which surely had to be goal one regardless of the facts and figures and if it did open or not.

I am sure they could have found someone capable of come up with a better argument for reopening spent a bit off the cash pot on some top adivsors who could spin it better than they have themsleves tbh a classy brochure or savvy video instead poor old Ross and Nick Fletcher are seen making ridicolous visits to DSA talking waffle I ain't saying its right but if you surround yourself witht the wrong people you have a problem to start..

Said it before and say it again Coppard doesn't want to go through with it he never has but he has spun the whole thing out for so long he has got people thinking the place will be opening I don't think that's anything like the narrative all isn't well its clear to see in the last few week the things in real doubt and under scrutiny rightly so, the titanic sunk quicker than this is its a farce.

OC should be the one asked the serious questions he's got a nice smile and seems a nice man met him on several occasions but frankly he's been weak and pretty damn pathetic on the subject he played it big to start that he was behind the project on the right terms well we all know the sums were never ever going to add up and so did he but he could have scrapped the idea a year ago or at the start but he's basically lying to himself its political psturing at it's worst.

I don't buy the South Yorkshire/Doncaster public want it to happen it got a lot of people talking to start along with the mad mechanic to lauch his FB group and petition then somehow he became Mr DSA now his heads got that big on the subject it might explode and he's basically making it up as he goes along to those still listening. The CDC have actually seen sense and come to the conclusion he's off his rocker and canned him themselves you can't actually make this up it's laughable quite frankly.


It,s old news to most frankly I wouldn't think 1% of people care in the slightest now and rightly so the world has gone mad we've all these non news stories everywhere fake celebrities on these ridiculous reality tv shows like Love Island and such only know it coz my missus watches but stuff in the real world like the war in Ukraine barely gets a minute of news the whole worlds gone mad.

Roll on the first flight or maybe not.

 

I just wish someone when interviewing the proponents of this folly airport would prior to the 1st question just proffered up something like this;

Nothing says more about the North of England being "open for business" than having talk of TUI and Jet2 operations taking British holidaymakers overseas.. They wouldn't fly out of LHR so hardly relieving any pressure there and those passengers would be heavily Southeast England based and only the smaller markets that are unserved out of the regional airports would need the "Northern" passenger to help bolster numbers on such rtoutes.

 

Life next to Yorkshire's ghost airport as reopening plans move closer

Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been closed since 2022

www.examinerlive.co.uk

 

Life next to Yorkshire's ghost airport as reopening plans move closer

Doncaster Sheffield Airport has been closed since 2022

www.examinerlive.co.uk

Perfect example of the ignorance the locals have.

So some guy claims he now has to go to Heathrow cos he can’t fly from Doncaster any more. Where was he flying to from Doncaster that he now needs to go to Heathrow to get to? Stupid.

The old chestnut of the operator putting charges up for airlines. More BS.

What are they on about a petrol station? That’s part of Peels plans they’ve not been shelved.

 

Here's the long-haul to places outside London: that I put together in 15 minutes. I've included the seasonal stuff and SQ's USA link that will stop

Africa
Egyptair: Manchester to Cairo
Royal Air Maroc: Manchester to Casablanca
Ethiopian: Manchester to Addis Ababa

Far East
Cathay Pacific: Manchester to Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines Manchester to Singapore
Hainan Airlines: Edinburgh and Manchester to Beijing
Juneyao Air : Manchester to Shanghai

Indian Sub-continent
Air India: Birmingham to Delhi and Amritsar
Biman Bangladesh: Manchester to Dhaka and Sylhet

Middle East
Royal Jordanian: Manchester to Amman
Gulf Air: Manchester to Bahrain
Kuwait Airways: Manchester to Kuwait
Saudia: Birmingham and Manchester to Jeddah
Qatar Airways Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester to Doha
Emirates: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle to Dubai
Etihad: Manchester to Abu Dhabi

North Atlantic and Caribbean
American: Edinburgh to New York and Philadelphia
Delta: Edinburgh to Atlanta Boston an, New York
United: Edinburgh to Chicago, New York and Washington
Aer Lingus UK: Manchester to Barbados, New York and Orlando
Virgin Atlantic Edinburgh to Orlando, Manchester to Atlanta, Barbados, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando
Air Canada: Edinburgh and Manchester to Toronto
Air Transat; Manchester to Toronto
Westjet; Edinburgh to Calgary and Toronto
Jetblue: Edinburgh to Boston and New York
Singapore Airlines: Manchester to Houston

