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 see from a post on the FB save DSA group which has now subsequently been deleted that the preferred bidders have walked away from the deal……not sure how much to read into this but it wouldn’t be that much or a surprise…

The post is still there.

 

The post is still there.

So it is, must have missed it…..will be interesting to see if there is anything in it….

 

I see from a post on the FB save DSA group which has now subsequently been deleted that the preferred bidders have walked away from the deal……not sure how much to read into this but it wouldn’t be that much or a surprise…

Wouldn’t read anything into it, same person pretending to be cabin crew getting information from a WhatsApp group, cos of course the Council execs/high level people within an airport management/operation organisation are on a WhatsApp group with a bunch of Stansted based cabin crew

Same person also hinted at some Fraport/Lufthansa tie in. I think whoever it is will be unlikely to be a major player, it’s more likely someone we’ve barely heard of (if they’re European, my money would still be in Rigby Group) that has some involvement in airports of a similar size to what DSA is likely to be. Otherwise it’ll just fall on its face before it gets anywhere. Remember Vantage? Need to keep reminding people that a global airport operator once owned it and its passenger numbers fell during that period… For it to be a success it desperately needs an operator sympathetic to small airport operations specifically within the U.K. which has its own idiosyncrasies, otherwise I think it’ll be a huge risk,

 

The post is still there.

If true, no surprise at all.
On to the not so preferred bidder then!
It can't help when they see what's happening generally with reducing demand, plus the competition locally with MAN and in particular the £200m growth plans just 40 miles up the road at LBA. You have to suspect that with such plans, LBA have irons in fires regarding new airlines, new routes etc., all of which will make it that much harder for DSA to ever be profitable .

 

If true, no surprise at all.
On to the not so preferred bidder then!
It can't help when they see what's happening generally with reducing demand, plus the competition locally with MAN and in particular the £200m growth plans just 40 miles up the road at LBA. You have to suspect that with such plans, LBA have irons in fires regarding new airlines, new routes etc., all of which will make it that much harder for DSA to ever be profitable .

I don’t think there’s any truth to it. However I do suspect yesterdays LBA news was delivered for some strategic reason.. Whether to do with DSA or not I’m not sure, or perhaps there’s a looming airline announcement. There has been an uptick in some fairly old news regarding DSA by a lot of the local media outlets this week for some reason.

 

I don’t think there’s any truth to it. However I do suspect yesterdays LBA news was delivered for some strategic reason.. Whether to do with DSA or not I’m not sure, or perhaps there’s a looming airline announcement. There has been an uptick in some fairly old news regarding DSA by a lot of the local media outlets this week for some reason.

I know there are rumours circulating about new routes and airlines at LBA (probably not before at least the 1st phase of the terminal development is completed in 2025 ) but I've heard this before so take little notice until the contracts are signed and an announcement is made. It does seem highly likely though that LBA will grow and potentially quite quickly, assuming the Nimbys and Nimby supported Councillors don't find a way to stop it. Definitely not an ideal time to try and re-launch a previously failed airport given the huge cost of actually re- opening it. It's going to take a brave (or reckless) operator to take it on unless they are happy to diversify into other areas of aviation.

 

The idea there's a "preferred" bidder in itself is laughable as it suggest companies are rolling around pleading to be the servant of Doncaster Council. Anyway, for now we will just have to wait and see what happens.

 

We have been corrected.

Apparently the so called rumour that the preferred bidder has walked away was started by….. Us (by this they mean LBA spotters, of which I am not one). This then made its way on to a WhatsApp group used by cabin crew and ‘aviation ops’, some of whom apparently based in Stansted. However, the person who apparently started the rumour is someone who is ‘a credible spotter’..

I think someone’s had a liquid breakfast.. I’ve seen no posts on any aviation forum to suggest that a preferred bidder has walked away. In fact if that were to be the case it wouldn’t be plastered on an aviation forum. It would also mean the Council would be talking to other potential operators of which I’m sure, with sufficient public sector derisking, there will be at least couple to choose from.

The reason it’s quiet? Because they’re probably in long discussions to come to some kind of mutual agreement about the way forward. It’s not going to be easy, it has to pass the test to gain the funding. It might be announced this week, it might be announced next year. One thing is for sure, what happens at other airports does indeed have a direct impact on the prospects of a reopened DSA. I think they all know this hence the vitriol towards LBAs latest announcement.

