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...?

 

Reason why it was least used station on the network, was because it had only one service a week each way for at least the last 20-30 years. Back in the late 70's it had two or three trains an hour each way.

The station ideally requires moving further west to the main road bridge where the station will have more appeal for more uses than just airline passengers and better accessibility.

But it only had those services because the service providers decided to can it! I’m sorry but you can’t justify it by leaving out a vital aspect of this, it’s just the same as this whole DSA argument.

 

looking like 12 november the annoucement.

go green

 

looking like 12 november the annoucement.

go green

Well done rabbit foot for googling the date of the next SYMCA meeting.

Anyway, I notice someone from the Doncaster chamber is effectively bullying the council and SYMCA into guaranteeing funding for the project.

People need to be careful what they wish for. I understand there are some big announcements elsewhere soon that will put the idea of DSA taking off as a passenger airport to bed.

Like I say, careful what you wish for. This will turn into a national embarrassment if it’s allowed to continue with public investment.,,

 

looking like 12 november the annoucement.

go green

Not from what I’ve heard….Id actually mark the RAG status as bright Red and most certainly not Green….

Well done rabbit foot for googling the date of the next SYMCA meeting.

Anyway, I notice someone from the Doncaster chamber is effectively bullying the council and SYMCA into guaranteeing funding for the project.

People need to be careful what they wish for. I understand there are some big announcements elsewhere soon that will put the idea of DSA taking off as a passenger airport to bed.

Like I say, careful what you wish for. This will turn into a national embarrassment if it’s allowed to continue with public investment.,,

I’d also add that whilst it’s been closed the cargo market at competitor airports has significantly changed…..MME looked to have recruited well recently and it would appear they see the key to building the commercial viability of the airport is in cargo rather then passenger ops..MAG group are also looking to build on their success at EMA and have plans to double the volume of their already significant cargo operation.

No wonder any commercial operator/investor at DSA is wanting the tax payer to underwrite what is a considerable commercial risk…..

 

Having seen a linked in update from Dan Fell, there seems to be alot of excitement and talk and from what I get from it, it was just a meeting based at the airport.. with apparently significant people tagged, non being any of aviation influence. And the only message I got from it was they was asking people to.. you guessed it.. sign the petition. Again from what I read.. no new news really

 

Having seen a linked in update from Dan Fell, there seems to be alot of excitement and talk and from what I get from it, it was just a meeting based at the airport.. with apparently significant people tagged, non being any of aviation influence. And the only message I got from it was they was asking people to.. you guessed it.. sign the petition. Again from what I read.. no new news really

They’d be far better getting people to sign a petition against the proposed increase in APD….

 

Having seen a linked in update from Dan Fell, there seems to be alot of excitement and talk and from what I get from it, it was just a meeting based at the airport.. with apparently significant people tagged, non being any of aviation influence. And the only message I got from it was they was asking people to.. you guessed it.. sign the petition. Again from what I read.. no new news really

Ah DF, I like to refer to him as a wellend (Google it!), he’s claiming that the council have taken quite an entrepreneurial approach to the airport stuff, whatever that means.

There was apparently a round table event last week where the council exec was there basically saying that there is a clear mandate (130,000 petition) and therefore it would be political suicide to not go ahead.

Obviously they’re happy to spend lots of public money on it…

 

Ah DF, I like to refer to him as a wellend (Google it!), he’s claiming that the council have taken quite an entrepreneurial approach to the airport stuff, whatever that means.

There was apparently a round table event last week where the council exec was there basically saying that there is a clear mandate (130,000 petition) and therefore it would be political suicide to not go ahead.

Obviously they’re happy to spend lots of public money on it…

The vast majority of those signing the petition know nothing about the aviation industry and will believe the nonsense spouted from politicians and mechanics who also seem to know nothing .

