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...?

 

"The Doncaster Council spokesperson said improving capacity on the junction is a “priority scheme” for the authority, adding it “will bid for the required funding” where it can.
“We await to see the criteria of the recently confirmed £1.5bn Government funding for South Yorkshire transport schemes, and the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy which we expect to be published within days,” the spokesperson said."


Ineptness of highest magnitude.

Why awaiting the criteria of the £1.5bn of funding package. That allocation has already been allocated to projects hence the size of the funding award.
It certainly not a case of being given amount then decide to input projects, that isn't how it works.

This project should have been on the drawing board 5 years ago and escalated through the phases to the point were it was placed in a bid with this round of funding packages. If it was then it would have been £1.6bn funding allocated not £1.5bn.

To now say that it is a priority scheme and will bid for funding. So in words it is going to be the next round of funding which may not be for at least five to ten years before getting any funding granted for the project. So it might not be for another 10-15 years before work is complete and the junction open.

 

"The Doncaster Council spokesperson said improving capacity on the junction is a “priority scheme” for the authority, adding it “will bid for the required funding” where it can.
“We await to see the criteria of the recently confirmed £1.5bn Government funding for South Yorkshire transport schemes, and the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy which we expect to be published within days,” the spokesperson said."


Ineptness of highest magnitude.

Why awaiting the criteria of the £1.5bn of funding package. That allocation has already been allocated to projects hence the size of the funding award.
It certainly not a case of being given amount then decide to input projects, that isn't how it works.

This project should have been on the drawing board 5 years ago and escalated through the phases to the point were it was placed in a bid with this round of funding packages. If it was then it would have been £1.6bn funding allocated not £1.5bn.

To now say that it is a priority scheme and will bid for funding. So in words it is going to be the next round of funding which may not be for at least five to ten years before getting any funding granted for the project. So it might not be for another 10-15 years before work is complete and the junction open.

By which time DSA will probably have gone bankrupt and closed down again.

 

"The Doncaster Council spokesperson said improving capacity on the junction is a “priority scheme” for the authority, adding it “will bid for the required funding” where it can.
“We await to see the criteria of the recently confirmed £1.5bn Government funding for South Yorkshire transport schemes, and the 10-year Infrastructure Strategy which we expect to be published within days,” the spokesperson said."


Ineptness of highest magnitude.

Why awaiting the criteria of the £1.5bn of funding package. That allocation has already been allocated to projects hence the size of the funding award.
It certainly not a case of being given amount then decide to input projects, that isn't how it works.

This project should have been on the drawing board 5 years ago and escalated through the phases to the point were it was placed in a bid with this round of funding packages. If it was then it would have been £1.6bn funding allocated not £1.5bn.

To now say that it is a priority scheme and will bid for funding. So in words it is going to be the next round of funding which may not be for at least five to ten years before getting any funding granted for the project. So it might not be for another 10-15 years before work is complete and the junction open.

This was the sort of project the gainshare funding was for…..It was always said that the fact they choose to spend it all on the airport vanity project it would leave little or no funding for anything else in the district.
This was even stated in the OBC they signed off!!
Suspect this won’t be the only project to suffer the same issue!

 

By which time DSA will probably have gone bankrupt and closed down again.

Blaming the lack of suitable motorway junction as the reason for its demise?

This was the sort of project the gainshare funding was for…..It was always said that the fact they choose to spend it all on the airport vanity project it would leave little or no funding for anything else in the district.
This was even stated in the OBC they signed off!!
Suspect this won’t be the only project to suffer the same issue!

I would have thought funding for projects like this would come from the national highways budget and not the regional devolution package?

 

Blaming the lack of suitable motorway junction as the reason for its demise?


I would have thought funding for projects like this would come from the national highways budget and not the regional devolution package?

My understanding is that it has now changed and it’s devolved down to Coppard. He then decides where best to place his funding…..in theory it’s a great idea as combined authorities should know best where the problem and priority areas are…..The problem is as we all know Mayors have their pet projects be it a loss making airport, buses etc etc….

 

Yesterday I was asked about the timetable and process for making a decision about the funding for Doncaster Sheffield Airport on BBC Sheffield.

I have fought for DSA from day one: I was the first person to organise a public meeting to talk about what was happening (at Keepmoat), I fought Peel and the Tory government relentlessly to try and keep it open, I have personally secured the support of this government so we can use £30m of funds from them to support the reopening, I’ve set up a working group with government to look at every opportunity to invest in DSA, and I have committed millions of pounds of our money to that end too, to keep the project on track.

