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...?

 

Well there’s going to be plenty of competition on the cargo side! https://www.newcastleairport.com/ne...r-cargo-hub-development-at-newcastle-airport/

 

Not only this but how long have Jacob’s been involved in it and are they still involved in it? Chadwick posted about some event he was invited to at DSA yesterday which included ‘the MD of Munich Airport’, FP Airports and some bloke who runs a Facebook page about airports. Lots of exciting stuff talked about apparently (but he can’t tell anyone what) and reckons the Transport Secretary can still call in the ACP - even though it doesn’t qualify for call in.

Jacob’s may have helped compile an outline plan, doubt they’re still involved. Some people from Jacob’s aviation arm used to work at York Aviation…

Somebody said they were not impressed with the mechanic, seemed to have no knowledge of airports.

Jacobs are still involved, they re-wrote the business case but they are handing over to go-live to FP and their partner Munich.

 

Somebody said they were not impressed with the mechanic, seemed to have no knowledge of airports.

Jacobs are still involved, they re-wrote the business case but they are handing over to go-live to FP and their partner Munich.

The business case that’s apparently undergoing independent scrutiny at the moment? Regardless, Jacobs will be indemnified so doesn’t matter to them as long as they get paid, they’ve not even been named as being involved recently, Still don’t know what FP Airports bring to the table, people I’ve spoken to said it’s a red flag that they’ve been called ‘U.K. sector specialists’ when they appear to be anything but.

 

The election prediction will throw Ros and the Council out

Reform 32 seats
Labour 13 seats
Conservatives 5 seats
Other 5 seats

 

The election prediction will throw Ros and the Council out

Reform 32 seats
Labour 13 seats
Conservatives 5 seats
Other 5 seats

What is the Reform view on the airport? I can't say I've heard anything from them on the matter.

 

What is the Reform view on the airport? I can't say I've heard anything from them on the matter.

Regardless of their view as this is very much a political project I can’t imagine the funding will be made available if Labour lose in the CDC elections. So unless SYMCA agree to release the funding earlier then I suspect it will be a show stopper.

FWIW I don’t know how much I trust these opinion polls or predictions regarding elections. They’re always either far too close to call or they end up being completely wrong. What Labour need to do to save their skin is admit to everyone that Brexit was the single biggest act of self harm the country has committed in living memory and work to repair that. This is relevant to airport development, because Brexit has caused a significant increase in red tape and cost to the sector. It’s also increased cost of living and wages haven’t kept up. People are becoming poorer (in no small part due to this) and even though the holiday market is quite resilient (people will do all they can to afford their week in the sun!) there comes a point where it’s just not feasible to do so any more.

 

Talks start with Treasury over funding for Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening

Early discussions have begun between the Treasury and South Yorkshire politicians about additional financial support to help reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, The Yorkshire Post can reveal.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

Behind a paywall so I haven’t read the full thing but looks like the begging bowl is out again.

 

Talks start with Treasury over funding for Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening

Early discussions have begun between the Treasury and South Yorkshire politicians about additional financial support to help reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, The Yorkshire Post can reveal.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

Behind a paywall so I haven’t read the full thing but looks like the begging bowl is out again.

Exclusiveoncaster Sheffield Airport: talks start between Treasury and region over financial support with reopening

Early discussions have begun between the Treasury and South Yorkshire politicians about additional financial support to help reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, The Yorkshire Post can reveal.

The City of Doncaster Council signed a 125-year lease for the airport land with owner Peel in March 2024 and has subsequently established a council-owned company called FlyDoncaster with the intention of reopening the airport from next year.

This would use Doncaster’s share of the funding from a £900m settlement given to the South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, as part of devolution arrangements, to revive the airport, which had closed in 2022.

The plan was handed a significant boost last month, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves cited the plan in a major speech saying it has “the potential to drive jobs and growth across the North”.

At the time, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said this “unlocks a huge amount of opportunity”.

Now, multiple sources have told The Yorkshire Post that “early discussions” have started between the Treasury and local leaders about potential financial assistance.

