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...?

 

He’s controlling the narrative again.

Peel wanted to close it once the roads were put in.

Peel charged airlines too much that’s why it never worked.

LBA are scared of losing business so they’re employing desperate bullying tactics.

Louise Congden used to work for MAG so has a long term hatred of DSA.

Ryanair don’t want airlines flying from DSA cos it’ll take passengers off their flights at LBA.

All of these have been explained as nonsense many times on here. But it screams of hollow desperation to retain momentum. The council are finally being called out, they have a lot to answer to.

As has been mentioned previously by @Snackbar CDC can stop all this by publishing their business plan. And as has also been mentioned previously, they won’t because it will potentially blow apart the case for asking for the subsidy and Coppard will put a halt to all this.

I’m not one for conspiracy theories but it’s not lost on me that the Mechanic has posted about this while discussion was rife on here and he has also referenced about consultants being paid (his words were “A gun for hire to the highest bidder”) similar to comments made on here at the same time. Clearly watching healthy discussion on here by people who understand the industry and not liking it being against his narrative.

Funny how he’s never posted the SAU report or the YA one to allow people to make their own minds up…

As the cost of runway resurfacing has been questioned, I've just asked AI and this is the answer I got.

The average cost of resurfacing a runway can vary widely depending on several factors, including the size and width of the runway, the materials used, the extent of the damage, and the location. However, here are some general estimates:

The average cost of resurfacing a runway in **British pounds (GBP)** will depend on runway size, width, materials, location, etc.

1. **Small Airports (General Aviation):**
- **£410,000 to £1.64 million**

2. **Medium-Sized Airports:**
- **£1.64 million to £8.2 million**

3. **Large Airports (International):**
- **£8.2 million to £41 million or more** ..

The **lower figure** (e.g., £410,000 for small airports or £1.64 million for medium-sized airports) typically corresponds to **remedial or partial resurfacing work**, rather than a full, extensive runway reconstruction. Here's a breakdown of the differences:

---

### **1. Remedial/Partial Resurfacing:**
- **Scope:** This involves addressing specific issues such as cracks, potholes, or surface wear, rather than replacing the entire runway surface.
- **Cost Range:**
- Small airports: **£410,000 to £1 million**
- Medium airports: **£1.64 million to £4 million**
- **Typical Work:**
- Patching damaged areas.
- Applying a new surface layer (overlay) to extend the runway's life.
- Repairing drainage systems or lighting in localized areas.
- Addressing minor structural issues.

---

### **2. Full Extensive Resurfacing/Reconstruction:**
- **Scope:** This involves a complete overhaul of the runway, including removing the old surface, repairing or replacing the base layers, and applying a new surface. It may also include upgrades to drainage, lighting, and markings.
- **Cost Range:**
- Small airports: **£1 million to £1.64 million or more**
- Medium airports: **£4 million to £8.2 million or more**
- Large airports: **£8.2 million to £41 million or more**
- **Typical Work:**
- Full-depth reconstruction of the runway.
- Replacement of base layers (e.g., subbase and asphalt/concrete).
- Upgrading drainage systems, lighting, and markings.
- Ensuring compliance with the latest safety and regulatory standards.

### **Key Factors Influencing Cost:**
- **Extent of Damage:** Remedial work is cheaper but may not address underlying issues, while full resurfacing is more expensive but provides a long-term solution.
- **Runway Usage:** High-traffic runways (e.g., at international airports) may require more extensive work to meet safety and durability standards.
- **Materials:** Full resurfacing often uses higher-quality materials, increasing costs.
- **Regulatory Requirements:** Extensive work may require more rigorous testing and compliance, adding to the expense.

### **Conclusion:**
The **lower figure** is generally for **remedial or partial work**, while the **higher figure** reflects **full, extensive resurfacing or reconstruction**. For an accurate estimate, a detailed assessment of the runway's condition and requirements is necessary.

I recall @White Heather saying from the ACC meetings that LBA are undergoing runway work. Do we know what the estimated cost is of this work?

I assume it’s very different with a concrete runway, but would give an indication of how expensive these projects can be?

 

Although I suspect it’s not the case, as Chadwick appears to have doubled down on his rant by saying he’s made contact yet again with the YP, but maybe we will see his ill judged rant deleted before too long? If not it would speak volumes if CDC, SYMCA and other organisations that appear to have used him as some kind of useful idiot over the last couple of years do not now distance themselves from him and his pressure group.

I can completely understand why he might not want to publicise the negative aspects, that’s his prerogative. His role is, ultimately, to ensure support is maintained for the project. Something to his credit has been commendable. However, to shoot from the hip in such a way, and effectively attacking one person amongst the numerous employees at York Aviation and calling her a ‘gun for hire to the highest bidder’ meanwhile spreading misinformation is not professional in such a public forum.