I fail to see what getting DSA open will bring to the table that isn't on offer from at least 1 other regional airport in terms of tourism and business links. Nor have I explored the routes that some of the above have the potential to start in the next 2 or3 years as and when they have the capability to add routes, or the airlines that may also wish to add service but currently serve only London and for whom "Doncaster" would see them scratching their heads when there will be far more recognition of any of the cities listed above already with long-haul routes

 

Here's the long-haul to places outside London: that I put together in 15 minutes. I've included the seasonal stuff and SQ's USA link that will stop

Africa
Egyptair: Manchester to Cairo
Royal Air Maroc: Manchester to Casablanca
Ethiopian: Manchester to Addis Ababa

Far East
Cathay Pacific: Manchester to Hong Kong
Singapore Airlines Manchester to Singapore
Hainan Airlines: Edinburgh and Manchester to Beijing
Juneyao Air : Manchester to Shanghai

Indian Sub-continent
Air India: Birmingham to Delhi and Amritsar
Biman Bangladesh: Manchester to Dhaka and Sylhet

Middle East
Royal Jordanian: Manchester to Amman
Gulf Air: Manchester to Bahrain
Kuwait Airways: Manchester to Kuwait
Saudia: Birmingham and Manchester to Jeddah
Qatar Airways Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester to Doha
Emirates: Birmingham, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Newcastle to Dubai
Etihad: Manchester to Abu Dhabi

North Atlantic and Caribbean
American: Edinburgh to New York and Philadelphia
Delta: Edinburgh to Atlanta Boston an, New York
United: Edinburgh to Chicago, New York and Washington
Aer Lingus UK: Manchester to Barbados, New York and Orlando
Virgin Atlantic Edinburgh to Orlando, Manchester to Atlanta, Barbados, Las Vegas, New York and Orlando
Air Canada: Edinburgh and Manchester to Toronto
Air Transat; Manchester to Toronto
Westjet; Edinburgh to Calgary and Toronto
Jetblue: Edinburgh to Boston and New York
Singapore Airlines: Manchester to Houston

I fail to see what getting DSA open will bring to the table that isn't on offer from at least 1 other regional airport in terms of tourism and business links. Nor have I explored the routes that some of the above have the potential to start in the next 2 or3 years as and when they have the capability to add routes, or the airlines that may also wish to add service but currently serve only London and for whom "Doncaster" would see them scratching their heads when there will be far more recognition of any of the cities listed above already with long-haul routes

Sadly the narrative promulgated on one particular FB page leads those who have no knowledge of the industry to believe everything they read - which purposely is only one half of the story. Third LHR runway at DSA isn't really worth comment.

 

An article in the YP today appears to suggest that CDC have never requested that the other authorities that make up the SYMCA allocate any funding towards the DSA project to ‘split the risk’.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley 'should split reopening costs' with Doncaster

All areas of South Yorkshire should contribute devolution funding towards reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport to “split the risk” of the project, a senior Tory councillor in Doncaster has suggested.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

CDC it seems want to run the project themselves. My suspicions are that they knew the SYMCA authorities would laugh in their faces and reject it. ‘Team South Yorkshire’ indeed.

 

An article in the YP today appears to suggest that CDC have never requested that the other authorities that make up the SYMCA allocate any funding towards the DSA project to ‘split the risk’.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley 'should split reopening costs' with Doncaster

All areas of South Yorkshire should contribute devolution funding towards reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport to “split the risk” of the project, a senior Tory councillor in Doncaster has suggested.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

CDC it seems want to run the project themselves. My suspicions are that they knew the SYMCA authorities would laugh in their faces and reject it. ‘Team South Yorkshire’ indeed.

I see Nick Fletcher has called out Ros Jones and shared it one of the spotters page. Miraculously it hasn’t made it onto savedsa yet

As it doesn’t fit the narrative Chadwick goes with this does surprise me, unless he puts his usual spin on it and no doubt will be LBA’s fault? Or Peels? Or Yorkshire Post making it up?? Who knows

Update appears to have been taking down the spotters page also..

 

I see Nick Fletcher has called out Ros Jones and shared it one of the spotters page. Miraculously it hasn’t made it onto savedsa yet

As it doesn’t fit the narrative Chadwick goes with this does surprise me, unless he puts his usual spin on it and no doubt will be LBA’s fault? Or Peels? Or Yorkshire Post making it up?? Who knows

Fletcher is hardly the voice of reason either. Looks like this has come from a conservative councillor under whose ward the airport resides. She has a point though, why would CDC not even attempt to ask for a shared risk approach first, she even said herself recently ‘shared risk shared reward’ but the risk shared with who exactly?

Chadwick I understand has had a bit of a ticking off, but I can’t substantiate that other than to say it was a rumour I’d heard. Perhaps he’s been put back in his box a little bit?