Mr Coppard said he could not comment on the specifics, but told this paper: “The Government has been really supportive of our efforts to reopen DSA, but that doesn’t relieve us, here in the region and me as the mayor, of the responsibility to drive that work ourselves.

“This isn’t about passing on the responsibility to Government, this has got to be a team effort with Doncaster, the region and the Government all working together.

“We in the region and me as the mayor are leading that charge in making sure we are going to take the right decision for the region and the country.

“We’ve got to protect taxpayers’ money while also making sure that we are growing the economy of South Yorkshire.”

It comes at a time when the costs to open the airport are mounting.

The council has argued the reopening of the airport will be the catalyst for wider regeneration work around the airport and lead to the creation of 5,000 direct jobs.

Mr Coppard is set to make a final decision this summer, after independent auditors have scrutinised Doncaster’s plans

 

Totally unacceptable to use all that money from gainsgare and then blag even more money from central Government. Other airports get regular resistance from Government and have to fight for everything yet a small failed airport seems destined to be funded hugely from two different public sources. This needs to be challenged. This isn't equal competition.

 

Exclusiveoncaster Sheffield Airport: talks start between Treasury and region over financial support with reopening

Early discussions have begun between the Treasury and South Yorkshire politicians about additional financial support to help reopen Doncaster Sheffield Airport, The Yorkshire Post can reveal.

The City of Doncaster Council signed a 125-year lease for the airport land with owner Peel in March 2024 and has subsequently established a council-owned company called FlyDoncaster with the intention of reopening the airport from next year.

This would use Doncaster’s share of the funding from a £900m settlement given to the South Yorkshire Mayor, Oliver Coppard, as part of devolution arrangements, to revive the airport, which had closed in 2022.

The plan was handed a significant boost last month, when Chancellor Rachel Reeves cited the plan in a major speech saying it has “the potential to drive jobs and growth across the North”.

At the time, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said this “unlocks a huge amount of opportunity”.

Now, multiple sources have told The Yorkshire Post that “early discussions” have started between the Treasury and local leaders about potential financial assistance.

Mr Coppard said he could not comment on the specifics, but told this paper: “The Government has been really supportive of our efforts to reopen DSA, but that doesn’t relieve us, here in the region and me as the mayor, of the responsibility to drive that work ourselves.

“This isn’t about passing on the responsibility to Government, this has got to be a team effort with Doncaster, the region and the Government all working together.

“We in the region and me as the mayor are leading that charge in making sure we are going to take the right decision for the region and the country.

“We’ve got to protect taxpayers’ money while also making sure that we are growing the economy of South Yorkshire.”

It comes at a time when the costs to open the airport are mounting.

The council has argued the reopening of the airport will be the catalyst for wider regeneration work around the airport and lead to the creation of 5,000 direct jobs.

Mr Coppard is set to make a final decision this summer, after independent auditors have scrutinised Doncaster’s plans

Basically they’re admitting that they don’t have enough money from the proposed Gainshare allocation to see the project through. They keep banging on about jobs, more jobs would be created if they stopped this nonsense about reopening the airport and handed the land back to Peel and worked with them to find other uses for it. Best part of that is it would require minimal public investment to see it through.

This is a complete farce and it seems that it keeps throwing up yet more issues. There is no money, it’s fair enough spending to generate growth but the elephant in the room is Brexit and that’s caused real slow down on investment and has increased prices and investing in something that is a proven failure is bordering on the criminal in its neglect of responsibility to be open, honest and transparent with this kind of spending.

 

Totally unacceptable to use all that money from gainsgare and then blag even more money from central Government. Other airports get regular resistance from Government and have to fight for everything yet a small failed airport seems destined to be funded hugely from two different public sources. This needs to be challenged. This isn't equal competition.

it happens all the time , bradford council got £200 million from the government last year to stop them going banghttps
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-68439129

maybe doncaster council should have challenged that

 

Totally unacceptable to use all that money from gainsgare and then blag even more money from central Government. Other airports get regular resistance from Government and have to fight for everything yet a small failed airport seems destined to be funded hugely from two different public sources. This needs to be challenged. This isn't equal competition.

