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...?

 

With one of the MPs plus Mayor Jones et al saying the same thing, it is seems to my mind that this was a co-ordinated and disgraceful attempt to mislead but it does not alter the reality. Just digging an even deeper hole for themselves. Politics in Doncaster seems to be an unscrupulous business! I notice that a couple of pilots and 'aviation orientated people' on the main Campaign site have seen through this and let the cat out of the bag. At the end of the day the politicians would, I am sure, gain more respect if they told it as it is - after all their audience are not interested in whether there is CAS (unless it affects their holiday flight) - they just want their holiday flight!
Interesting in respect of Dan Fell - talked absolute rubbish in respect of the airspace - totally uninformed and misunderstood the CAA process but he has been given the 2027 information from somewhere - which you would think must be the Council.

They’ve been doing this all along, it all but destroys any notion of transparency which I thought was incumbent on all political leaders? I suppose because it’s had strong support, least initially, they feel that they have a mandate to push on even if it’s not in the best interests of the people who will be paying for it. I can see a scenario where it reopens as a GA airport a bit like Leeds East and the people will realise they’ve actually been sold a dud.

 

They’ve been doing this all along, it all but destroys any notion of transparency which I thought was incumbent on all political leaders? I suppose because it’s had strong support, least initially, they feel that they have a mandate to push on even if it’s not in the best interests of the people who will be paying for it. I can see a scenario where it reopens as a GA airport a bit like Leeds East and the people will realise they’ve actually been sold a dud.

I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's the case initially, they will no doubt wriggle around it making a big thing of a 2Xcel return (who never actually left) if there are no holiday flights but the longer it goes on the harder it gets to keep everyone on board. Also the clock keeps ticking on the circa £3m a year lease they are paying without much inbound revenue to cover it.

 

For those running DSA and controlling the funds, the big question now is when to start throwing huge amounts at the infrastructure and equipment, to enable passenger flights. Spending that money in the hope enough airlines come in to make it viable could be a huge and costly mistake. But will airlines sign up to anything at an airport that as yet can't function and which now doesnt even have controlled airspace? They may, but not without a get out clause if things don't happen. It's a huge cost and risk for the airline to take bookings only to have to cancel if things dont go to plan, especially when, actually, there's no commercial need to do do. And it's a huge risk for CDC to spend in excess of £100m with little idea as to the outcome, especially given the airports dubious history.

The more this goes on the more I see it unravelling and the politicians having some serious questions to answer further down the line.

 

I wouldn't be surprised at all if that's the case initially, they will no doubt wriggle around it making a big thing of a 2Xcel return (who never actually left) if there are no holiday flights but the longer it goes on the harder it gets to keep everyone on board. Also the clock keeps ticking on the circa £3m a year lease they are paying without much inbound revenue to cover it.

Well from the way Dan Fell was talking ‘it’ll be 2027 before the airport is open as people know it’. He’s clearly been told 2026 isn’t going to happen. 2Excel will go back and Jones et al will be there standing round a bunch of light aircraft again.

It’ll upset a few in the travel trade who have been sharing a statement that the airport is to reopen 2026. You just can’t do that to businesses because you’ll now have people delaying booking holidays believing they’ll be able to book from DSA next year.

 

No, you’re not. If this is such a great result for reopening, why did CDC and the #SaveDSA folks spend the last 3 years fighting to prevent this exact outcome? If this is what they wanted to happen, they could have left the CAA to get on with it and they would’ve been at this juncture in 2023. But they didn’t. They fought for the airspace to be retained as is, and lobbied the Secretary of State to call the decision in.

There is a letter from CDC, to the CAA, freely available on the airspace change portal page. Have a read of points 3 and 4 in particular - this is absolutely not the outcome they wanted.

Just read the CDC letter to the CAA and having done so, I couldn't believe the blatant spin being put on this news, which to CDC must be nothing short of disastrous. At least, if you believe all the blurb in that letter it is. I found their request to the CAA be quite incredible really. They seemed to be asking for everything to revolve around their plans to open DSA again and to hell with the impact on the ACP or neighbouring airports. This seems to be typical of the CDC attitude throughout the process.

So, all the bad things they highlighted if the CAA removed their airspace will now happen apparently. Yet some are now proclaiming this as great news. I'm not sure that these people are stupid so perhaps they're just plain kidding the public whilst behind the scenes there's the realisation that their plans are unravelling.

 

One for the ‘EMA is full’ brigade;

East Midlands Airport unveils major development plans near runway

Airport bosses say the plan is part of an effort to increase freight capacity at the site.

www.bbc.co.uk

One of many press releases this week, due to https://www.ukreiif.com/ being held in Leeds.

We’ve also got https://www.insidermedia.com/news/y...ackage-in-major-milestone-for-expansion-plans

That’s two local airports to DSA showing big ambitions, surely that must slightly concern coppard….

Mayor “really optimistic” about Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening - “working at pace” - Insider Media

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard has told Insider he is 'really optimistic' about the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport and is on track to confirm mayoral combined authority…

www.insidermedia.com

 

So Leeds Bradford is really going for it on the passenger side whilst East Midlands is doing likewise with its freight business. In the meantime, Doncaster remains roughly equidistant and...closed. Does rather put DSA's position into perspective.

