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 think you should have added the comments by lord patrick mcloughlin. the chair of transport for the north , who as stressed to the secretary of state that DSA needs different business model to the one adopted before 2022

 

Interesting that although the claim is that a number of airline operators have indicated a desire to commence operations, it also states that initially the airport will only see general aviation with passenger traffic to follow. Given that the airport is unlikely to be operational for at least another year, and these supposed airlines are keen, it's odd that their arrival at DSA is just a future promise. A lot can change in that time. Personally, I'll believe their arrival when I see it. I suppose at least it shows a recognition that to handle commercial passenger traffic at all, there's a huge amount to do with a considerable cost and timescale to do it.

 

i think a lot depends on who the operator is. i was over at LBA this week and the new terminal is coming along , and when completed it will be awesome. DSA will never compete with LBA , likewise lba against MANn. the CDC are counting on what goes around the airport, just as much as the airport itself. who these aviation companies setting up shop there, nobody as any idea. but they can build either side of the great yorkshire way, and that is over a mile long!

and not owned by the peel group.

 

One more thing. The letter mentions Tower and Approach control, doesn’t mention radar control. Are they saying they’ll once again be subcontracting this work out to a remote radar unit like they did under Peel? If they have no radar control at all then the CAA are unlikely to grant them CAS.

Correct, no Radar equals no CAS. However I suspect they are using Approach as a shorthand for Approach Radar, since that’s how they refer to the previous operation earlier in the letter. Also, the location that radar services are provided from doesn’t really matter.

However!! ATC will take a long time to establish. The original ATC staff have all moved on to new pastures, those who were at Doncaster and those who were at Liverpool. There is a lot of recruiting, training and certifying of controllers to be done. This will take many, many months, and even getting staff in through the door in the first place will be fiendishly hard in the current job market. Who will want to work somewhere that has failed already, upending the lives of an entire ATC unit?

On top of that, the equipment must be restored/replaced/recertified. The unit procedures, competency scheme, training scheme, QMS, SMS must be updated, resubmitted to the CAA and reapproved (and just because there are documents that were acceptable in the past, there is no guarantee the CAA will accept them now without significant revisions and resubmissions - they are fickle like that).

All this is to say that these MPs are asking for the preservation of airspace that is at least a year, more likely closer to two, from being operational. And even then, for a GA operation, as the letter acknowledges. The lawyers employed by the gliding and other GA organisations would pick it to bits.

 

i think you should have added the comments by lord patrick mcloughlin. the chair of transport for the north , who as stressed to the secretary of state that DSA needs different business model to the one adopted before 2022

I hadn't heard or seen that - but I think that he is correct - although not sure what the Secretary of State can do about it directly. It has been said on this forum previously that a re-opened DSA should endeavour to create its own niche and forget about trying to replicate what is going on at other nearby airports. 17 years experience of the previous DSA model has evidenced that is unlikely to work, whereas something new and different might well draw in support.

 

Correct, no Radar equals no CAS. However I suspect they are using Approach as a shorthand for Approach Radar, since that’s how they refer to the previous operation earlier in the letter. Also, the location that radar services are provided from doesn’t really matter.

However!! ATC will take a long time to establish. The original ATC staff have all moved on to new pastures, those who were at Doncaster and those who were at Liverpool. There is a lot of recruiting, training and certifying of controllers to be done. This will take many, many months, and even getting staff in through the door in the first place will be fiendishly hard in the current job market. Who will want to work somewhere that has failed already, upending the lives of an entire ATC unit?

On top of that, the equipment must be restored/replaced/recertified. The unit procedures, competency scheme, training scheme, QMS, SMS must be updated, resubmitted to the CAA and reapproved (and just because there are documents that were acceptable in the past, there is no guarantee the CAA will accept them now without significant revisions and resubmissions - they are fickle like that).

All this is to say that these MPs are asking for the preservation of airspace that is at least a year, more likely closer to two, from being operational. And even then, for a GA operation, as the letter acknowledges. The lawyers employed by the gliding and other GA organisations would pick it to bits.