Politicians are responsible for the sensible use of public funds and should not be swayed by a petition . It's a case of the blind leading the blind over DSA and I suspect that in the end, the politicians will find they have awkward questions to answer regarding them blowing a huge amount on an already failed airport that seems destined to fail again.

 

The vast majority of those signing the petition know nothing about the aviation industry and will believe the nonsense spouted from politicians and mechanics who also seem to know nothing .

Politicians are responsible for the sensible use of public funds and should not be swayed by a petition . It's a case of the blind leading the blind over DSA and I suspect that in the end, the politicians will find they have awkward questions to answer regarding them blowing a huge amount on an already failed airport that seems destined to fail again.

They’re going to though, the board at SYMCA have already pledged their support (SCC have said they will support it cos jobs) so I feel unless there’s a clanger like the operator asking for more money, then the funding will be approved. Oliver Coppard had dripped some info today but not sure if it relates to the meeting alpha alpha mentioned?

 

Below is a link to the article regarding the round table event from a couple of weeks ago if anyone is interested;

'It is the ‘People’s Airport': Campaigners hope Doncaster Sheffield airport will be operational in 2026

Campaigners hope Doncaster Sheffield airport could be operational again in 2026, a major business event was told.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

The language is quite emotive from the Council CE. The ‘peoples airport’ so ignore it at your peril is an interesting take on it. How about do what you’re paid to do and decide what is best use for the limited funds available? Do ‘the people’ really support it now compared to 2 years ago?

 

Below is a link to the article regarding the round table event from a couple of weeks ago if anyone is interested;

'It is the ‘People’s Airport': Campaigners hope Doncaster Sheffield airport will be operational in 2026

Campaigners hope Doncaster Sheffield airport could be operational again in 2026, a major business event was told.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

The language is quite emotive from the Council CE. The ‘peoples airport’ so ignore it at your peril is an interesting take on it. How about do what you’re paid to do and decide what is best use for the limited funds available? Do ‘the people’ really support it now compared to 2 years ago?

He may think it's The People's Airport but the problem is that there aren't going to be enough people to fill aircraft which in turn will result in very few of them and an airport that loses money, and this time, it's public money that could be spent on less risky ventures.

The people I know who live in the area see no reason to reopen it and they're very concerned at the way politicians are steaming into this . They didn't tend to use DSA even when it was open.

 

He may think it's The People's Airport but the problem is that there aren't going to be enough people to fill aircraft which in turn will result in very few of them and an airport that loses money, and this time, it's public money that could be spent on less risky ventures.

The people I know who live in the area see no reason to reopen it and they're very concerned at the way politicians are steaming into this . They didn't tend to use DSA even when it was open.

Seen the comments around of people asking why the buses aren’t being prioritised. It does look like Rachel Reeves is going to announce a fair few cuts to some transport spending but again, if the devolved funds aren’t to be touched then I can’t see that being a stumbling block if CDC get unanimous support from SYMCA.

Interestingly in alpha alpha post of DF LinkedIn comments, of the 4 people mentioned 3 are in the house building trade and one is involved with the hybrid air vehicles project. They don’t seem like the type of business that need international connections, with the possible exception of HAV.

 

Ah DF, I like to refer to him as a wellend (Google it!), he’s claiming that the council have taken quite an entrepreneurial approach to the airport stuff, whatever that means.

There was apparently a round table event last week where the council exec was there basically saying that there is a clear mandate (130,000 petition) and therefore it would be political suicide to not go ahead.

Obviously they’re happy to spend lots of public money on it…

Didn't someone once say that it was estimated that to simply break even DSA needed 3.5 million punters per year? That being the case I'm sure the130,000 would be more than willing to buy nearly 27 flights each every year. It's a no-brainer then...

Seriously though, it's really starting to sound like CDC are bigging up the project in the public eye, so that whoever has been selected as the scapegoat for when the project fails gets it full on from the angry Doncaster public.

 

Didn't someone once say that it was estimated that to simply break even DSA needed 3.5 million punters per year? That being the case I'm sure the130,000 would be more than willing to buy nearly 27 flights each every year. It's a no-brainer then...