I doubt he reads these pages, but may I suggest his work is done now? Let the CDC, their partners and the SYMCA prove to the public that what they are proposing is viable, because I sense there will be more challenging questions and heated debates on the matter in the coming months if CDC fail to provide information to satisfy the questions raised. He will now only do his cause harm,

Make no mistake, any airline that might be in preliminary or even advanced discussions with FlyDoncaster Ltd will be well aware of what is unfolding. They may have lost confidence given the apparent nature of the funding and question the true longevity IF private investment will not be forthcoming.

 

Guess this is the BBC post which has got to the mechanic https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1dgz71712po

 

One thing I have noticed very often from reading these threads and various posts on Facebook is the disparaging attitude towards LBA from DSA supporters. In fact it is frequently downright hostile and unwarranted. I fully understand that all airport supporters want their 'local', wherever that may be, to succeed and that some folk will get quite passionate in their support. But there are some out there who seem to want to deny LBA its very existence, as in 'we haven't got our South Yorkshire airport at Doncaster any more, so why should West Yorkshire have Leeds Bradford Airport? 'Tisn't fair! 'They' should have just closed LBA because it's rubbish and moved 'everything' to DSA. Our runway is better than theirs so why have they got all the airlines? Our roads and railways are better than theirs so why have they got all these flights and destinations? Our weather record is much better than theirs so why is their airport open while ours has closed?' It's like immature playground banter. Just ill informed and demonstrating a lack of understanding.
In fact, the situation reminds me of Dad's Army when Captain Mainwaring demanded Corporal Jones' gun because, "We ought to have that."

I wonder how many DSA supporters once used LBA before DSA existed and have now turned on LBA in a fit of pique?

 

One thing I have noticed very often from reading these threads and various posts on Facebook is the disparaging attitude towards LBA from DSA supporters. In fact it is frequently downright hostile and unwarranted. I fully understand that all airport supporters want their 'local', wherever that may be, to succeed and that some folk will get quite passionate in their support. But there are some out there who seem to want to deny LBA its very existence, as in 'we haven't got our South Yorkshire airport at Doncaster any more, so why should West Yorkshire have Leeds Bradford Airport? 'Tisn't fair! 'They' should have just closed LBA because it's rubbish and moved 'everything' to DSA. Our runway is better than theirs so why have they got all the airlines? Our roads and railways are better than theirs so why have they got all these flights and destinations? Our weather record is much better than theirs so why is their airport open while ours has closed?' It's like immature playground banter. Just ill informed and demonstrating a lack of understanding.
In fact, the situation reminds me of Dad's Army when Captain Mainwaring demanded Corporal Jones' gun because, "We ought to have that."

I wonder how many DSA supporters once used LBA before DSA existed and have now turned on LBA in a fit of pique?

Easier to blame others than to accept the uncomfortable truth unfortunately.

It’s becoming less of a Support group these days than a way of hammering anyone or any business which dares to question CDC. Embarrassing really.

 

I should state that I have no issue with DSA per se, or any airport for that matter. As a lifelong aviation fan and professional of some 28 years I want to see all our airports succeed, wherever they are. But in business as in life, there are winners and losers. And events and outcomes aren't always fair or easy to understand. Bristol, like Leeds and Bradford, has an airport sited in a far from ideal location whereas Cardiff is technically and geographically superior. We all know who won that battle. Teesside suffers because it's situated right between Newcastle and Leeds Bradford. Yet it has an impressive weather record and a nice flat runway. But it's just not enough. In turn, LBA has for decades endured significant business leakage to Manchester. Some you win, some you lose. I almost pity the DSA supporters who don't grasp that and take personal umbrage at the success of neighbouring airports.

 

As has been mentioned previously by @Snackbar CDC can stop all this by publishing their business plan. And as has also been mentioned previously, they won’t because it will potentially blow apart the case for asking for the subsidy and Coppard will put a halt to all this.

I’m not one for conspiracy theories but it’s not lost on me that the Mechanic has posted about this while discussion was rife on here and he has also referenced about consultants being paid (his words were “A gun for hire to the highest bidder”) similar to comments made on here at the same time. Clearly watching healthy discussion on here by people who understand the industry and not liking it being against his narrative.

Funny how he’s never posted the SAU report or the YA one to allow people to make their own minds up…


I recall @White Heather saying from the ACC meetings that LBA are undergoing runway work. Do we know what the estimated cost is of this work?

I assume it’s very different with a concrete runway, but would give an indication of how expensive these projects can be?

As per the LBA CEOs' Business report to the Consultative Committee in December 2022, the cost of removing and replacing each concrete section of the LBA runway, is (or was at the time) £35,000. The entire runway has 4225 of these blocks. Just as well they are only replacing them as and when needed ahead of eventually (by 2030) resurfacing with tarmacadam, because to do the entire runway would be just short of £148m. Ouch.