 

We have been corrected.

Apparently the so called rumour that the preferred bidder has walked away was started by….. Us (by this they mean LBA spotters, of which I am not one). This then made its way on to a WhatsApp group used by cabin crew and ‘aviation ops’, some of whom apparently based in Stansted. However, the person who apparently started the rumour is someone who is ‘a credible spotter’..

I think someone’s had a liquid breakfast.. I’ve seen no posts on any aviation forum to suggest that a preferred bidder has walked away. In fact if that were to be the case it wouldn’t be plastered on an aviation forum. It would also mean the Council would be talking to other potential operators of which I’m sure, with sufficient public sector derisking, there will be at least couple to choose from.

The reason it’s quiet? Because they’re probably in long discussions to come to some kind of mutual agreement about the way forward. It’s not going to be easy, it has to pass the test to gain the funding. It might be announced this week, it might be announced next year. One thing is for sure, what happens at other airports does indeed have a direct impact on the prospects of a reopened DSA. I think they all know this hence the vitriol towards LBAs latest announcement.

The Mechanics thoughts on LBA and DSA re the latest announcement
“David Wilson lba have announced plans for long haul but lba doesn't have the facilities
Peel announced a plan for expansion and growth in 2018
Yet here we are now
Lba and dsa are 2 totally different airports to compare lba with dsa and the opportunities we have here is like comparing Ryanair and Emirates they are both airlines but totally different”
I presume he hasn’t taken the bother to read or look at what’s going on up the A1 or even has any idea about what ops LBA has previously supported. Strange to think that so many folks hang onto every word he says

 

The Mechanics thoughts on LBA and DSA re the latest announcement
“David Wilson lba have announced plans for long haul but lba doesn't have the facilities
Peel announced a plan for expansion and growth in 2018
Yet here we are now
Lba and dsa are 2 totally different airports to compare lba with dsa and the opportunities we have here is like comparing Ryanair and Emirates they are both airlines but totally different”
I presume he hasn’t taken the bother to read or look at what’s going on up the A1 or even has any idea about what ops LBA has previously supported. Strange to think that so many folks hang onto every word he says

He's right for once. LBA and DSA are totally different. One is open and doing very well, the other is shut because it never did very well.

Otherwise, the guy is very good at talking nonsense.

 

He has now done a post regarding LBA ms expansion plans on the DSA page, obviously attracting negative comments on LBA and how amazing DSA is, everyone stating LBA is threatened by DSA.. please don’t make me laugh. I think half of these people commenting literally don’t know the terminal extension is coming on nicely. And will most likely be opened before DSA gets opened (if ever) the mechanic controls the narrative and will twist every story to benefit his beloved DSA.

He will delete any negative post regarding DSA but will happily let any other airport get trolled by them.

 

He has now done a post regarding LBA ms expansion plans on the DSA page, obviously attracting negative comments on LBA and how amazing DSA is, everyone stating LBA is threatened by DSA.. please don’t make me laugh. I think half of these people commenting literally don’t know the terminal extension is coming on nicely. And will most likely be opened before DSA gets opened (if ever) the mechanic controls the narrative and will twist every story to benefit his beloved DSA.

He will delete any negative post regarding DSA but will happily let any other airport get trolled by them.

He really is ignorant of the facts and the aviation industry in general……according to his post he questions if the expansion at LBA will ever actually happen……news for the Mechanic, it already is and phase one will be open next Spring
What he should be concentrating on is how many £ms of investment will be needed in DSA to even get anywhere near LBAs current 4m capacity and who on earth would want to to invest given it’s awful commercial tack record…..

 

He really is ignorant of the facts and the aviation industry in general……according to his post he questions if the expansion at LBA will ever actually happen……news for the Mechanic, it already is and phase one will be open next Spring
What he should be concentrating on is how many £ms of investment will be needed in DSA to even get anywhere near LBAs current 4m capacity and who on earth would want to to invest given it’s awful commercial tack record…..

I'm interesting in reading his twisted comments, which Facebook group does he make these ludicrous comments on as I can't see him on the SaveDSA group.

