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...?

 

at the meeting on the 23rd, there was a big mandate to get privatisation written into the report. It got done as they requested. and nobody was told what to do about their vote.


very poor reporting, not going to affect the cost of the airport in anyway

Yes they were rabbitfoot, that’s what’s caused the consternation amongst the Regurge councillors.

How is it not going to affect the cost of the airport in any way? Are you suggesting it will get preferential treatment? I’m sure that will go down well with an already litigious competition wont it…

 

Yes they were rabbitfoot, that’s what’s caused the consternation amongst the Regurge councillors.

How is it not going to affect the cost of the airport in any way? Are you suggesting it will get preferential treatment? I’m sure that will go down well with an already litigious competition wont it…

the council { that goes for any council}get half back straight away from business rates and the other half in their government grant. and you are wrong , if that happened the tories would be all over now, as they voted no

 

the council { that goes for any council}get half back straight away from business rates and the other half in their government grant. and you are wrong , if that happened the tories would be all over now, as they voted no

Exactly, so they’re proposing to use their position for unfair advantage. However I thought FlyDoncaster was an arms length business that has to stand on its own two feet?

Are you for real rabbitfoot? If what happened the Tories would be all over now? Why do you think the prominent member of the audit committee actually stood down and left the party? Why do you think the actual leader of the party stood down the day after the vote?

 

at the meeting on the 23rd, there was a big mandate to get privatisation written into the report. It got done as they requested. and nobody was told what to do about their vote.


very poor reporting, not going to affect the cost of the airport in anyway

If, as you claim, nobody was told what to do (not sure how you would know that), how is it that Coppard stated that he expected the Reform Councillors who voted against to have the party whip withdrawn? If it was a free vote, they cant withdraw the whip. That applies only where they ignore party directives (to vote in favour) and vote against instead.

Seems to me that Coppard is under the impression that there was an instruction to vote in favour!

 

If, as you claim, nobody was told what to do (not sure how you would know that), how is it that Coppard stated that he expected the Reform Councillors who voted against to have the party whip withdrawn? If it was a free vote, they cant withdraw the whip. That applies only where they ignore party directives (to vote in favour) and vote against instead.

Seems to me that Coppard is under the impression that there was an instruction to vote in favour!

The Reform councillors were 100% instructed to vote in favour, this is the reason Guy Ashton has had to stand down. It’s also why Jason Charity left the local Reform party and his position as Chair of the Audit Committee, his exact quote was that the business case ‘didn’t stand up to scrutiny’ and he was one of the few who have actually seen it. Coppard knows they were instructed to vote in favour, because Guy Ashton ‘got into bed with Labour’ on the issue.

Rabbitfoot just looks for what they want to see, much like the ones shouting the loudest about all this. It’ll come back and bite them, after recent discussions I’m even more convinced of this. Notice how Coppard was concerned about the wavering confidence?

 

If, as you claim, nobody was told what to do (not sure how you would know that), how is it that Coppard stated that he expected the Reform Councillors who voted against to have the party whip withdrawn? If it was a free vote, they cant withdraw the whip. That applies only where they ignore party directives (to vote in favour) and vote against instead.

Seems to me that Coppard is under the impression that there was an instruction to vote in favour!

It's in the public domain that Reform were voting under a whip so not sure where @rabbitfoot is coming from. I guess Cllr. Charity who was the Chair of the Council Scrutiny Committee who said the Business Plan didn't stand up voted against as an Independent and I guess the Tories who probably didn't need much persuading were persuaded by Cllr Charity's comments on the 'Business Plan'. I agree Coppard was apparently expecting a unanimous vote with Reform voting under the whip.
I cannot understand however how any Councillor could vote either one way or the other with any responsibility without having access to the 'anonymous' Business Plan which is still hiding somewhere behind a wall of supposed confidentiality and I suspect never to emerge. I recall the Teesside Plan was published together with Consultants reports way ahead of their Council meeting so whatever folk thought of it they could make up their minds. It might be the vote would not have had a different outcome with transparency but you wonder what is in there that needs hiding from the public.