 

Fletcher is hardly the voice of reason either. Looks like this has come from a conservative councillor under whose ward the airport resides. She has a point though, why would CDC not even attempt to ask for a shared risk approach first, she even said herself recently ‘shared risk shared reward’ but the risk shared with who exactly?

Chadwick I understand has had a bit of a ticking off, but I can’t substantiate that other than to say it was a rumour I’d heard. Perhaps he’s been put back in his box a little bit?

He couldn't remember who'd won the other day and had to be corrected on his group.

 

He couldn't remember who'd won the other day and had to be corrected on his group.

What’s this referring to?

 

What’s this referring to?

Chadwick

 

An article in the YP today appears to suggest that CDC have never requested that the other authorities that make up the SYMCA allocate any funding towards the DSA project to ‘split the risk’.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Sheffield, Rotherham and Barnsley 'should split reopening costs' with Doncaster

All areas of South Yorkshire should contribute devolution funding towards reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport to “split the risk” of the project, a senior Tory councillor in Doncaster has suggested.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

CDC it seems want to run the project themselves. My suspicions are that they knew the SYMCA authorities would laugh in their faces and reject it. ‘Team South Yorkshire’ indeed.

So just as news breaks that costs are rapidly increasing, CDC asks the rest of South Yorkshire to bail.. Erm I mean help them out? Well there it is, CDC reaching out for scapegoats again...

"We've had to cancel the project because South Yorkshire won't support Doncaster into becoming an international powerhouse and hub..."

Remember, you read it here first....

 

So just as news breaks that costs are rapidly increasing, CDC asks the rest of South Yorkshire to bail.. Erm I mean help them out? Well there it is, CDC reaching out for scapegoats again...

"We've had to cancel the project because South Yorkshire won't support Doncaster into becoming an international powerhouse and hub..."

Remember, you read it here first....

They're asking a city council to help out that has banned all advertising of airports and airlines within its boundaries. Good luck with that.

 

i think you all are going over the top with this, all it is a local councilers view on it .
i may added promted by the YP.
and she is not in the majority on the council, and is classed in the same boat as fletcher.

Merit in the idea of sharing the risk on reopening costs for Doncaster Sheffield Airport

With the financial risk becoming increasingly apparent when it comes to reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), the suggestion by the Tories on Doncaster Council merits serious consideration.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

YP pushing the story again, she should be asking why her party gave zero help when the airport closed.
also, why the transport minister refused a meeting with the local mps to discuss the airport.
all should be aware her view is not CDC view.

 

i think you all are going over the top with this, all it is a local councilers view on it .
i may added promted by the YP.
and she is not in the majority on the council, and is classed in the same boat as fletcher.

Merit in the idea of sharing the risk on reopening costs for Doncaster Sheffield Airport

With the financial risk becoming increasingly apparent when it comes to reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport (DSA), the suggestion by the Tories on Doncaster Council merits serious consideration.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

YP pushing the story again, she should be asking why her party gave zero help when the airport closed.
also, why the transport minister refused a meeting with the local mps to discuss the airport.
all should be aware her view is not CDC view.

Well obviously it’s not CDC view which is why the YP are raising it. The question is a relevant one, why have CDC not requested a SYMCA wide funding model in the first instance despite saying things like shared risk shared reward? It’s a strange choice of language. Who’s sharing the risk? The people of Doncaster? It raises a bigger question of how much support there is for it in South Yorkshire.. Id say not that much, particularly as more is coming to light as to the nature of the operational company.

Technically she can’t be classed as being ‘in the same boat as Fletcher’. She’s been elected into a position at the council, Fletcher is an ex MP who lost his seat.

 

Well obviously it’s not CDC view which is why the YP are raising it. The question is a relevant one, why have CDC not requested a SYMCA wide funding model in the first instance despite saying things like shared risk shared reward? It’s a strange choice of language. Who’s sharing the risk? The people of Doncaster? It raises a bigger question of how much support there is for it in South Yorkshire.. Id say not that much, particularly as more is coming to light as to the nature of the operational company.

i think it is poor reporting , did not see much in YP when all the councilllors in leeds where against LBA expansion?
and it was more than one

 

i think it is poor reporting , did not see much in YP when all the councilllors in leeds where against LBA expansion?
and it was more than one

Hardly, they are duty bound as journalists to report on all aspects of the story to ensure the public are as informed as they can be. It’s why you see the usual suspects commenting on all these stories, because it undermines the case for it to go ahead. As the proposal is to fund this with tax payers money it’s more of a public interest story than an LBA development, although I think you’re wrong on that anyway, they seem to favour those who must not be named if you read the LBA thread.

Chadwick

I meant what was this in relation to?