But to reopen our airport will cost around £150m of taxpayer’s money and I simply refuse to take that decision without doing our due diligence. If we get this project right it’s a huge boost to South Yorkshire and our future, but if we get it wrong it will undermine our region for years to come, not to mention ultimately undoing all the brilliant work done by campaigners across Doncaster, South Yorkshire and the rest of the country who all want exactly what I want; a successful, thriving regional airport and world leading sustainable aviation hub right here in our region.

We will take a final decision about funding later this summer. In the meantime I can promise you two things:

1) We will take that decision on the basis of the best available evidence, so we know exactly what we’re getting into.
2) If we take the decision to fund DSA - and I hope we do - we will throw everything at it to make it a success.

Failing to prepare is preparing to fail. On behalf of all of the communities of South Yorkshire, and on behalf of everyone fighting for DSA, I simply refuse to take that route. Oliver

Oliver Coppards latest statement following what appears to be a regular segment on BBC Radio Sheffield.

Having listened to what he said on the show just now it sounds like he’s being cautious over things like suitable amounts of airline interest (In fact that’s the first thing he said) to ensure that they aren’t just going to throw £150 million at something for it to fail again. He also claims he’s not going to be swayed by political/popular pressure.

I think we perhaps already know the answer. I think he already knows the answer certainly regarding airline interest! If easyJet continue to expand at LBA then I can’t see them being all that interested either so you’ll just end up with TUI or something and the cycle would repeat itself.

Is he prepping people for bad news early? There’s no entry into the agenda at the SYMCA meeting next week (Ros Jones isn’t even attending), the one after that isn’t until September due to summer recess. So are they going to announce a decision before then through any special announcement? Or are we to expect a decision in September at the earliest?

 

On one of the DSA Facebook pages it is reporting that FlyPlymouth who were appointed to run the airport have pulled out of the deal as a result on Doncaster Council wanting to retain a controlling 51% holding. Not looking good for the future with all the uncertainty and the smoke screen being put up by Ron Jones who won't answer direct questions about the airport and costs etc. She is hiding something serious from the public and is digging a deeper and deeper whole for herself everyday day this saga continues.

 

On one of the DSA Facebook pages it is reporting that FlyPlymouth who were appointed to run the airport have pulled out of the deal as a result on Doncaster Council wanting to retain a controlling 51% holding. Not looking good for the future with all the uncertainty and the smoke screen being put up by Ron Jones who won't answer direct questions about the airport and costs etc. She is hiding something serious from the public and is digging a deeper and deeper whole for herself everyday day this saga continues.

That sounds a bit odd, weren’t we led to believe that the airport OPCO would be wholly owned by CDC? I’ve never seen anything to the contrary.

I agree though, all seems very narrative driven at the moment. Coppard isnt really giving anything away One way or the other however the tone in his interview would suggest things aren’t quite as plain sailing as Ros Jones has everyone believe in her statements.

 

From how I have read things, Ros Jones wants it to be a completely 100% CDC owned company. She is not willing to give a share away for private investment to be facilitated into the venture.

What private company would want to invest in something that they don't have a shareholding in.

 

From how I have read things, Ros Jones wants it to be a completely 100% CDC owned company. She is not willing to give a share away for private investment to be facilitated into the venture.

What private company would want to invest in something that they don't have a shareholding in.

Am I right in thinking no private company wanted to touch it anyway? Not sure what she is worried about ha.

I’ve seen on the fan pages LBA apparently wanted to run the airport.. hilarious now that one I highly highly doubt. Because they have MIA which apparently are such a good global company but seem to have done.. well nothing

 

Am I right in thinking no private company wanted to touch it anyway? Not sure what she is worried about ha.

I’ve seen on the fan pages LBA apparently wanted to run the airport.. hilarious now that one I highly highly doubt. Because they have MIA which apparently are such a good global company but seem to have done.. well nothing

Yes you’re right. Were told it’s because the OPCO would only be renting the site but actually Peel said in 2022 they’d be open to selling for the right offer. Clearly nobody arrived with Eve right offer. The council will no doubt be working out how they can offload the lease and save face currently. Coppard would be a fool to approve the funding given what he’s said.

 

Copy of the page on Facebook about FlyPlymouth withdrawing from role at DSA and being paid off for their services.

 

Copy of the page on Facebook about FlyPlymouth withdrawing from role at DSA and being paid off for their services.

Interesting if that’s the case, though it seems to be suggesting that FP were to be bankrolled by DAA though and not the Council which I’ve not seen mentioned anywhere. Not doubting the information but if FP were being bankrolled from elsewhere, and they have walked after being paid OFF by CDC, surely the business plan must change yet again and more public money will be required?