 

So Leeds Bradford is really going for it on the passenger side whilst East Midlands is doing likewise with its freight business. In the meantime, Doncaster remains roughly equidistant and...closed. Does rather put DSA's position into perspective.

So Leeds Bradford is really going for it on the passenger side whilst East Midlands is doing likewise with its freight business. In the meantime, Doncaster remains roughly equidistant and...closed. Does rather put DSA's position into perspective.

Meanwhile Coppard has been interviewed at UKREiif;

Mayor “really optimistic” about Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening - “working at pace” - Insider Media

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard has told Insider he is 'really optimistic' about the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport and is on track to confirm mayoral combined authority…

www.insidermedia.com

I thought this wasn’t supposed to be a foregone conclusion? Having ‘specialists look over the commercials’ meanwhile attracting a non aviation investor/manufacturer to the site. How exactly does the airport fit into all this?

Peel L&P are advertising the Gateway East site with absolutely no mention of the airport. They attended UKReiff with SYMCA.

 

One of many press releases this week, due to https://www.ukreiif.com/ being held in Leeds.

We’ve also got https://www.insidermedia.com/news/y...ackage-in-major-milestone-for-expansion-plans

That’s two local airports to DSA showing big ambitions, surely that must slightly concern coppard….

https://www.insidermedia.com/news/y...n-in-late-summer-optimistic-mayor-see tickets

http://

Meanwhile Coppard has been interviewed at UKREiif;

Mayor “really optimistic” about Doncaster Sheffield Airport reopening - “working at pace” - Insider Media

South Yorkshire mayor Oliver Coppard has told Insider he is 'really optimistic' about the reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport and is on track to confirm mayoral combined authority…

www.insidermedia.com

I thought this wasn’t supposed to be a foregone conclusion? Having ‘specialists look over the commercials’ meanwhile attracting a non aviation investor/manufacturer to the site. How exactly does the airport fit into all this?

Peel L&P are advertising the Gateway East site with absolutely no mention of the airport. They attended UKReiff with SYMCA.

guess the guy is paid to talk up his regions prospects, however the SY economy languishes behind both NY and WY and to some extent even EY….There is a reason Leeds has been home to this conference for the last few years and one look at the skyline of Leeds now tells you all you need to know about which area of Yorkshire is booming and attracting inward investment right now.
As to DSA its prospects have suffered significantly whilst it has been closed as competitors have prospered and expanded. The market is now significantly different since DSA closed both in terms of competition from competitors but also in respect of the airline and leisure market…...It won’t make a profit and it’s the ROI is highly questionable hence the reason why Coppard has to justify the use of public funds on a vanity project by including economic opportunities which most likely would have arisen even without the airport……

 

As usual the spin has been put on the DSA FB page but comments now of the opening date slipping to 2027... penny dropping for locals is it? shock.. even some of them rubbishing EMA's expansion, ironic. (they tend to forget about LBA's terminal expansion also as it doesn't go with the narrative of trying to justify DSA reopening..) So MIA are just getting paid for another year of not really doing much? bet they are laughing.

 

As usual the spin has been put on the DSA FB page but comments now of the opening date slipping to 2027... penny dropping for locals is it? shock.. even some of them rubbishing EMA's expansion, ironic. (they tend to forget about LBA's terminal expansion also as it doesn't go with the narrative of trying to justify DSA reopening..) So MIA are just getting paid for another year of not really doing much? bet they are laughing.

At this point it feels like MAI are being paid purely to be friends of Doncaster Council.

I mean that in both a tongue in cheek sense and in a positive affirmation sense. Cos what else are they actually being paid for? The licensing and compliance side of things will surely be completed by other uk based consultancy firms. MAI have been quite quiet for a while since the stuff about Routes Seville. Is it possibly we could see them quietly dropped with a refocus on just reopening the runway as some kind of pyrrhic victory?

 

I see that a 'news letter' including details of the UKReiif conference in Leeds has been issued by Dan Fell Doncaster Chamber of Commerce.. It includes a large section on the airspace and the text has been copied on the main campaign page. Either he has no idea of the reality of the CAA decision to remove the airspace having been fed the spin/propaganda from - one presumes - CDC, or he does know and is deliberately attempting to mislead. Which ever way it is appalling that such misinformation can be published from a body such as that. He also mentions that opening will be 2026 or more likely 2027 as an airport as we know it - as alluded to by @alpha.alpha which has drawn a fair bit of comment as you would imagine and he must have been told that from somewhere official. Worth going on and having a read - but have a spare pair of underwear handy you might pe* yourself laughing! Those following in a child-like fashion have been marched to the top of the expectation hill but I wonder if they are about to be marched halfway down again?

