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 other hindering factor they will face in recruiting senior staff is that anyone in post will have a none compete clause most likely on top of a significant notice period……

There’s a rather cryptic post that’s been made elsewhere which appears to have been made by someone who knows all about applying for aerodrome licensing who suggests that their network (which is small) have not been asked to be involved in the licensing process. Apparently the CAA won’t accept derogations that the previous owners had. Hard to tell the status at the minute, the fire service had completed an ERP exercise the other day which was presumably part of the licensing requirements. I do wonder whether certain aspects, as alluded to by York Aviation, have been factored into the £160million headline figure? They certainly weren’t convinced it was a case of cutting the grass and removing crosses from the runway.

 

Who on earth is this YP columnist …..https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/doncaster-sheffield-airport-stop-the-infighting-around-air-travel-in-the-north-of-england-and-pull-together-jayne-dowle-5330278?r=5634
What’s total lack of understanding of the aviation industry….So LBA should just forget about unfair competition using tax payers money…What about their commitments to the shareholders and investors? What on earth have the 1 special shares held by Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford Councils got to do with any off this? They hold that share just to ensure the airport name remains in intact. Lastly to cap it all she mentions Cardiff airport as a successful publicly owned airport

 

Who on earth is this YP columnist …..https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/doncaster-sheffield-airport-stop-the-infighting-around-air-travel-in-the-north-of-england-and-pull-together-jayne-dowle-5330278?r=5634
What’s total lack of understanding of the aviation industry….So LBA should just forget about unfair competition using tax payers money…What about their commitments to the shareholders and investors? What on earth have the 1 special shares held by Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford Councils got to do with any off this? They hold that share just to ensure the airport name remains in intact. Lastly to cap it all she mentions Cardiff airport as a successful publicly owned airport

I’m afraid we’re becoming a post-truth society where inconvenient facts and introspection are replaced by people making their own truths.

‘They closed our airport because they never wanted it to work’ and ‘they’re eating our swans’.

 

Who on earth is this YP columnist …..https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/opinion/columnists/doncaster-sheffield-airport-stop-the-infighting-around-air-travel-in-the-north-of-england-and-pull-together-jayne-dowle-5330278?r=5634
What’s total lack of understanding of the aviation industry….So LBA should just forget about unfair competition using tax payers money…What about their commitments to the shareholders and investors? What on earth have the 1 special shares held by Leeds, Wakefield and Bradford Councils got to do with any off this? They hold that share just to ensure the airport name remains in intact. Lastly to cap it all she mentions Cardiff airport as a successful publicly owned airport

She lives in Barnsley and has admitted she is biased because DSA is easy for her to get to instead of the 'hell' of Manchester. Haven't read the article as I do not subscribe but I would suggest any infighting at the moment is within Doncaster if she is saying otherwise. Although there has been opinion from LBA that it will be very difficult to sustain DSA, I have seen nothing from MAN, EMA and LBA of any significance to suggest 'infighting'. As this evolves it seems that the other nearby airports, knowing the industry as they do, are not getting their knickers in a twist - at least not at the moment.
A PR story piece promoted by CDC/SYMCA but totally irrelevant to reality?

 

She lives in Barnsley and has admitted she is biased because DSA is easy for her to get to instead of the 'hell' of Manchester. Haven't read the article as I do not subscribe but I would suggest any infighting at the moment is within Doncaster if she is saying otherwise. Although there has been opinion from LBA that it will be very difficult to sustain DSA, I have seen nothing from MAN, EMA and LBA of any significance to suggest 'infighting'. As this evolves it seems that the other nearby airports, knowing the industry as they do, are not getting their knickers in a twist - at least not at the moment.
A PR story piece promoted by CDC/SYMCA but totally irrelevant to reality?

I’ve read it now. You know what they say about opinions and what they’re like. Everyone has one.. There is no infighting, Vince Hodder seems genuinely perplexed as to why they think this is a good idea, MAG are probably not particularly concerned because they will also know what airlines are thinking (on the main) and as before it wouldn’t have an impact on their business. What the article does show is yet more ignorance as to how this works though.