I don't know if he had a premonition, but in March 2024 the LBA CEO expressed an opinion to the LBA Consultative Meeting, that he saw little future for DSA. Long before CDC announced they had failed to secure investors, he estimated that it would cost up to £80m to reopen the airport , and up to £50m to be used largely to subsidise airlines who might go there. He stated it would take 26 years to recover that, but the airport was likely to be bankrupt within 5 years of opening.

He was, incidentally, very complimentary about Peel and the DSA management, stating them to be good people who did all they could to make it work, including sizeable subsidies to entice airlines. He also pointed out that despite some airlines being paid to operate there, they still couldn't make the operations work. It seems the only airline to make it work, we're, as you might expect TUi.

 

Here's a post from X that we've shared recently
Take a look follow us over there and please reshare

#saveDSA #saveDSAairspace #syorksairportcity

https://twitter.com/x/status/1885808423201079323

Recently we have seen

Airports
Airlines
Airport professionals
and
Aviation Consultants

On different media outlets telling us all that our project here in Doncaster by @MyDoncaster to reopen @save_dsa
It's pointless
It won't work the past has shown this
It's not needed
A drain on resources
Shouldn't use public money
It's not fair

All from current businesses in Yorkshire and the North of England.

Why is this ??

Is it actually concern for the public purse and the time spent ??

I actually don't think this is the case.

If they are so confident that a reopened DSA won't work isn't needed etc etc

Then shut up and let's see what happens !!!!

I actually think they're on the back foot and have concerns that we will have an affect on there business models

Healthy Competition Breeds Better Businesses
Let See What Happens
Stop the negative press releases
Do Nothing

Let our authorities do what they have planned reopen our airport

Our next step is the full business case at @SouthYorksMCA
11th Feb
With no delays that should be it

Funding agreed

An international airport operator announced and movement towards the first passenger flights in spring next year

If these companies and people continue with their actions to disrupt the process then that is for one reason only.

They see us as competitors

They are using this moment to discredit what's happening here in Doncaster

Doncaster needs better jobs and better employment opportunities along with the economic benefits a reopened DSA will bring

Ignore these so called experts
We've employed better and more experienced to ensure our project will succeed

#saveDSA #saveDSAairspace #syorksairportcity

Thought he might have had the sense to lay off it a bit, but no he’s doubled down on his earlier post calling on the media to stop the ‘negative press releases’.

 

As per the LBA CEOs' Business report to the Consultative Committee in December 2022, the cost of removing and replacing each concrete section of the LBA runway, is (or was at the time) £35,000. The entire runway has 4225 of these blocks. Just as well they are only replacing them as and when needed ahead of eventually (by 2030) resurfacing with tarmacadam, because to do the entire runway was be just short of £148m. Ouch.

I don't know if he had a premonition, but in March 2024 the LBA CEO expressed an opinion to the LBA Consultative Meeting, that he saw little future for DSA. Long before CDC announced they had failed to secure investors, he estimated that it would cost up to £80m to reopen the airport , and up to £50m to be used largely to subsidise airlines who might go there. He stated it would take 26 years to recover that, but the airport was likely to be bankrupt within 5 years of opening.

He was, incidentally, very complimentary about Peel and the DSA management, stating them to be good people who did all they could to make it work, including sizeable subsidies to entice airlines. He also pointed out that despite some airlines being paid to operate there, they still couldn't make the operations work. It seems the only airline to make it work, we're, as you might expect TUi.

I’ve just googled Vincent Hodders previous experience and I assume he was involved with DSA management while at Flybe so he will be able to speak from experience of dealing with them and have a good sense of what commercial terms were being offered to airlines.

Thought he might have had the sense to lay off it a bit, but no he’s doubled down on his earlier post calling on the media to stop the ‘negative press releases’.

He just doesn’t learn. Calling on people to ignore the experts because they have better ones. It’s turned into pure playground stuff and he’s playing fast, loose and dangerous with the narrative with over £100m of tax payer cash at stake.

 

I’ve just googled Vincent Hodders previous experience and I assume he was involved with DSA management while at Flybe so he will be able to speak from experience of dealing with them and have a good sense of what commercial terms were being offered to airlines.


He just doesn’t learn. Calling on people to ignore the experts because they have better ones. It’s turned into pure playground stuff and he’s playing fast, loose and dangerous with the narrative with over £100m of tax payer cash at stake.

Seems he’s also gone on LinkedIn with the same bile as his original fired up post that he put up elsewhere, only this time he’s tagged literally every high profile name from the project into it.

these
Airports, Airlines and Aviation consultants. suggest that

DSA will never make it,
It will be a drain on financial resources,
Has no place in aviation,
Its not needed.