Great post again radar. I do expect they would probably need to subcontract the radar out again otherwise it would be a significant investment required to get the kit and the people in-house. Must be a better option to go back to Vantage as it was done before. That said, I’m still skeptical as to the capability of the airport to deliver on the projected movements that allowed it to be granted Class D in the first place.

I notice that some bloke from Business Doncaster believes DSA could match Stansted! Are these people for real? It’s a sure fire way to set yourself up for failure once again. Theyre saying the same stuff Peel were saying 20odd years ago and look where that got them.

 

Just to be absolutely clear, the reason DSA was not like STN before is because there wasn’t enough support in the catchment area. It was nothing to do with charging too much or ‘Peel’ not wanting it to work. Anyone who thinks it was the reason is a fool. If the airport reopens, and if it is to be a success, it does need to change the model, but that model must be to move away from reliance on passengers and freight. They should be a good to have not a must have otherwise it will fail again. Doesn’t matter if the owners of Heathrow were to run it, they’d still suffer the same fundamental problems as Peel.

Expectations really do need to be managed here.

 

I see people are quoting Cargo will be back first.. if this is the case is there even enough demand to warrant it reopening? the odd freight once or twice a week (if that) will not bring in enough revenue.. Also the cargo airlines operating regular services are all based just down the road at EMA.. why would they move.

 

Great post again radar. I do expect they would probably need to subcontract the radar out again otherwise it would be a significant investment required to get the kit and the people in-house. Must be a better option to go back to Vantage as it was done before. That said, I’m still skeptical as to the capability of the airport to deliver on the projected movements that allowed it to be granted Class D in the first place.

I notice that some bloke from Business Doncaster believes DSA could match Stansted! Are these people for real? It’s a sure fire way to set yourself up for failure once again. Theyre saying the same stuff Peel were saying 20odd years ago and look where that got t

Just to be absolutely clear, the reason DSA was not like STN before is because there wasn’t enough support in the catchment area. It was nothing to do with charging too much or ‘Peel’ not wanting it to work. Anyone who thinks it was the reason is a fool. If the airport reopens, and if it is to be a success, it does need to change the model, but that model must be to move away from reliance on passengers and freight. They should be a good to have not a must have otherwise it will fail again. Doesn’t matter if the owners of Heathrow were to run it, they’d still suffer the same fundamental problems as Peel.

Expectations really do need to be managed here.

Also not just on the demand side but also the supply side is more the catered for and the MAN group sure aren’t going to be going anywhere in the cargo side at EMA https://mediacentre.eastmidlandsairport.com/ema-ready-to-build-on-cargo-success/#:~:text=East Midlands Airport's cargo operation,fly in the years ahead.

 

I was at EMA last Friday and noted that there are a lot more cargo flights during the day and they are going to go "hell for leather" to keep those services.
I think it would be a good idea for "pro DSA" supporters to go and have a look at the cargo facilities at EMA and see what they are competing against, it might install some realism into their aspirations.

View attachment 31029

Some key aspects of the initial operation of DSA.

I never got reading past the first paragraph.
Firstly, should it not be "may" we congratulate you and secondly I don't think that it is a pressing matter for the UK Aviation Industry.

 

I never got reading past the first paragraph.
Firstly, should it not be "may" we congratulate you and secondly I don't think that it is a pressing matter for the UK Aviation Industry.
[/QUOTE]
Fairly typical. Throughout the pro DSA campaign all parties have insisted on bigging up the airport and it's importance with a list of spurious reasons why it should reopen. What they have never done is show any understanding as to why the airport failed, how the aviation industry works, and therefore why it's likely to fail again. The money they are committing to it is enormous and time will tell if it's wasted.

Having said all that, I wish the Labour Party Council in Leeds would show the same level of support to LBA. It's ironic that an airport with a very positive future faces constant negativity from local Councillors whilst a closed down airport with a very dubious future seems to be supported widely .