 

I understand even Humberside are tightening the screw now and are in discussion over more leisure flights in 2027… Could be wrong but this was the impression given to the local travel trade very recently.

 

I understand even Humberside are tightening the screw now and are in discussion over more leisure flights in 2027… Could be wrong but this was the impression given to the local travel trade very recently.

Wouldn’t be surprised - they will be doing the upmost to protect their business…..expect the same from neighbouring airports who all are in a far better position commercially to negotiate…..

 

I understand even Humberside are tightening the screw now and are in discussion over more leisure flights in 2027… Could be wrong but this was the impression given to the local travel trade very recently.

I anticipate that there will be lots of PR releases/propaganda/etc. DSA is still going to be a very hard sell as a certain MO'L said - especially if HUY can attract a few more leisure flights.

 

I anticipate that there will be lots of PR releases/propaganda/etc. DSA is still going to be a very hard sell as a certain MO'L said - especially if HUY can attract a few more leisure flights.

I think it might just be a confidence builder to get the local travel trade on side, fully expect TUI to abandon HUY if DSA reopens, but stranger things have happened,

 

at the Q&A yesterday nick fletcher (ex MP) mentions that the UAE were still interested in buying the airport.

 

at the Q&A yesterday nick fletcher (ex MP) mentions that the UAE were still interested in buying the airport.

No he doesn’t. He said someone in the audience said this, there’s a big difference. That person could well have been a garage owner, or that idiot that keeps trying to get DFP to pay him £1000.00 for a ‘scoop’. What does the bloke claiming this do? He runs a company that cleans floors.

Holtec apparently investing in the former Cottam power station:

Holtec International, EDF UK and Tritax announce plans to develop Cottam site with data centres and advanced nuclear technologies | Tritax Big Box

www.tritaxbigbox.co.uk

No airport next to Cottam…

 

at the Q&A yesterday nick fletcher (ex MP) mentions that the UAE were still interested in buying the airport.

Not a chance there are far better proven investment options around UK airports at the moment - Newcastle for instance which has a niche market, is profitable and expanding and even that airport couldn’t get the Saudi investors over the line… DSA would be bottom of the list for any overseas investors given its history and current commercial makeup….

 

The CAA ACP ‘Statement of Need’ for DSA has had recent updates;

Airspace change proposal public view

Find details of proposed changes to UK airspace that could affect you.

airspacechange.caa.co.uk

Quite a lot to digest here. Looks like they want to reinstate the airspace as was, though the CAA have advised that this must be seen as an option and not the option. Also interesting that they intend to procure radar equipment which was previously off-site. That would require significant recruitment.

@radar interested in your thoughts on this.

 

The CAA ACP ‘Statement of Need’ for DSA has had recent updates;

Airspace change proposal public view

Find details of proposed changes to UK airspace that could affect you.

airspacechange.caa.co.uk

Quite a lot to digest here. Looks like they want to reinstate the airspace as was, though the CAA have advised that this must be seen as an option and not the option. Also interesting that they intend to procure radar equipment which was previously off-site. That would require significant recruitment.

@radar interested in your thoughts on this.

I wouldn't think there's any chance of DSA mk 2 getting the same airspace as before, given it was widely acknowledged that it had far too much last time for the relatively small number of movements.
Requesting the same again is either a lazy starting point or delusions of grandeur. And let's face it, that would be absolutely typical whichever option applies.

I'm sure surrounding airports and general aviation airfields will gave plenty to say.

 

I wouldn't think there's any chance of DSA mk 2 getting the same airspace as before, given it was widely acknowledged that it had far too much last time for the relatively small number of movements.
Requesting the same again is either a lazy starting point or delusions of grandeur. And let's face it, that would be absolutely typical whichever option applies.

I'm sure surrounding airports and general aviation airfields will gave plenty to say.

