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...?

 

A thought occurs to me, will the announcement of a manufacturer of small nuclear reactors looking at establishing on the land next to the "gateway to the world" actually have a negative impact on it? I don't know if any R&D will take place at the Holtec facility, but it's a reasonable bet that there might be some. Do airlines want to be operating close to where nuclear fuel may be in use? Maybe it's not a big issue for the industry, I don't honestly know, but the optics for punters may not be so great? Thoughts anyone?

 

A thought occurs to me, will the announcement of a manufacturer of small nuclear reactors looking at establishing on the land next to the "gateway to the world" actually have a negative impact on it? I don't know if any R&D will take place at the Holtec facility, but it's a reasonable bet that there might be some. Do airlines want to be operating close to where nuclear fuel may be in use? Maybe it's not a big issue for the industry, I don't honestly know, but the optics for punters may not be so great? Thoughts anyone?

Not sure exactly what they want to make there but it’ll most likely be either components of the final assembly of products that will then be distributed elsewhere. I doubt there’ll be any nuclear material actually on site.

Think the problems with this being sold as a win for the airport are more along the lines of the fact that Peel could enable more to be attracted to the DSA site if it wasn’t being promoted by the council as a reopened airport, and the ‘Gateway East’ was supposed to be a centre for sustainable aviation or something, yet this has nothing to do with aviation and nothing to do with DSA.

 

An agency are advertising for an ‘Airport Operations Director’ at Doncaster. It’s supposedly an interim position for 2 months - salary £600.00 per day. Must have knowledge of U.K. CAA regulations and aerodrome certification. Role includes managing airline and stakeholder relations.

Thought this is what MAI were doing?

 

An agency are advertising for an ‘Airport Operations Director’ at Doncaster. It’s supposedly an interim position for 2 months - salary £600.00 per day. Must have knowledge of U.K. CAA regulations and aerodrome certification. Role includes managing airline and stakeholder relations.

Thought this is what MAI were doing?

So finally they want somebody to understand CAA regulation instead of the Clowncillers trying to interpretate it..?

 

So finally they want somebody to understand CAA regulation instead of the Clowncillers trying to interpretate it..?

Apparently so, but what confuses me is the part MAI/FP are playing in this? I was of the understanding that these companies are being paid to do this. Why are they now going external? They pay a lot more to MAI for their ‘services’ whatever they are…

Be interesting to see whether they get any takers given the temporary nature of the role. Presumably 2 months to see whether funding is granted or not?

Not trying to jump the gun here, well aware that they need an accountable manager, but MAI appears to be very silent on the DSA thing recently.

 

Wonder what spin the DSA page will put on this, good news I suppose? Unless the penny drops and somebody clicks on this should be MIA's job..?

Which aviation professional would want to gamble their career on doing this? Private investors wouldn't touch, why would any self respecting aviation's professional want to?

 

Wonder what spin the DSA page will put on this, good news I suppose? Unless the penny drops and somebody clicks on this should be MIA's job..?

Which aviation professional would want to gamble their career on doing this? Private investors wouldn't touch, why would any self respecting aviation's professional want to?

Not sure they’ve even picked up on it, it’s been advertised for a couple of days now.

Like I say, don’t want to jump the gun because FlyDoncster will need various accountable managers in order to satisfy the regulator, but it does strike me as odd that MAI have been very quiet recently. As for FP Airports, heard nothing at all from them!

 

This discussion is blowing my mind. Why are we talking about such and such a company opening a warehouse or something near the old DSA airport site? Its a bit like reporting on a new shop opening in Nutsford next to Manchester Airport or a new business taking up space in the Leeds Bradford Airport Industrial Depot. I'm not sure anyone really cares. Is there any actual news on whether DSA is nearer to opening or do I need to go back to sle

Not sure they’ve even picked up on it, it’s been advertised for a couple of days now.

Like I say, don’t want to jump the gun because FlyDoncster will need various accountable managers in order to satisfy the regulator, but it does strike me as odd that MAI have been very quiet recently. As for FP Airports, heard nothing at all from them!