 

Having said all that, I wish the Labour Party Council in Leeds would show the same level of support to LBA. It's ironic that an airport with a very positive future faces constant negativity from local Councillors whilst a closed down airport with a very dubious future seems to be supported widely .

That's because they have no idea about how the aviation industry works or basic market forces.

 

Seen some nonsense posted about Peel bringing airlines into Teesside as a ruse to get them to Liverpool.

Utter utter BS. They did sometimes offer group deals. I understand the reason easyjet based one aircraft at DSA back in 2010 was because they had a deal with LPL to base x number of aircraft but actually that year based more at MAN. So it was a sweetener to keep peel happy. DSA was always a hard sell, Teesside even more so.

 

Seen some nonsense posted about Peel bringing airlines into Teesside as a ruse to get them to Liverpool.

Utter utter BS. They did sometimes offer group deals. I understand the reason easyjet based one aircraft at DSA back in 2010 was because they had a deal with LPL to base x number of aircraft but actually that year based more at MAN. So it was a sweetener to keep peel happy. DSA was always a hard sell, Teesside even more so.

Expect to see a lot more of this as desperation sets in. More BS posted by the saveDSA group today that aviation consultants state DSA is in better operational condition then 50% of airports in the UK. This is an airport which has no landing lights fire provision, atc. etc etc.

 

Expect to see a lot more of this as desperation sets in. More BS posted by the saveDSA group today that aviation consultants state DSA is in better operational condition then 50% of airports in the UK. This is an airport which has no landing lights fire provision, atc. etc etc.

Still interested to know exactly who these consultants are. It’s definitely not York Aviation.

 

Still interested to know exactly who these consultants are. It’s definitely not York Aviation.

No - strange the Council didn’t use York aviation given virtually every other local authority and the UK gov does…..guess they didn’t like the message they got from them so chose someone who just told them what they wanted to hear….

 

No - strange the Council didn’t use York aviation given virtually every other local authority and the UK gov does…..guess they didn’t like the message they got from them so chose someone who just told them what they wanted to hear….

Of course, York Aviation are in Peels pockets.. but oh wait, so are CDC and SYMCA. Funny old thing isn’t it, particularly now I hear Peel are all for the airport reopening and becoming a success. Much like they were before but some people in Donny who apparently know better (cos they used to like having the option of flying to Benidorm from DSA) are now saying it’s a massive injustice that Peel made the decision to close it.

I see now that Oliver Coppard is saying 2026 for a reopening and that the winning operator will be the one to re-establish everything. Also it’s likely to be autumn before anything is announced. Oh and the operator has been tasked with attracting airlines - presumably a deal breaker. No wonder things keep getting pushed back.

 

the local mps had a meeting with the aviation minster this week
We were grateful to meet the Minister for Aviation and his team on Monday to discuss the importance of opening the airspace above Doncaster. A positive meeting where we have strong commitment to help make this happen, and were pleased to hear that the team are working very closely with the CAA already to help allow the airspace to be available when we need it.

never had a meeting with the last one.

 

the local mps had a meeting with the aviation minster this week
We were grateful to meet the Minister for Aviation and his team on Monday to discuss the importance of opening the airspace above Doncaster. A positive meeting where we have strong commitment to help make this happen, and were pleased to hear that the team are working very closely with the CAA already to help allow the airspace to be available when we need it.

never had a meeting with the last one.

The CAA will not be pushed on it, this is more politico speak. They will need to justify the requirement for it, as radar has said the lawyers will be waiting to make a challenge.

 

I see now that Oliver Coppard is saying 2026 for a reopening and that the winning operator will be the one to re-establish everything. Also it’s likely to be autumn before anything is announced. Oh and the operator has been tasked with attracting airlines - presumably a deal breaker. No wonder things keep getting pushed back.

I did hear a clip of Coppard that someone put up from radio. I couldn't believe what I was hearing he was talking about what is happening and how things were going, but the most interesting thing he kept emphasising was numerous get of jail free cards if things fell apart. He had more get out comments than anything. Think it was three or four get out comments for every point he was making.

The way he came across is he doesn't believe in it but is being pulled along.