I’m not sure, there’s nothing in the documents to suggest the CAA don’t believe it possible, but they do appear to be managing expectations. Looks like the ACP will have to go through the motions including a public consultation as if the application is being made from scratch.

Interesting to note that CDC now admit the airport will reopen to GA and freight ‘by late 2026’. Clearly the timeline for this has quietly slipped now too.

 

I’m not sure, there’s nothing in the documents to suggest the CAA don’t believe it possible, but they do appear to be managing expectations. Looks like the ACP will have to go through the motions including a public consultation as if the application is being made from scratch.

Interesting to note that CDC now admit the airport will reopen to GA and freight ‘by late 2026’. Clearly the timeline for this has quietly slipped now too.

Although in a previous document, relating to the removal of the previous airspace,I recall the CAA suggesting that a future DSA wouldn't require the same controlled airspace- in fact there was a hint it might not need any at all. Clearly, what they get should be determined by how busy an airport its going to be, and based on that, there should be a sizeable reduction in airspace.

 

The CAA ACP ‘Statement of Need’ for DSA has had recent updates;

Airspace change proposal public view

Find details of proposed changes to UK airspace that could affect you.

airspacechange.caa.co.uk

Quite a lot to digest here. Looks like they want to reinstate the airspace as was, though the CAA have advised that this must be seen as an option and not the option. Also interesting that they intend to procure radar equipment which was previously off-site. That would require significant recruitment.

@radar interested in your thoughts on this.

Very interesting. What immediately jumps out at me from the Assessment Meeting Presentation slides, prepared by CDC’s consultants, is this line:

“Commercial imperative: Airline operators have confirmed that controlled airspace is a prerequisite for passenger operations and safe integration with the busy surrounding airspace.”

Which is maybe overegging it slightly, but the gist is correct. This is why it was so important to prevent the airspace being disestablished, and why it was deeply disingenuous to pretend, after it was removed, that actually this is the outcome they wanted all along. Pure bilge to keep the supporters placid.

 

ATC roles now now available to apply, be a cushty quiet job.. role starts earl 2026 it seems.. interesting....

 

Very interesting. What immediately jumps out at me from the Assessment Meeting Presentation slides, prepared by CDC’s consultants, is this line:

“Commercial imperative: Airline operators have confirmed that controlled airspace is a prerequisite for passenger operations and safe integration with the busy surrounding airspace.”

Which is maybe overegging it slightly, but the gist is correct. This is why it was so important to prevent the airspace being disestablished, and why it was deeply disingenuous to pretend, after it was removed, that actually this is the outcome they wanted all along. Pure bilge to keep the supporters placid.

Sounds like the CAA might be amenable to fast tracking though?

As for ATCO positions I’m not sure how that salary compares, haven’t read the description but does it include Radar? Expect there’ll still be a fair few locally qualified people but HUY might be losing a few that they can’t afford to lose!

 

Sounds like the CAA might be amenable to fast tracking though?

As for ATCO positions I’m not sure how that salary compares, haven’t read the description but does it include Radar? Expect there’ll still be a fair few locally qualified people but HUY might be losing a few that they can’t afford to lose!

I haven’t read it all yet, but I’d be surprised if they were able to give preferential treatment, because they are short of capacity to process airspace changes and therefore it would be at the expense of other applications.

As for the job vacancies, again that’s very interesting. They are looking for Tower and Radar controllers, which suggests the previous setup at Liverpool is off the cards. Has Peel declined to provide Radar services from Liverpool as previously? If so, why?

Without wishing to imply it’s not a good salary relative to some other jobs, £55-65k is very poor for a Radar qualified ATCO. In fact it’s pretty much bottom of the barrel, and I would be very surprised if they could poach from Humberside or anywhere else. They likely won’t get many of the old DSA staff to return because they are all earning more elsewhere, or they don’t have the Radar qualification. If they do somehow manage to staff the unit, then they will constantly lose staff to other airports (nearby or elsewhere), where experienced Radar controllers earn six figures.