If DSA is going to fail and not worth investing in why are they so against it
they’d sit back and watch it fail !!!

There’s no impartiality here.

IT’S BECAUSE OUR AIRPORT IS GOING TO BE COMPETITION FOR THEM AND THEY DONT LIKE THAT !!

Not only has he waged war on Louise Congden, but seemingly every other airport, ‘so called consultant’ and even airline that had the audacity to actually speak up against the idea of reopening DSA.

Is this an embarrassment that CDC don’t really need at the moment?

 

In one of the Save DSA groups that Chadwick has no involvement in there is a gent names Wai Ming Yau who appears to have been far quicker on some information than anyone else. He shared the YA report on Wednesday this week I think it was saying that LBA commissioned it. I don’t know how he has access to the information he has shared or the reality of if LBA commissioned the report or not. Either way it reads very badly for CDC and their lack of transparency doesn’t exactly help. I remain seriously worried about the projects that will not be able to happen for Doncaster if this goes ahead.

Yes - he was on one group and although pro-DSA did come up with stuff to make people think. I think he was 'banned' for some reason and moved elsewhere.

 

Yes - he was on one group and although pro-DSA did come up with stuff to make people think. I think he was 'banned' for some reason and moved elsewhere.

I see according to his latest post on X the editor of the YP has now blocked him. Does he not realise calling out the main regional newspaper, the CEO of the largest airline in Europe and a host of others is really starting to damage their cause…….

 

I see according to his latest post on X the editor of the YP has now blocked him. Does he not realise calling out the main regional newspaper, the CEO of the largest airline in Europe and a host of others is really starting to damage their cause…….

I don’t have ‘X’ and have no inclination to get it. What has happened?

 

I don’t have ‘X’ and have no inclination to get it. What has happened?

He has shared a previous article from YP which asked the Chancellor to reconsider the ECML business case so it looks like the mechanic wants another +£300m chucking down the drain. He states he can’t tag the editor of the YP on this as he has been blocked by him….

 

He has shared a previous article from YP which asked the Chancellor to reconsider the ECML business case so it looks like the mechanic wants another +£300m chucking down the drain. He states he can’t tag the editor of the YP on this as he has been blocked by him….

Yes it’s very much becoming an exercise in throwing money at it in the hope some of it sticks. I expect as part of the original feasibility study that the TOCs were consulted on the idea of diverting the line and creating a new station on it, it probably didn’t go down too well. Capacity is already an issue hence HS2, but since that will now stop at Birmingham it’s not going to free up any meaningful capacity on the WCML or ECML.

It also probably wouldn’t generate the stated benefits, it might make a new town more viable as it would be sold as a commuter town. But airlines wouldn’t flood to it just because there is a railway station there, Stansted is much closer to London and can’t really get a foot in the door with long haul airlines. No airline like that wants to fly to Doncaster and call it London Doncaster, it’s just silly really.

 

Yes it’s very much becoming an exercise in throwing money at it in the hope some of it sticks. I expect as part of the original feasibility study that the TOCs were consulted on the idea of diverting the line and creating a new station on it, it probably didn’t go down too well. Capacity is already an issue hence HS2, but since that will now stop at Birmingham it’s not going to free up any meaningful capacity on the WCML or ECML.

It also probably wouldn’t generate the stated benefits, it might make a new town more viable as it would be sold as a commuter town. But airlines wouldn’t flood to it just because there is a railway station there, Stansted is much closer to London and can’t really get a foot in the door with long haul airlines. No airline like that wants to fly to Doncaster and call it London Doncaster, it’s just silly really.

And just how many trains would stop there?? It was planned as a loop off the ECML- the majority of ECML services are express services and those going from Kings X to York and beyond just speed through the current station in Doncaster… I’m fairly sure they wouldn’t be routing via a loop to drop the odd passenger off at DSA.
Speaking of HS2 - as said before when that completes with its direct connection to Birmingham airport it will bring connectivity to London Euston in around 37 minutes…..

 

mr chadwick should stop posting , fullstop.

and mr hodder should not go on national tv saying a business that as not even got off the ground is going to fail.

at least the presenter put him in his place saying , well you would say that as they are your nearest rivals.

 

@rabbitfoot, can you please tell us the program that Vince Hodder has been on?
You have posted again without providing the link for other members to read.

 

@rabbitfoot, can you please tell us the program that Vince Hodder has been on?
You have posted again without providing the link for other members to read.

bbc

bbc

 

mr chadwick should stop posting , fullstop.

and mr hodder should not go on national tv saying a business that as not even got off the ground is going to fail.

at least the presenter put him in his place saying , well you would say that as they are your nearest rivals.

I do not think that Mr Chadwick will stop. With the lack of information of any substance coming out from CDC he seems very much to have become the Council spokesperson - whether officially or not.