 

I'm interesting in reading his twisted comments, which Facebook group does he make these ludicrous comments on as I can't see him on the SaveDSA group.

It’s the #S#SaveDSAAVE Doncaster Sheffield airport Facebook group, always worth a read for a quick chuckle.

 

Fortunately, I don't use Facebook, X on any other Social Media platform, so I am not tempted to read his comments. If as people have said, that he does not let any DSA negative comments get posted, then it is pointless responding anyway.

 

Fortunately, I don't use Facebook, X on any other Social Media platform, so I am not tempted to read his comments. If as people have said, that he does not let any DSA negative comments get posted, then it is pointless responding anyway.

I think his points about LBA are influenced by the master plan Peel released in 2019 that came to nothing. Im not sure if he’s being willfully ignorant or blatantly withholding the facts that LBA actually is currently in the process of a large phased development. It is getting built as we speak. The extra stands will be getting built either quickly or slowly depending on the requirements. Once the new terminal extension is open they will be gutting pretty much the entire building and restructuring it to open it all out and maximise efficiency of the space they have. It’s all happening now, it’s not an ambition. Ambition is their hopes for long-haul which may or may not happen.

The private sector investors putting this capital up are doing so because they have confidence that it’s a sustainable investment. Until we know more about the makeup of the DSA opco and who is funding what, we cannot draw parallels. If it’s all public funding to give it a bump then it’s absolutely not comparable.

 

It's probably worth reminding everyone that this thread actually sits within the Forums4airports DSA forum. We don't have many people come on here to vent their views or opinions in a posative light regarding DSA however if they do, they must be treated with respect whatever views they hold.

 

I think his points about LBA are influenced by the master plan Peel released in 2019 that came to nothing. Im not sure if he’s being willfully ignorant or blatantly withholding the facts that LBA actually is currently in the process of a large phased development. It is getting built as we speak. The extra stands will be getting built either quickly or slowly depending on the requirements. Once the new terminal extension is open they will be gutting pretty much the entire building and restructuring it to open it all out and maximise efficiency of the space they have. It’s all happening now, it’s not an ambition. Ambition is their hopes for long-haul which may or may not happen.

The private sector investors putting this capital up are doing so because they have confidence that it’s a sustainable investment. Until we know more about the makeup of the DSA opco and who is funding what, we cannot draw parallels. If it’s all public funding to give it a bump then it’s absolutely not comparable.

Yes - that sums it up nicely! Whilst it sometimes seems frustrating that folk are encouraged to troll other nearby airports it really is not worth 'biting' as the realities will not be influenced. What is surprising is the vitriolic nature of some of the comments against other airports. Hopefully some sort of announcement will be made soon which will deflect the focus to a more inwardly facing direction - especially if it is not what the locals expected - and let everyone else get on with what they are doing.

 

Yes - that sums it up nicely! Whilst it sometimes seems frustrating that folk are encouraged to troll other nearby airports it really is not worth 'biting' as the realities will not be influenced. What is surprising is the vitriolic nature of some of the comments against other airports. Hopefully some sort of announcement will be made soon which will deflect the focus to a more inwardly facing direction - especially if it is not what the locals expected - and let everyone else get on with what they are doing.

We’ve probably all been guilty of that intentionally or otherwise. I certainly have on this thread at times, my frustration arises from the belief I’ve had over so many years that it just shouldn’t have been allowed to be built in the first place, with the existing airports nowhere near capacity it offered little additional benefit. Peel can sell a good one when they want to.

I still think if it is to reopen then it has to work for the sake of the tax payer if nothing else, might struggle to recruit some professionals because of what happened before. Easyjet and TUI as a bare minimum are a must. I don’t think cargo will be as big an earner as they think with EMA being so close and there not being a huge amount of latent demand for it in this part of the U.K. The Humber ports tend to specialise in bulk and ro/ro which is not practicable to be transported by air.

Don’t think we’ll be hearing much til September now, although there is a CDC cabinet meeting tomorrow where Ros Jones may mention something but I understand this isn’t on the agenda.

 

DSA fans seemingly celebrating MME is back in profit, and anything can happen now!! and Peels fault DSA never could.... when it is categorically not back in profit, have a read, there is debt still absolute joke how they try spin the press/narrative to suit them.