 

I see that a 'news letter' including details of the UKReiif conference in Leeds has been issued by Dan Fell Doncaster Chamber of Commerce.. It includes a large section on the airspace and the text has been copied on the main campaign page. Either he has no idea of the reality of the CAA decision to remove the airspace having been fed the spin/propaganda from - one presumes - CDC, or he does know and is deliberately attempting to mislead. Which ever way it is appalling that such misinformation can be published from a body such as that. He also mentions that opening will be 2026 or more likely 2027 as an airport as we know it - as alluded to by @alpha.alpha which has drawn a fair bit of comment as you would imagine and he must have been told that from somewhere official. Worth going on and having a read - but have a spare pair of underwear handy you might pe* yourself laughing! Those following in a child-like fashion have been marched to the top of the expectation hill but I wonder if they are about to be marched halfway down again?

Well looks like the mechanic has started getting on the defensive against the one or two who are explaining the bleeding obvious and questioning the gaping holes in the official statements from various quarters.

I can see the bloke releasing another rant before too long, particularly if it becomes apparent that proper reopening is delayed as we expect it to be.

 

Well looks like the mechanic has started getting on the defensive against the one or two who are explaining the bleeding obvious and questioning the gaping holes in the official statements from various quarters.

I can see the bloke releasing another rant before too long, particularly if it becomes apparent that proper reopening is delayed as we expect it to be.

I also see he has posted about Dan Fell attending the NCE airport conference this week to talk about DSA….Every other speaker at the event is either a senior airport rep or an aviation expert….Id struggle to see what value a rep from Doncaster Chamber of commerce can bring to an aviation conference - where are the Munich team in all this…At least they’d know what the are talking about and add some credibility…..

 

I also see he has posted about Dan Fell attending the NCE airport conference this week to talk about DSA….Every other speaker at the event is either a senior airport rep or an aviation expert….Id struggle to see what value a rep from Doncaster Chamber of commerce can bring to an aviation conference - where are the Munich team in all this…At least they’d know what the are talking about and add some credibility…..

I can guarantee that someone might have tapped Dan Fell on the shoulder today at this NCE conference if he made the error of following the official narrative. I too would like to know why MAI haven’t attended on their behalf though being the specialists.

The mechanic it seems is getting riled by the apparent dissent.

I also see he has posted about Dan Fell attending the NCE airport conference this week to talk about DSA….Every other speaker at the event is either a senior airport rep or an aviation expert….Id struggle to see what value a rep from Doncaster Chamber of commerce can bring to an aviation conference - where are the Munich team in all this…At least they’d know what the are talking about and add some credibility…..

Apparently there was an interview with Coppard on Calendar tonight in which he was ‘backpeddling’. Anyone see if?

 

I can guarantee that someone might have tapped Dan Fell on the shoulder today at this NCE conference if he made the error of following the official narrative. I too would like to know why MAI haven’t attended on their behalf though being the specialists.

The mechanic it seems is getting riled by the apparent dissent.


Apparently there was an interview with Coppard on Calendar tonight in which he was ‘backpeddling’. Anyone see if?

I saw one an ITVx catch up where he was asked where the airport stood in his priorities. He answered it was a fundamental priority - it was supported by Government and they were talking to Government about more money!!! If that's the one you allude to I didn't get a vibe that he was back peddling.

 

I saw one an ITVx catch up where he was asked where the airport stood in his priorities. He answered it was a fundamental priority - it was supported by Government and they were talking to Government about more money!!! If that's the one you allude to I didn't get a vibe that he was back peddling.

I’ll have to watch it, I’m not sure which story they’re referring to but apparently the presenters weren’t all that convinced it was a goer.

Certainly the tone Coppard has been taking recently is one of it being a foregone conclusion. They’re trying to cover up the blatant money pit by tying it to Gateway East which we already know will have nothing to do with aviation whatsoever.

 

I’ll have to watch it, I’m not sure which story they’re referring to but apparently the presenters weren’t all that convinced it was a goer.

Certainly the tone Coppard has been taking recently is one of it being a foregone conclusion. They’re trying to cover up the blatant money pit by tying it to Gateway East which we already know will have nothing to do with aviation whatsoever.

Seems Spanners followers were very upset by the line of questioning by the presenters. They were particularly upset that Coppard was asked if spending £100m of public funds on an airport was really a good use of money given LBA is just a stones throw away……Created quite a stir on Spaners Facebook page to an extent that somebody has mentioned reporting them to OFCOM

 

Seems Spanners followers were very upset by the line of questioning by the presenters. They were particularly upset that Coppard was asked if spending £100m of public funds on an airport was really a good use of money given LBA is just a stones throw away……Created quite a stir on Spaners Facebook page to an extent that somebody has mentioned reporting them to OFCOM

Fools, apparently MAN is a ‘stones throw’ away from LBA too. They obviously missed the bit about millions of people living between the two.

They’ll never accept the truth. Even when the airport is open they’ll have someone to blame for there not being many airlines interested. Surely the ITV presenters were merely reflecting what Michael O’Leary has already publicly stated is the problem for Doncaster? See that never gets a mention on his talking shop.

 

Seems Spanners followers were very upset by the line of questioning by the presenters. They were particularly upset that Coppard was asked if spending £100m of public funds on an airport was really a good use of money given LBA is just a stones throw away……Created quite a stir on Spaners Facebook page to an extent that somebody has mentioned reporting them to OFCOM

Well, someone needs to ask awkward questions!