It's supposed to be FP airports who were doing this - all very strange. The job spec. has been splattered about a number of Recruitment Agencies - I don't know whether you have had a look but they are wanting a very highly qualified person indeed and for sure there will not be many if any with the required qualifications waiting around for a job which at £500-£600 a day seems a lot, but is actually not and for 2 months?? Part of the requirement is to to manage relationships with airlines and stakeholders and drive route development but there's not going to be much of that within the 2 months. One might assume that it becomes permanent if funding is approved but the role encompasses the whole spectrum of running an airport and therefore as alluded to must cast doubt as to the continuing involvement of FP and MAI.

 

It's supposed to be FP airports who were doing this - all very strange. The job spec. has been splattered about a number of Recruitment Agencies - I don't know whether you have had a look but they are wanting a very highly qualified person indeed and for sure there will not be many if any with the required qualifications waiting around for a job which at £500-£600 a day seems a lot, but is actually not and for 2 months?? Part of the requirement is to to manage relationships with airlines and stakeholders and drive route development but there's not going to be much of that within the 2 months. One might assume that it becomes permanent if funding is approved but the role encompasses the whole spectrum of running an airport and therefore as alluded to must cast doubt as to the continuing involvement of FP and MAI.

That’s my initial thinking. It’s £144,000 per year which is potentially in line with a number of senior management/postholder positions in aviation. However it’s much smaller than the supposed £40,000.00 per month being paid to MAI. I do wonder who would apply for such a role given the very temporary nature and the risk of funding being pulled, I suspect it would need to be someone very local to DSA who genuinely sees a future in it..

So begs the question then, are MAI/FP Airports even still involved? Have MAI been back seated for the time being? Did the feedback from ‘Routes Seville’ not inspire much confidence? Someone suggested the legwork was actually being done by FP Airports, but they’ve got very little acumen. All very strange.

 

Airport Operations Director | Job details | Find a job

findajob.dwp.gov.uk

This is the official advert on the local gov website.

I’m not naive to the usual manoeuvres, perhaps they already have someone in mind and are just going through the motions.. However closing date end of June, in aviation people in these positions tend to have a 3 month notice period (minimum!). So assuming they haven’t got anyone yet, and assuming they want someone with experience, then it might not be filled until October/November at the earliest!

 

Frankly, this advert is nonsensical to me.

The job is advertised for just two months start to finish, so very much hit the ground running. It talks about supporting in one breath then in time being required to lead in the next. It talks about the actions needed to get the airport open again including relative to airspace. It also talks about airlines and routes when chances are there is no chance of them signing up at this stage. It's impossible to tackle all these tasks in 2 months.

Effectively, it's saying to someone who has lots of experience running an airport 'you come in, work just a 37 hour week, tell us what we need to do.snd how to do it, and then you can go'. Well firstly nobody is going to give up their current job to do that are they ? So you're looking at someone retired or currently between jobs in which case, especially for anyone retired (with the tax implications) its hard to see much incentive unless the job can be made permanent. Even then it seems to me that anyone taking this on is on a hiding to nothing. It's an enormous undertaking and in 2 months, you won't even scratch the surface.

Quite honestly, this to me looks like nothing more than an advert for someone who knows the industry to come in, advise MAI for a couple of months, then go away. But there are very few that have knowledge to this degree of all the various key aspects of setting up or running an airport in the UK. These aspects tend to be managed by individual departments within the business not by one person. Using LBA as an example, airspace, commercials, personnel, and the rest have their own directors. The CEO oversees them all but it's unlikely he would be able to personally run all these departments. He will have his own specialised areas of knowledge. This advert wants someone who knows everything!

And who are Triumph Consultants? It seems they are the employer, not Doncaster Council or Flydoncaster. Are Triumph the previously unnamed aviation consultants employed by Flydoncaster? Or nothing more than a job agency?

It's all really odd.

 

Frankly, this advert is nonsensical to me.

The job is advertised for just two months start to finish, so very much hit the ground running. It talks about supporting in one breath then in time being required to lead in the next. It talks about the actions needed to get the airport open again including relative to airspace. It also talks about airlines and routes when chances are there is no chance of them signing up at this stage. It's impossible to tackle all these tasks in 2 months.