This could of course be a play on words suggesting that DAA were initially interested (as rumoured) but backed out of the process last year.

 

That sounds a bit odd, weren’t we led to believe that the airport OPCO would be wholly owned by CDC? I’ve never seen anything to the contrary.

I agree though, all seems very narrative driven at the moment. Coppard isnt really giving anything away One way or the other however the tone in his interview would suggest things aren’t quite as plain sailing as Ros Jones has everyone believe in her statements.

Copy of the page on Facebook about FlyPlymouth withdrawing from role at DSA and being paid off for their services.

Likely explains the advert for the Ops.Director who's role is apparently adjacent to that which FP were supposed to be doing!

 

Not sure what FP airports were bringing to the table anyway. Seems Coppards statement has brought out the ‘defeatist’ voices on certain DSA Facebook groups.

 

Well what a couple of days we've had on here, since the post with Oliver Coppard update on BBC Sheffield

It will soon be 3 years since I set up the group

The group was set up to support our authorities to #saveDSA

Along with the petition that we helped share and others we had 130,000 signatures.
We have over 33,000 members, participants and followers on social media

To be this close to reopening in such a short time since the closure is amazing.

Looking at peoples comments on here I'm sure many of you don't realise how complicated the project is.
Let's have a short recap

Let's go back to 2022
Peel didn't want the Airport open.
Peel wouldn't take public money to support it
Peel wouldn't sell DSA.
Peel didn't want to lease the airport either.

As far as Peel were concerned it was closed end of, and they made it as difficult as possible to reopen it.
Not interested in any discussion with prospective purchasers or operators, ignoring the local council. Removing and selling off equipment.

It's taken a resolute mayor and council team to get where we are now
From originally getting an article 4 directions on the site to stop any un authorised alterations.
Along with the threat of a compulsary purchase on the site.
Peel finally came to the table and over a number of months a lease was agreed for 125 years.

Then started the procurement process to identify a suitable operator.
Without the lease this could not have been carried out!

City of Doncaster Council employed various consultant companies in Legal, Business and Aviation to get to this point.

35 applicant's originally showed interest in the Airport
This was reduced to 16, then 8 4 and eventually 2.

It soon became apparent that public money was needed to get DSA reopened.
A large sum of public monies.
So CDC made the decision to set up FLY Doncaster limited. The full board of this company is yet to be appointed. (3 council officers are listed at present )

This company was set up to oversea the reopening of DSA and along with a company with Aviation expertise to operate and run DSA.

We've seen aircraft landing back at DSA the first one was on the 6th of December 2024, with other flights taking place with CDC permission to allow 2Excel to carry out there winter maintenance.

We now know that the new operating partner is

Munich Airport International

Who have managed 150 projects in 65 countries over the last decade or so
Who's parent company operate and run Germany's second biggest airport 41.6 million passengers last year.
Listed in the top ten airports globally.
A well known and respected aviation company.

We've seen and heard of various South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority board meetings over the last year or so, where our airport has featured.
With an outline business case submitted sometime ago,
Various sums of money have been invested in the project by SYMCA and CDC as this project has developed.

There was info on a letter from the councils advisors who had reservations about the project.

The subsidies committee were involved just after this letter.
They came back with a positive response. There were some items that needed resolving however they were happy with the work.

SYMCA also had employed Bradshaws in november 2024 to carry out some due dilligence on the project.
Various newspaper articles featured our airport and the sour grapes from nearby LBA.

Then the full business case went to SYMCA.
Which met approval with the stipulation that they wanted to carry out more checks on the commercial and financial aspects basically more due dilligence.

With an answer this summer.

Now since 2022 City of Doncaster Council have undertaken due dilligence in all steps along the way to get to where we are now!!

I recollect a conversation 2 years ago
("this is public funds being used we will be scrutinised all along the way it has to be right, we've told our consultants If its not a viable option tell us now " )

Since that announcement from SYMCA
We have had various members of the government show full support for reopening DSA
The Chancellor
The Prime Minister
The Aviation minister
The PM provided SYMCA with 30 million pounds of devolved funding towards the airport.
We had a debate in parliament,
A question at Prime Ministers Questions.
All of the above were positive and in full support

Even though we have all campaigned to get our airspace reinstated
Last month
The CAA removed it.

To get the Secretary of State for Transport to call the decision in would have taken far to long along with a protracted legal argument.

We know have an unprecedented situation where by the
Civil Aviation Authority
Department for Transport
City of Doncaster Council
Cirrus (aviation consultants)
South Yorkshire Combined Authority
and others
Have set up a working group to move the airspace forward at a pace to enable a timely reopening.

