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...?

 

I see that the mechanic is now celebrating the LBA news today, ‘DSA was H24’.

Reminder again that whilst DSA was open LBA almost doubled its passenger numbers.

He really hasn’t a clue has he - the biggest beneficiary from the LBA night flight issue won’t be a small airport in the furthest reaches of South Yorks but it will be MAN. That is the second or indeed for many the first airport of choice from most of North and West Yorkshire. Any travel agent from most the market area served by LBA will tell you that even when it was open they had hardly any requests for departures from DSA.

The core commercial risks remain that DSA is an airport which has failed already, is shunned by private investors and as such it will take some risk underwriting by the local authorities to convince an airline to invest in establishing an ops base at DSA.

 

Perhaps someone should point out to him that LBA was H24 for 13 years before DSA opened and still is H24.

Also the fact LBA has more arrivals after midnight in summer than DSA had arrivals all day!

The guy is an idiot.

There are one or two folk on the campaign page who turn around every post into a tirade against LBA. (They should of course be focussing on EMA) However - one of the usual culprits posted an 'explanation' as to why restrictions were needed at LBA (short runway - full throttle take offs etc etc) - complete rubbish (other than perhaps the odd occasion) but pleasingly was taken down politely but firmly by the very knowledgeable SME who has appeared on the page. Ex DSA ATC actually joined in as well to confirm that DSA although H24 had a quota regime copied from Stanstead and therefore was no different in principle to LBA! (Other than of course they had few night movements)

 

There are one or two folk on the campaign page who turn around every post into a tirade against LBA. (They should of course be focussing on EMA) However - one of the usual culprits posted an 'explanation' as to why restrictions were needed at LBA (short runway - full throttle take offs etc etc) - complete rubbish (other than perhaps the odd occasion) but pleasingly was taken down politely but firmly by the very knowledgeable SME who has appeared on the page. Ex DSA ATC actually joined in as well to confirm that DSA although H24 had a quota regime copied from Stanstead and therefore was no different in principle to LBA! (Other than of course they had few night movements)

Problem is people who have a little information are ultimately dangerous because they talk rubbish in the pub and it’s contagious.

Most airports have some kind of noise abatement. EMA has one before 7am for departures where they’re monitoring via various noice stations and they will happily send a fine for anyone breaching those restrictions. Some airlines are quite keen to avoid it and so will challenge it. It’s not unheard of for some of the bigger stuff to hold until 7am at EMA. Atmospherics play a large part in it, if there’s moisture in the air for instance it can carry the noise which will trigger a fine that would otherwise not be enforced.

The stuff about firewalling the aircraft out of LBA is rubbish. 738’s have no troubles with the runway there, nor do the max’s apparently. The OEI on the 321 NEO with the LEAP 1A might pose some trouble but it’s literally an inline support thing and not something that would cause undue noise. LBA will be fine either way with the night quotas, airlines will like it or lump it but it’s the better located airport relative to the population it serves and so continue it will.

 

will this be last hurdle before the yes or no?

Over £250,000 has been approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to help with the upcoming decision on whether to release funding for Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
The £255k grant will come from the SY Airport City project’s feasibility fund.
Documents relating to the decision to approve this grant said the project feasibility fund (PFF) helps “relieve capacity constraints and improve capability”; “reduce reliance on external expertise”; and “develop plans into a pipeline of programmes and projects and ensure project lifecycle funding is available, particularly for revenue-based schemes”.

 

will this be last hurdle before the yes or no?

Over £250,000 has been approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to help with the upcoming decision on whether to release funding for Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
The £255k grant will come from the SY Airport City project’s feasibility fund.
Documents relating to the decision to approve this grant said the project feasibility fund (PFF) helps “relieve capacity constraints and improve capability”; “reduce reliance on external expertise”; and “develop plans into a pipeline of programmes and projects and ensure project lifecycle funding is available, particularly for revenue-based schemes”.

What an absolute word salad. Only thing that’s good for it confusing people!

Anyone with public sector experience able to translate?

 

What an absolute word salad. Only thing that’s good for it confusing people!

Anyone with public sector experience able to translate?

£255K to come up with a project plan and costs which in turn will help OC decide whether to waste the rest of the money by going ahead with this crazy scheme.