It’s being sold, at least by the mechanic, as a way of replacing some of the Gainshare commitment to reduce the risk of using it all on this one project. Coppard has already tried to get the £30 million earmarked for the completely unviable train station on the Doncaster-Lincoln line reallocated to DSA but to no avail. Some might say what the YP reported on yesterday is old news, to me it seems Coppard is trying anything in his tool kit to prevent the council requesting draw down if the full allocation of Gainshare, or he realises the requested amount isn’t going to be enough.

 

it happens all the time , bradford council got £200 million from the government last year to stop them going banghttps
www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bradford-west-yorkshire-68439129

maybe doncaster council should have challenged that

i think delivery of key public services including social care and education services is far more important then supporting a vanity project which won’t be used by the majority of the population in Doncaster….
To compare the two is laughable

If this airport is going to be such a surefire success that all the DSA supporter keep shouting about, commercial investors should be lining up to throw money at it - of course they know the reality is somewhat different!

 

The penny looks to be dropping on some of the comments in Chadwick’s recent post re the council going to the government with their begging bowl..

The country is bankrupt and the last thing they’re going to do is support a white elephant on an unessential airport.

Of course Chadwick is putting his usual spin on it to drive the positive narrative

 

The penny looks to be dropping on some of the comments in Chadwick’s recent post re the council going to the government with their begging bowl..

The country is bankrupt and the last thing they’re going to do is support a white elephant on an unessential airport.

Of course Chadwick is putting his usual spin on it to drive the positive narrative

I think on that group in the main people will only believe what they want to believe. Chadwick might jump down the throat of anyone deemed negative, he might also spin some positives from vague news articles in a ploy to settle what he might consider dissenting voices, but ultimately people just want their airport open.

Just look at home expectations have been managed. It started off a complete travesty that Peel would have the audacity to close the airport - must have wanted it to fail etc. Then we’ve had the council coming out in support of reopening it pretty much instantly saying things like ‘we know it can be a success’. We’ve then had lengthy procurement exercises to find someone to buy in only drawing up zero. Then the coatings which have already increased by 40% this year. Then you have proponents now saying that they don’t care if it makes money or not just get it open.

So it’ll take someone with some guts to stand up in the interests of the tax payer here. I don’t think Coppard will.

 

Chadwick is claiming that the decision on Gainshare funding by Coppard will not happen until September or October.. What’s he been told at his little briefings? If there is no money confirmed until then then I fail to see how there could be any passenger significant passenger flights until S27 at the earliest.

 

Peel laughing all the way to the bank!

 

Peel laughing all the way to the bank!

They’d probably reimburse the council if they bailed out early. There’s a great deal of good will on the table here.

Very disappointed to see North Lincolnshire Councillor and I understand HUY board member - and budding Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, throw his hat in the ring in support of DSA ‘because of the people of Axholm’. What about looking after Humberside and protecting the burgeoning business there? It is, after all, the airport for the Humber and Lincolnshire and he knows it!

 

They’d probably reimburse the council if they bailed out early. There’s a great deal of good will on the table here.

I can't think why given the mudslinging by CDC and the SY Mayor in the direction of Peel. Hats off to them for resisting the temptation to sling the mud back.

I would think the 'good will' is nothing more than Peel keeping their powder dry and not burning their bridges, given they may end up seeking planning approvals galore in the future after DSA has failed again (before or after reopening ) and CDC has had to terminate the lease to cut their losses.

 

Chadwick is claiming that the decision on Gainshare funding by Coppard will not happen until September or October.. What’s he been told at his little briefings? If there is no money confirmed until then then I fail to see how there could be any passenger significant passenger flights until S27 at the earliest.

Sounds like Gainshare funding isn’t going to be confirmed at all, or at least nowhere near the required amount, hence the sudden interest in getting the UK Government to pay.

It’s being kicked down the road to give CDC time to soften up the Government, and so that it’s not a controversial topic during the local elections - they can bat away any questions with ‘due diligence’ waffle.