Effectively, it's saying to someone who has lots of experience running an airport 'you come in, work just a 37 hour week, tell us what we need to do.snd how to do it, and then you can go'. Well firstly nobody is going to give up their current job to do that are they ? So you're looking at someone retired or currently between jobs in which case, especially for anyone retired (with the tax implications) its hard to see much incentive unless the job can be made permanent. Even then it seems to me that anyone taking this on is on a hiding to nothing. It's an enormous undertaking and in 2 months, you won't even scratch the surface.

Quite honestly, this to me looks like nothing more than an advert for someone who knows the industry to come in, advise MAI for a couple of months, then go away. But there are very few that have knowledge to this degree of all the various key aspects of setting up or running an airport in the UK. These aspects tend to be managed by individual departments within the business not by one person. Using LBA as an example, airspace, commercials, personnel, and the rest have their own directors. The CEO oversees them all but it's unlikely he would be able to personally run all these departments. He will have his own specialised areas of knowledge. This advert wants someone who knows everything!

And who are Triumph Consultants? It seems they are the employer, not Doncaster Council or Flydoncaster. Are Triumph the previously unnamed aviation consultants employed by Flydoncaster? Or nothing more than a job agency?

It's all really odd.

Triumph are just an agency who appear to recruit technical staff, they’re nothing to do with the airport.

I agree though, it makes me wonder whether they already have someone in mind and are just going through the motions of advertising..

EDIT: looks like they’ve wheeled out an MAI rep for some talking shop event led by Doncaster CoC today. Christian Forster ‘this is an airport that needs to feel and operate differently than it did before’.. What does that even mean?

 

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "After years of inaction, the transport secretary has taken the decisive next step towards enabling Doncaster Sheffield Airport to reopen to passengers.


"She has decided not to call-in the airspace change proposal which clears the way for the regulator to move forward with a decision, and we expect a conclusion on this very shortly, unlocking another barrier to the airport reopening."

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard said: "Today the secretary of state for transport has taken the decision not to call-in the CAA's decision to restore Doncaster Sheffield Airport's airspace. That decision paves the way for the CAA to make a decision more quickly than if the secretary of state were to further delay that decision. We now expect the CAA to quickly lay out their approach.


"Whatever that decision - either to restore or reshape our airspace - in conversations with the CAA and the Department for Transport over recent weeks, we have been assured repeatedly that decisions about the airspace will not delay our plans for DSA. So this is another step forward.


"Later this year we will take a final decision about the funding for the airport and the wider Gateway East project. The work to fully understand the commercial, financial and wider infrastructure needs of the whole project is moving forward at pace and I have no reason to believe we will not take a positive decision this summer."

i wonder what he means by " the wider Gateway east project" ?

 

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "After years of inaction, the transport secretary has taken the decisive next step towards enabling Doncaster Sheffield Airport to reopen to passengers.


"She has decided not to call-in the airspace change proposal which clears the way for the regulator to move forward with a decision, and we expect a conclusion on this very shortly, unlocking another barrier to the airport reopening."

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard said: "Today the secretary of state for transport has taken the decision not to call-in the CAA's decision to restore Doncaster Sheffield Airport's airspace. That decision paves the way for the CAA to make a decision more quickly than if the secretary of state were to further delay that decision. We now expect the CAA to quickly lay out their approach.


"Whatever that decision - either to restore or reshape our airspace - in conversations with the CAA and the Department for Transport over recent weeks, we have been assured repeatedly that decisions about the airspace will not delay our plans for DSA. So this is another step forward.


"Later this year we will take a final decision about the funding for the airport and the wider Gateway East project. The work to fully understand the commercial, financial and wider infrastructure needs of the whole project is moving forward at pace and I have no reason to believe we will not take a positive decision this summer."

i wonder what he means by " the wider Gateway east project" ?

No idea, but there's no way the CAA are going to provide DSA with airspace quickly when everything else they do drags on for years. DSAs airspace proposals will have to tie in with those for surrounding airports, and there will need to be a coordinated approach, especially due to the ongoing airspace change programme, which itself is like pulling teeth due to the CAA constantly moving the goalposts. Discussions will be needed with other airports before even making a first submission otherwise it will probably be just be thrown out.

