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...?

 

And so it begins - it today fragmented political climate expect a lot more of this especially as things don’t start to materialise….What this political noise will do is deter potential investors /airline partners who hate nothing more than uncertainty and risk….https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv6en35q3ro

 

And so it begins - it today fragmented political climate expect a lot more of this especially as things don’t start to materialise….What this political noise will do is deter potential investors /airline partners who hate nothing more than uncertainty and risk….https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv6en35q3ro

To be fair that’s just Regurge trying to cause trouble. They wouldn’t dare challenge the airport, even their leader would advise against that at the moment given the polarising effect of the airport on the electorate.

 

To be fair that’s just Regurge trying to cause trouble. They wouldn’t dare challenge the airport, even their leader would advise against that at the moment given the polarising effect of the airport on the electorate.

Maybe not yet but politics is a fickle beast - if losses mount and promises are late or don’t materialise this will be a convenient bandwagon to give Labour a kicking and they will get it from both left and right!

 

Maybe not yet but politics is a fickle beast - if losses mount and promises are late or don’t materialise this will be a convenient bandwagon to give Labour a kicking and they will get it from both left and right!

Yes but by then the thing will be open and Jones will be gone anyway. The biggest threat to the airport is a legal challenge that delays progress, or an inability to secure a launch airline which will upset the Apple cart. The intention is clear though, they aren’t going to go careful, the full amount is going to be released so it’ll either be a success or a failure. The pragmatic approach that I mentioned this morning is off the table but ironically might be the one that would actually lead to more guaranteed success. Clearly they’re not that bothered about retaining 2Excel after all.

 

Somebody has raised why 3 live airports from RCA would be worth roughly the same as Doncaster Airport cost at 175m

 

Somebody has raised why 3 live airports from RCA would be worth roughly the same as Doncaster Airport cost at 175m

They’d have a point. Seeing as DSA handled less passengers than Bournemouth is likely to have done this year, is it really worth the price tag?

 

The pragmatic solution would be to reopen the airport to only 2Excel and other non commercial traffic like what they’ve done at Leeds East. 2excel clearly have plans and they should be supported, but they’re deliverable at a fraction of the cost of the current proposal.

But would this be a viable option. The rents and amount of traffic wouldn't come anywhere close enough to cover the £3m lease payments per year to Peel.

The Lease payments is what will be the main stumbling blocks. Then add to the mix operational overheads.

 

But would this be a viable option. The rents and amount of traffic wouldn't come anywhere close enough to cover the £3m lease payments per year to Peel.

The Lease payments is what will be the main stumbling blocks. Then add to the mix operational overheads.

Not sure, if 2Excel really want to be there then I’m sure an agreement could have been made. Remember, they keep telling us that they’ll make most of the £160 million back in business rates….

 

And so it begins - it today fragmented political climate expect a lot more of this especially as things don’t start to materialise….What this political noise will do is deter potential investors /airline partners who hate nothing more than uncertainty and risk….https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cyv6en35q3ro

to be honest its a nothing story. reform are just sh*t stirrers in every single word they say.
the people in south yorkshire feel they have been left behind, forgotten about, after been part of the powerhouse behind the industrial revoulution for decades, then coal and steel where no longer needed, nor were they, the last 30-40 years have been bleak.
trump got reelected in america for the same reason, people feeling left behind.
the election before doncaster and rotherham elected a conservative MP the first in a 100 years.
they both lost at the last election because they could not change anything.
the powers that be, need to make the airport work, whatever it takes.
or we might up with reform

 

to be honest its a nothing story. reform are just sh*t stirrers in every single word they say.
the people in south yorkshire feel they have been left behind, forgotten about, after been part of the powerhouse behind the industrial revoulution for decades, then coal and steel where no longer needed, nor were they, the last 30-40 years have been bleak.
trump got reelected in america for the same reason, people feeling left behind.
the election before doncaster and rotherham elected a conservative MP the first in a 100 years.
they both lost at the last election because they could not change anything.
the powers that be, need to make the airport work, whatever it takes.
or we might up with reform

The airport won’t have the economic impact they claim it will. It’s really as simple as that. There’s not enough money in the region to support one of its ambition.

 

A friend who has lived in Majorca for the last 25 years but comes from Doncaster visited this summer to see a relative. After visiting Doncaster town centre she said she was saddened and shocked to see how run down the place was compared to years ago. Would it be better to spend "160m + on improving the infrastructure of the 'city' rather than on a failed airport?