Seriously though, it's really starting to sound like CDC are bigging up the project in the public eye, so that whoever has been selected as the scapegoat for when the project fails gets it full on from the angry Doncaster public.

It is less than 5% of the people who used it in its busiest year I guess. People will use it if the flights are right had the prices work, but it’s just another choice of airport to add to the many already existing and the airlines need incentives to use it over and above the others to replicate the success TUI had I think Peel said break even was 2.5mppa, but it’s entirely possible this could change under a different operating model.

I think they’re issuing the threats now, as if to say remember who voted you in to get this job done so no dilly dallying when we’re finally in position, after all our hard work ( in fairness it can’t be an easy task!), to ask for the funding to be released. The ball will then be in the SYMCA/Government’s court.

 

I am sure the Climate Emergency loons will tell you it's an airport that isn't needed.
I will tell you it's an airport that isn't needed.
Lots of here will tell you it's an airport that isn't needed.
Was it not John Prescott all those years ago that told us it was an airport that wasn't needed.
It really isn't rocket science to spot the common denominator.
But hey ho, what has wasting public money that can be clearly spent on far more important things than a vanity project got to do with anything!!!

 

The ‘peoples airport’

The People's Republic of Doncaster

 

The People's Republic of Doncaster

I was thinking more along the lines of the ‘People’s Palace’ of Romania as commissioned by Nicolae Ceausescu which was a colossal monstrosity built on the homes and businesses of some 40,000 people and resulted in the deaths of an estimated 1000 construction ‘workers’ (workers being the army and ‘volunteers’. Ok, so that bit doesn’t draw any parallels, but it did cost an estimated US$1.74bn and effectively bankrupted the country, it was of course anything but the ‘people’s palace’!!

So I do always get a bit skeptical when politicians talk about ‘the people’ as some form of collective voice that knows what it’s talking about and what it wants. 130,000 is an admirable signature count, but it only takes seconds to lend your name to a petition, it doesn’t take into account the fundamental problems that DSA faced before and will most likely face again. It also fails to take into account that this project as things stand will take the entire 30 years allocation of gainshare funding for Doncaster when this could be safeguarded for numerous other schemes that may or may not be more beneficial to the people of Donny.

 

Ah DF, I like to refer to him as a wellend (Google it!), he’s claiming that the council have taken quite an entrepreneurial approach to the airport stuff, whatever that means.

There was apparently a round table event last week where the council exec was there basically saying that there is a clear mandate (130,000 petition) and therefore it would be political suicide to not go ahead.

Obviously they’re happy to spend lots of public money on it…

As I read this in the context of events, 'entrepreneurial' = risky, clear mandate = your fault if it goes belly up!

 

As I read this in the context of events, 'entrepreneurial' = risky, clear mandate = your fault if it goes belly up!

I think you’re possibly right. Though I thought it might have a more positive connotation, such as an operator(s) has pledged to invest in the project too to spread the risk and reduce the burden. That would be my idea of entrepreneurial, but perhaps I’m being naive.

 

Below is a link to the article regarding the round table event from a couple of weeks ago if anyone is interested;

'It is the ‘People’s Airport': Campaigners hope Doncaster Sheffield airport will be operational in 2026

Campaigners hope Doncaster Sheffield airport could be operational again in 2026, a major business event was told.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

The language is quite emotive from the Council CE. The ‘peoples airport’ so ignore it at your peril is an interesting take on it. How about do what you’re paid to do and decide what is best use for the limited funds available? Do ‘the people’ really support it now compared to 2 years ago?

Well I guess it is the “Peoples airport” as it is the tax payers who are paying for it, and no doubt will be underwriting its significant losses for an indefinite period!
Given the dire forecasts about next week’s budget I can see people’s attitude in SY about this airport turning sour quite quickly once the reality of its lack of viability starts to materialise.