 

£255K to come up with a project plan and costs which in turn will help OC decide whether to waste the rest of the money by going ahead with this crazy scheme.

So begs the question why they need more money and why they’re talking about capacity and project lifecycles. Just seems like another can kicking exercise to me. Perhaps the external consultants haven’t been able to provide the answers SYMCA wanted.

 

So begs the question why they need more money and why they’re talking about capacity and project lifecycles. Just seems like another can kicking exercise to me. Perhaps the external consultants haven’t been able to provide the answers SYMCA wanted.

Wouldn't be surprising. If you dont like the answers they give, spend a quarter of a million and do it yourself, with the answers you want guaranteed.

 

Echoes of "Yes Minister"

 

will this be last hurdle before the yes or no?

Over £250,000 has been approved by the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) to help with the upcoming decision on whether to release funding for Doncaster Sheffield Airport.
The £255k grant will come from the SY Airport City project’s feasibility fund.
Documents relating to the decision to approve this grant said the project feasibility fund (PFF) helps “relieve capacity constraints and improve capability”; “reduce reliance on external expertise”; and “develop plans into a pipeline of programmes and projects and ensure project lifecycle funding is available, particularly for revenue-based schemes”.

What an absolute word salad. Only thing that’s good for it confusing people!

Anyone with public sector experience able to translate?

"We spent £255k on a consultation that relied on hyperbole, lots of generic images of people walking through a transport hub, PowerPoint charts we knocked together after a dozen meetings, and an overuse of the standard phrases about growth and job creation, that ignores actual advice we may have received from people in the know, because we (the council) know best..."

You're welcome...

 

"We spent £255k on a consultation that relied on hyperbole, lots of generic images of people walking through a transport hub, PowerPoint charts we knocked together after a dozen meetings, and an overuse of the standard phrases about growth and job creation, that ignores actual advice we may have received from people in the know, because we (the council) know best..."

You're welcome...

Thanks for this. I note the spam the past couple of weeks of members of Doncaster Chamber making short video statements about why Doncaster needs an airport, only one is an actual aviation company who are based there anyway and as such have a vested interest in it reopening to save them relocating.

This will continue through to the decision which appears now to be a foregone conclusion after having been told presumably that it’s not going to work by companies that do know, hence Bantamzens astute observation.

Doncaster Chamber would be best going to airline execs, air freight carriers and other aviation companies to get them to provide statements, not those of their members who probably rarely if ever actually use air travel for business anyway! Whole thing stinks.

 

Doncaster needs an airport? Total rubbish and a perfect example of how city status has gone to their heads. If it were Sheffield saying that, fair enough, although you could argue that Sheffield has access to 3 airports within an hour already. But Doncaster is a relatively small city that in no way can sustain an airport- as we have already seen . You might as well say York needs an airport. There are numerous cities and large towns that dont have an airport of their own and manage just fine.

 

Doncaster needs an airport? Total rubbish and a perfect example of how city status has gone to their heads. If it were Sheffield saying that, fair enough, although you could argue that Sheffield has access to 3 airports within an hour already. But Doncaster is a relatively small city that in no way can sustain an airport- as we have already seen . You might as well say York needs an airport. There are numerous cities and large towns that dont have an airport of their own and manage just fine.

Was on holiday a few weeks ago and was talking to a few Yorkshire people at the pool bar (as you do) whilst sipping an ice cold mythos (take me back please!) and they were talking about how they never used DSA 1.0 because it was too expensive but that they liked EMA anyway. They didn’t see it reopening, and I didn’t offer any opinion whatsoever because that is what these forums are for I tend to talk about other stuff away from here, but it was interesting to hear true opinions if people who lived fairly close to DSA.

I get it, people want the convenience of a local airport. We can’t all have one though and given the slot delays we’re currently seeing, largely due to European airspace constraints, I fail to see how opening one would be beneficial in that regard either. This is the ultimate political vanity project and it will, if funds are approved, be forever remembered for being so.

If I was Coppard I would be telling the council to forget passenger flights, forget cargo (that’s also fickle if not more so) and they can reopen the airfield for special mission and GA purposes with manageable costs to be absorbed by the gateway east project. If in the future there is tangible interest in reopening the airport for passenger flights then it could be investigated further but for now just don’t even bother squandering hundreds of millions on something that clearly the industry has rejected.