 

A friend who has lived in Majorca for the last 25 years but comes from Doncaster visited this summer to see a relative. After visiting Doncaster town centre she said she was saddened and shocked to see how run down the place was compared to years ago. Would it be better to spend "160m + on improving the infrastructure of the 'city' rather than on a failed airport?

most city centers are the same some a lot worst than doncaster.
i was in bournemouth a few months back , it shocked me ,it was far worse, far more empty shops than doncaster , and even more homeless

whatever money you spend on the city centers it will not change them.
its all down to internet shopping

 

She was comparing Doncaster with other towns and cities in the UK and was ashamed of her home town.

 

whatever money you spend on the city centers it will not change them.
its all down to internet shopping

Not necessarily true, making city centres affordable to visit and investing to attract big name shops and restaurants definitely can reinvigorate footfall. The problem is we have a Chancellor who is killing businesses through taxation and people have less cash in there pockets.

I note that apparently footfall into Doncaster city centre has fallen by 6.2% year on year, which again can be an indication that people have less cash to spend. These metrics, if continuing trends, don’t bode well for people to have disposable income for flights from a reopened DSA.

So much risk in reopening an airport in a much more challenging economy than when it closed.

 

to be honest its a nothing story. reform are just sh*t stirrers in every single word they say.
the people in south yorkshire feel they have been left behind, forgotten about, after been part of the powerhouse behind the industrial revoulution for decades, then coal and steel where no longer needed, nor were they, the last 30-40 years have been bleak.
trump got reelected in america for the same reason, people feeling left behind.
the election before doncaster and rotherham elected a conservative MP the first in a 100 years.
they both lost at the last election because they could not change anything.
the powers that be, need to make the airport work, whatever it takes.
or we might up with reform

Whatever views anyone may have about Reform they are very much in the ascendancy in South York’s. They will also love to do nothing more then to point at Labours failures and make life very difficult for them…. When things start to become difficult with DSA they wont hold back on it.
People have significantly higher expectations for the airport than the forecasts which went to SYMC illustrate - folks still expect Emirates, Virgin, long haul flights and a global hub not a messily 2m passengers in 20 years time mostly made up of bucket and spade flights…
When this becomes apparent people will ask was it all really worth it particularly if losses are ongoing and there will be political gain to be made…..

 

Whatever views anyone may have about Reform they are very much in the ascendancy in South York’s. They will also love to do nothing more then to point at Labours failures and make life very difficult for them…. When things start to become difficult with DSA they wont hold back on it.
People have significantly higher expectations for the airport than the forecasts which went to SYMC illustrate - folks still expect Emirates, Virgin, long haul flights and a global hub not a messily 2m passengers in 20 years time mostly made up of bucket and spade flights…
When this becomes apparent people will ask was it all really worth it particularly if losses are ongoing and there will be political gain to be made…..

Regurge are a greater threat to this country than a reopened DSA. If reopening DSA is the price to pay to keep Regurge from ever getting anywhere near control in Parliament then please hurry up and reopen DSA.

Sorry, you know my views on DSA. But my views are that Regurge are a far more clear and present threat to our way of life than a failed airport that will probably fail again.

 

Regurge are a greater threat to this country than a reopened DSA. If reopening DSA is the price to pay to keep Regurge from ever getting anywhere near control in Parliament then please hurry up and reopen DSA.

Sorry, you know my views on DSA. But my views are that Regurge are a far more clear and present threat to our way of life than a failed airport that will probably fail again.

Totally agree with your views on Reform but the point I am making is they are the ones who look like they will dominate politics in SY and will seek to do nothing but use every means to discredit Labour politicians even over DSA….The fact is that by mismanaging public expectations over DSA consistently and making promises which they know will never actually be achieved DSA politicians like Coppard and Jones have played right into Reforms hands……

 

Totally agree with your views on Reform but the point I am making is they are the ones who look like they will dominate politics in SY and will seek to do nothing but use every means to discredit Labour politicians even over DSA….The fact is that by mismanaging public expectations over DSA consistently and making promises which they know will never actually be achieved DSA politicians like Coppard and Jones have played right into Reforms hands……

I suppose this 2028 timeframe could backfire massively if in the event they can’t get the levels of service expected. Gather Coppard would be up for re election then and we’d be closer to the next GE. Depressingly I’ve seen a lot of comments by people saying they’ll vote reform whether the airport reopens or not, but this project is going to give ammo to them regardless.

 

. Depressingly I’ve seen a lot of comments by people saying they’ll vote reform whether the airport reopens or not, but this project is going to give ammo to them regardless.

Time to emigrate if they get in power.

 

I voted last week in for the Norwegian election for the Storting (means the Great thing, but is the name of the Parliament). Fortunately there is proportional representation there so the equivalent of reform is just about contained. If reform got in here, I think I would be heading back to Trøndelag