Now back to the post 2 days ago

reading the comments made it would appear that we've all lost interest there's only the naysayers bad mouthing regional leaders, calling them names. Mentioning bloody Trams, all negatives liebour not labour.

This group is here to help save our airport not to Join in kicking the political football about as has been done in the past.

All the work that has been carried out by City of Doncaster Council,
All the work of our MPs past and present,
All our work campaigning,
The support and work carried out by our business community and Doncaster Chamber
All the time I've spent.

Is not and has not been wasted !!!!

Yes there may be a few delays,
A few things may change.

But I'm pretty sure it would be political suicide to get in the way of reopening this airport,
The Prime Minister has said he wants DSA reopened and has offered more funding,
He's in charge of the government and the political party. Oliver Coppard belongs to the same party,
K Starmer is his boss

Now can we please stop the name calling
anyone with a political agenda can keep it to themselves,
anyone that is not in support of the reopening can leave the group.

Keep the negative comments to yourself

Please be patient and supportive while the work is on going behind the scenes.

We've got a number of podcasts planned now that the elections and personal holidays are out of the way

Thanks for everyone's support

#saveDSA #saveDSAairspace #syorksairportcity #teamdoncaster #teamDSA #investment #aviation #localeconomy #regionalsupport #teameffort #teamsouthyorkshire #doncasterisgreat

Think someone’s angling for a knighthood.

It’s in the post mate!

 

Think someone’s angling for a knighthood.

It’s in the post mate!

Things must be going badly if the Mechanic has been forced to try raise the morale of his disciples with half truths . Unsurprisingly there are some omissions from his post, he mentions all the applicants interest, but fails to mention that even the final two walked away citing significant commercial risk and the lack of a return on their investment….he mentions “sour grapes from LBA” but fails to mention that the SAU agreed with the concerns raised by LBA and regional airports forcing the Council to go away and address those concerns …..it’s also quite ironic given both he and his disciples spend most of their time dissing LBA at every opportunity
He talks about progress on airspace and the positive progress the removal of the airspace brings forgetting to mention his and the Councils campaign to prevent its removal citing the removal of airspace would present a key obstacle to the airport re-opening….
He talks about the government offering more funding, no it hasn’t…..
He harps on about the election and that impact current progress…..well that was months ago and election of officials doesn’t stop the Council progressing matters…
He fails to mention that about a year ago the Mayor stated TUI were definitely coming back and that the interested bidder were also taking to a number of other airlines and she would make a further announcement- well that was in April 2024 and there was no announcement and no sign of any airlines committing to DSA despite the mayors constant assurance the airport will be open in less then 10 months!

If the story about FP is also correct this whole debacle is turning into a basket case…….If the Council aren’t or maybe can’t entered into any shared equity given the amount of public funding being sunk into the project no private investor will touch it leaving it dependent on the tax payer. There are far more attractive propositions with a number of U.K. airports up for sale (Newcastle for one) which carry a far better return and a significantly lower commercial risk. With no significant private investment for the foreseeable future the money allocated to this vanity project will be sucked away on reopening cost and covering ongoing losses. There will be no cash to spend on developing and expanding the terminal which currently will only support a max of 2.5m passengers or any cargo operation…..

The whole project is turning into a disaster - as to gov support - politicians are quite fickle and don’t want to be associated with failure…….It doesn’t bode well even if DSA somehow manages to reopen…..

 

It's pretty clear that many of his 33,000 disciples have been awaiting the publicity regarding LBAs new terminal opening to vent their spleen at LBA, with endless, ridiculous and some downight stupid comments. So as you point out, this guys reference to LBA having sour grapes (funny how he only mentions LBA in this regard when there were others), is quite comical.
Sour grapes at the success of LBA and it's future growth is EXACTLY what this bloke and his hapless followers are dishing out at every opportunity via the usual social media outlets.

 

Think someone’s angling for a knighthood.

It’s in the post mate!

Sour grapes by LBA

Ironic the first comment says any negative replies should be blocked. But yet negative about LBA / any other airport is absolutely fine. Double standards

 

I really don't see what he is so upset about - the narrative on his page is usually over optimistic and often only one side of the story which obviously is going to lead to questions when the promised event doesn't happen as described - I believe he knows that! It will not however affect the reality of the situation however much propaganda is posted or however many comments are banned. The post regarding what OC said which has generated some comments he doesn't like apparently, is only common sense from a Mayor who is the gatekeeper of public funds and is likely to have gleaned much more inside information than the baying mob are aware of.