 

""This will continue through to the decision which appears now to be a foregone conclusion"" how long to wait now "" thought the Goverment had no money !! with all other things going on I half expect it to get kicked down the road a while longer, with tax rises looming surely, full justification in every aspect will need to be proven.

Freight !!! no money to make on several movements a week are not going to cover the enormous costs involved to keep the airfield open

 

""This will continue through to the decision which appears now to be a foregone conclusion"" how long to wait now "" thought the Goverment had no money !! with all other things going on I half expect it to get kicked down the road a while longer, with tax rises looming surely, full justification in every aspect will need to be proven.

Freight !!! no money to make on several movements a week are not going to cover the enormous costs involved to keep the airfield open

This is money already allocated to the regional devolution pot so it won’t matter to national government who, quite clearly, have no interest in getting involved other than to shore up voter support. It’s almost unfathomable that DSA will achieve a level of freight throughout to enable it to cover the costs of hosting it. Unless there are some major backers waiting in the wings to use DSA and build the infrastructure necessary then it’ll just be cheap tat that doesn’t pay the bills once again.

 

I thought it was money would be realised in trenches over time so i know from previous postings so are they going to borrow against it, this could make interesting readings once full details are fully in the public domain! I sometimes don't think people truly understand what's involved that are not really interested in aviation.

 

I thought it was money would be realised in trenches over time so i know from previous postings so are they going to borrow against it, this could make interesting readings once full details are fully in the public domain! I sometimes don't think people truly understand what's involved that are not really interested in aviation.

It’s borrowed from somewhere with, according to the report submitted to the SAU, below commercial interest rates. No idea who they’d borrow from or for how long. Clearly some objection might be legally justified if this operation is borrowing on favourable rates as some of that borrowing will need to be channeled into subsidies for airlines, or in the terminology of Gainshare it will need to be ‘revenue’. That’s my understanding anyway, could be wrong.

 

i have been to LBA twice this week , ( dropping off some poles).
it seems twice as busy as last years, carpark full, massive ques at departure.
DSA will never been as big, ever, but south yorkshire needs an airport.
it takes longer to drive to LBA form leeds city center , than it does to get to DSA from sheffield.
the vast majority of people in sheffield, rotherham, barnsley,doncaster and lincoln want an airport.
they will not care if it cost another few pound a year on council tax.

 

i have been to LBA twice this week , ( dropping off some poles).
it seems twice as busy as last years, carpark full, massive ques at departure.
DSA will never been as big, ever, but south yorkshire needs an airport.
it takes longer to drive to LBA form leeds city center , than it does to get to DSA from sheffield.
the vast majority of people in sheffield, rotherham, barnsley,doncaster and lincoln want an airport.
they will not care if it cost another few pound a year on council tax.

Yet last time, the vast majority in Sheffield didn't use DSA. They only want it if there's choice and at prices that make it viable. Its never going to compete with MAN and it'll bever have enough airlines to provide the choice. So prices won't be competitive.

Clearly, you don't know your way around Leeds if it takes you longer to get to LBA from Leeds than it does from Sheffield to DSA. There are alternative routes to the A65 which might be slightly longer but are quicker. Each time I have driven along the Great Yorkshire Way, it's junction with the M18 has been like a car park! Including Wednesday morning this week. And that's without any airport traffic.

LBA is busier than last year for sure. Not far off 10% up but the building works and compound make it look even busier.

 

Yet last time, the vast majority in Sheffield didn't use DSA. They only want it if there's choice and at prices that make it viable. Its never going to compete with MAN and it'll bever have enough airlines to provide the choice. So prices won't be competitive.

Clearly, you don't know your way around Leeds if it takes you longer to get to LBA from Leeds than it does from Sheffield to DSA. There are alternative routes to the A65 which might be slightly longer but are quicker. Each time I have driven along the Great Yorkshire Way, it's junction with the M18 has been like a car park! Including Wednesday morning this week. And that's without any airport traffic.

LBA is busier than last year for sure. Not far off 10% up but the building works and compound make it look even busier.

i usual go up the A1 and go past harewood house but sat nav sent me through leeds .
AI says 23minutes from leeds city center to LBA and 27minutes from sheffield to DSA.