Frankly, all of the above is just political claptrap. They know this too. There's a reason why CDC practically grovelled when they wrote to the minister asking that they intervene and that their airspace be preserved to avoid causing significant delay. The minister may have decided not to call it in but the CAA are playing hardball, and quite right too. Throughout, CDC have thought only of their vanity project and have failed to consider surrounding airports, and they've been pulled up at least twice for that, being told to do so.

The spin they put out on these things is beyond ridiculous. If this is good news, then what was this letter to the Minister pleading for them to intervene and for their airspace to be preserved about? Neither have happened, yet now it's all good?

 

It's supposed to be FP airports who were doing this - all very strange. The job spec. has been splattered about a number of Recruitment Agencies - I don't know whether you have had a look but they are wanting a very highly qualified person indeed and for sure there will not be many if any with the required qualifications waiting around for a job which at £500-£600 a day seems a lot, but is actually not and for 2 months??.

There are aviation consultants who have the experience they’re after, and would be happy to take a two-month contract to do what little they could in such a short time.

The idea that they’d do it for £500/day is hilarious.

I’m very confused about what’s going on here. Presumably they have found that they don’t have someone able to liaise sensibly with the CAA on licensing matters, and the realisation that they really need to be getting a move-on right now in order to meet a 2027 opening has kicked in. But, (as pointed out above), aren’t FP and MAI supposed to be doing this for them?

 

There are aviation consultants who have the experience they’re after, and would be happy to take a two-month contract to do what little they could in such a short time.

The idea that they’d do it for £500/day is hilarious.

I’m very confused about what’s going on here. Presumably they have found that they don’t have someone able to liaise sensibly with the CAA on licensing matters, and the realisation that they really need to be getting a move-on right now in order to meet a 2027 opening has kicked in. But, (as pointed out above), aren’t FP and MAI supposed to be doing this for them?

Due to my previous positions I tick quite a few of those boxes.. Should I apply? I’ll just do it on my days off save them the cash… I jest.

In all seriousness I do wonder whether this is to satisfy the regulator, they’ll need potholder positions filled and the numerous aerodrome ops manuals written with associated accountable managers signing them off, given what they’re paying MAI I can’t imagine they’ll be interested in taking much of a hands on approach to this, they’ll aren’t the operator as sold to us but a ‘partner’ whatever that means. The implication seems to be that this person will liaise with the regulator to get all the regulatory stuff going with a view to them taking on more of the airporty workload as things progress, therefore we are to assume that my this point MAIs work will be done and they’ll complete their contract (whatever that looks like) handing everything over to FlyDoncaster.

Still want to know what Christian Foster means when he says that the airport has to feel and operate differently to last time. It could be interpreted in many ways but it’s clearly another sly dig at Peel and their apparent incompetence.

 

Due to my previous positions I tick quite a few of those boxes.. Should I apply? I’ll just do it on my days off save them the cash… I jest.

In all seriousness I do wonder whether this is to satisfy the regulator, they’ll need potholder positions filled and the numerous aerodrome ops manuals written with associated accountable managers signing them off, given what they’re paying MAI I can’t imagine they’ll be interested in taking much of a hands on approach to this, they’ll aren’t the operator as sold to us but a ‘partner’ whatever that means. The implication seems to be that this person will liaise with the regulator to get all the regulatory stuff going with a view to them taking on more of the airporty workload as things progress, therefore we are to assume that my this point MAIs work will be done and they’ll complete their contract (whatever that looks like) handing everything over to FlyDoncaster.

Still want to know what Christian Foster means when he says that the airport has to feel and operate differently to last time. It could be interpreted in many ways but it’s clearly another sly dig at Peel and their apparent incompetence.

The way I read the splurge originally was that MAI was handling the transition with FP Airports and that FP and CDC would eventually run the show through FlyDoncaster. However I was told by a former Director of FP airports who had an impressive aviation CV (now there's a thought!) that I had it the wrong way round and that FP were handling the transition and MAI would take over running the show when it opened. I bumped into a chap I know a couple of weeks ago who told me that FP were involved talking about equipment that he supplied and although he knew about MAI he had not come across them. It does seem to be a tangled web of intrigue!
No doubt there will be some 'spin' - or maybe credible information resulting from the the Chamber of Commerce thing. Judging by the supporters comments - ex local passengers and staff - it seemed a happy ship and therefore it is difficult to understand what he means by having a different 'feel'.