 

Exactly, so they’re proposing to use their position for unfair advantage. However I thought FlyDoncaster was an arms length business that has to stand on its own two feet?

Are you for real rabbitfoot? If what happened the Tories would be all over now? Why do you think the prominent member of the audit committee actually stood down and left the party? Why do you think the actual leader of the party stood down the day after the vote?

Looks like @rabbitfoot ( ) continues to talk nonsense on this. Business rates will ofcourse have an impact on DSA and any suggestion they will avoid it by certain means would land the council and FlyDoncaster in a whole different world of trouble.

It’s also becoming increasingly obvious that they will struggle to attract any airline other than TUI. Airline growth across the UK seems to be stagnating and I note comments from Steve Heapy that Jet2 will have minimal growth outside Gatwick next year. With less money in peoples pockets going forward, areas such as Doncaster which are seen as less affluent anyway, will see demand drop further.

 

at the meeting on the 23rd, there was a big mandate to get privatisation written into the report. It got done as they requested. and nobody was told what to do about their vote.


very poor reporting, not going to affect the cost of the airport in anyway

I think you will find it will - why do you think airports are now petitioning the gov? Business rates have a significant impact on regional airports bottom line…. https://travelweekly.co.uk/news/airports-condemn-budget-doubling-of-business-rates
And as has already been stated if DSA or any other airport under public ownership think they could use this to their advantage over privately owned airport expect litigation given the anger the increase in business rates has already created within the industry…

 

It's in the public domain that Reform were voting under a whip so not sure where @rabbitfoot is coming from. I guess Cllr. Charity who was the Chair of the Council Scrutiny Committee who said the Business Plan didn't stand up voted against as an Independent and I guess the Tories who probably didn't need much persuading were persuaded by Cllr Charity's comments on the 'Business Plan'. I agree Coppard was apparently expecting a unanimous vote with Reform voting under the whip.
I cannot understand however how any Councillor could vote either one way or the other with any responsibility without having access to the 'anonymous' Business Plan which is still hiding somewhere behind a wall of supposed confidentiality and I suspect never to emerge. I recall the Teesside Plan was published together with Consultants reports way ahead of their Council meeting so whatever folk thought of it they could make up their minds. It might be the vote would not have had a different outcome with transparency but you wonder what is in there that needs hiding from the public.

I don’t think rabbitfoot knows where rabbitfoot is coming from sometimes. It’s obvious there was a demand to vote a certain way, it’s great that it’s further fractured the Regurge party bit like you say, the Conservatives appear to be highly skeptical of it, not least because must of them are being asked to vote on something they’ve not been able to apply due scrutiny to.

There’s a suggestion that anyone who doesn’t support it doesn’t ’believe in Doncaster’. It’s a bit like telling everyone to vote to leave the EU, look how that’s going.

 

The BBC are now reporting that the Reform Clowncillor who quit the party during the week to become Independent, has now rejoined Reform! You really couldn't make it up. Both Reform and CDC are a total shambles.

 

The BBC are now reporting that the Reform Clowncillor who quit the party during the week to become Independent, has now rejoined Reform! You really couldn't make it up. Both Reform and CDC are a total shambles.

I do wonder what any prospective investors (assuming here are any) or any airlines, who if they were to establish a base there would have to sink significant sums into DSA think about this given the airport is under direct control of these folks……

 

International flights hint for Doncaster Sheffield Airport - Place Yorkshire

Speaking at the Great Northern Conference, the managing director of Munich Airport International emphasised the site’s capacity to become a major northern hub for international travel, freight, energy generation, and commercial development.

www.placeyorkshire.co.uk

he seems positive, and at the meeting he mention other revenue from real estate

 

International flights hint for Doncaster Sheffield Airport - Place Yorkshire

Speaking at the Great Northern Conference, the managing director of Munich Airport International emphasised the site’s capacity to become a major northern hub for international travel, freight, energy generation, and commercial development.

www.placeyorkshire.co.uk

he seems positive, and at the meeting he mention other revenue from real estate

Well they have no choice but to sound positive, but frankly, its a load of rubbish.

 

The long runway yawnnn, long runway means absolutely nothing. Grasping onto any narrative they can to justify its relevance.. a long runway is.. not unique..

Most of this post is pointing out the obvious but obviously fails to understand these factors are not enough to make it succeed..

 

International flights hint for Doncaster Sheffield Airport - Place Yorkshire

Speaking at the Great Northern Conference, the managing director of Munich Airport International emphasised the site’s capacity to become a major northern hub for international travel, freight, energy generation, and commercial development.

www.placeyorkshire.co.uk

he seems positive, and at the meeting he mention other revenue from real estate

I wonder what aircraft DSA could handle that Manchester & the London airports could not? Because I'm fairly certain they do a fair job of handling the biggest of commercial aircraft. It certainly seemed that way when I've flown on an A380 out of Heathrow, and I've seen plenty leave Manchester. But I suppose Doncaster has the additional attraction of a railway line a mile away with 5 trains a day, and a motorway network that apparently needs expanding for the current traffic levels, but is a selling point for an international "sustainable aviation hub"....

 

‘Capacity’ is not the same thing as ‘Potential’

 

International flights hint for Doncaster Sheffield Airport - Place Yorkshire

Speaking at the Great Northern Conference, the managing director of Munich Airport International emphasised the site’s capacity to become a major northern hub for international travel, freight, energy generation, and commercial development.

www.placeyorkshire.co.uk

he seems positive, and at the meeting he mention other revenue from real estate

It’s all BS, he’s being paid to be positive about it, he’s hardly going to say it’s demand limited. He also has zero experience of operating within the competitive U.K. market which is already stretched by objectively too many airport vying for the same traffic.

What they’re trying to attempt is market manipulation where the private sector failed. Talking of real estate makes absolutely no sense when the airport has very little developable real estate at its disposal.

It’s peel in 2005 all over again .

‘Capacity’ is not the same thing as ‘Potential’

Summed up perfectly in few words, can tell you talk for a living it’s equivocal to questioning why we’re building so many houses in the London area when there’s plenty of land available in the outer Hebrides.

 

Well they have no choice but to sound positive, but frankly, its a load of rubbish.

You can tell he is from Germany and obviously U.K. geography isn’t his strong point . The facts are that MAN will always be the LH hub for the north of England as reflected in the current Transport for the North strategy…Once Northern powerhouse rail completes it will offer far better connectivity then DSA will ever have.
Seems the guy from MAI just regurgitating the old myth that DSA will somehow become a major LH passenger airport. It won’t, there is no market for it, MAN already has it and there is simply no demand for another LH airport….where does he think all these folks travelling globally are going to come from
As to LBA and its runway…..Well it’s managed ok for the last 45 years since the last extension, 18 years of which it out competed DSA commercially & beat off competition from DSA in attracting airlines…….So its runway will do just fine…..

 

LCY has one of the shortest commercial runways in the UK and by heck is more successful and busier then DSA can ever achieve.. wonder why that is.. “Capacity is not the same thing as potential”…

MIA getting paid monthly a fee from last year I believe with no flights expected until 2028 (if your lucky) they are laughing to the bank.. a few positive statements here and there, I could do that. Clearly MIA ignoring EMA in that statement and aiming at LBA.. again isn’t EMA by far your biggest competitor?

Anyway back to reality, no air space, no airlines, no private investment, the circus.. continues.

 

LCY has one of the shortest commercial runways in the UK and by heck is more successful and busier then DSA can ever achieve.. wonder why that is.. “Capacity is not the same thing as potential”…

MIA getting paid monthly a fee from last year I believe with no flights expected until 2028 (if your lucky) they are laughing to the bank.. a few positive statements here and there, I could do that. Clearly MIA ignoring EMA in that statement and aiming at LBA.. again isn’t EMA by far your biggest competitor?

Anyway back to reality, no air space, no airlines, no private investment, the circus.. continues.

Strange also how MIA made no reference to how their ongoing conversations with airlines are going or their attendance at Routes World in Hong Kong and the reception they received in respect of DSA……I wonder why……