 

The way I read the splurge originally was that MAI was handling the transition with FP Airports and that FP and CDC would eventually run the show through FlyDoncaster. However I was told by a former Director of FP airports who had an impressive aviation CV (now there's a thought!) that I had it the wrong way round and that FP were handling the transition and MAI would take over running the show when it opened. I bumped into a chap I know a couple of weeks ago who told me that FP were involved talking about equipment that he supplied and although he knew about MAI he had not come across them. It does seem to be a tangled web of intrigue!
No doubt there will be some 'spin' - or maybe credible information resulting from the the Chamber of Commerce thing. Judging by the supporters comments - ex local passengers and staff - it seemed a happy ship and therefore it is difficult to understand what he means by having a different 'feel'.

Former FP airports director? So who in FP airports had the credentials now?

I don’t think Christian Foster knows what he’s talking about with all respect to him. A MAI head mentioned how they are a more ‘trustworthy’ operator and therefore that should translate into business, maybe that’s what he’s trying to say without actually saying it? After all, he’ll have to keep Peel happy.. The only viable difference I can see is that they charge more and see less rather than the other way round!

 

A Department for Transport spokesperson said: "After years of inaction, the transport secretary has taken the decisive next step towards enabling Doncaster Sheffield Airport to reopen to passengers.


"She has decided not to call-in the airspace change proposal which clears the way for the regulator to move forward with a decision, and we expect a conclusion on this very shortly, unlocking another barrier to the airport reopening."

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard said: "Today the secretary of state for transport has taken the decision not to call-in the CAA's decision to restore Doncaster Sheffield Airport's airspace. That decision paves the way for the CAA to make a decision more quickly than if the secretary of state were to further delay that decision. We now expect the CAA to quickly lay out their approach.


"Whatever that decision - either to restore or reshape our airspace - in conversations with the CAA and the Department for Transport over recent weeks, we have been assured repeatedly that decisions about the airspace will not delay our plans for DSA. So this is another step forward.


"Later this year we will take a final decision about the funding for the airport and the wider Gateway East project. The work to fully understand the commercial, financial and wider infrastructure needs of the whole project is moving forward at pace and I have no reason to believe we will not take a positive decision this summer."

i wonder what he means by " the wider Gateway east project" ?

You are probably in a better position with your background to know a bit more about 'the wider Gateway East project' than we (dare I say) aviation specialists. It would answer so many questions and avoid speculation if he would just publish this Business Plan which is still hidden behind the wall of 'confidentiality' I'm sure there will be a positive decision - but for which part of the project? Gateway East is surely going to be where the jobs and major financial contributions are to come from which frankly I do not see being affected negatively if he doesn't fund the airport. However, from the tit bits of information in the public domain it would seem the two are joined as Siamese twins.

 

You are probably in a better position with your background to know a bit more about 'the wider Gateway East project' than we (dare I say) aviation specialists. It would answer so many questions and avoid speculation if he would just publish this Business Plan which is still hidden behind the wall of 'confidentiality' I'm sure there will be a positive decision - but for which part of the project? Gateway East is surely going to be where the jobs and major financial contributions are to come from which frankly I do not see being affected negatively if he doesn't fund the airport. However, from the tit bits of information in the public domain it would seem the two are joined as Siamese twins.

Suspect there’s an element of ‘working together’ on the Gateway East to enable some negotiating power for CDC/SYMCA to continue down the road of reopening the airport. I.e they’ll help get tenants for Gateway East of Peel make it easier for them to get the airport open. I note even in the Peel Land statement they say the site sits adjacent to Doncaster Sheffield Airport (no mention of South Yorkshire Airport City), and contrary to rabbitfoots belief Peel didn’t really want the airport to close they just had no other option.

Long as Peel are getting paid they won’t care, if the airport works like they say then great as it’ll push up the land value surrounding it. If it fails then great as they’ll be able to push through housing developments because - rather than what rabbitfoot thinks, the Government have pledged an ambitious house building program and DSA is the ideal site for housing,..