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...?

 

At the 2021 census, the Asian population of each authority in West Yorkshire was Bradford 32.1%, Kirklees 19.4%, Leeds 9.7%, Calderdale 8.5% and Wakefield 2%.

Apologies - I’d lumped Kirklees in with Calderdale! Proves though that given both Bradford and Kirklees are in the M62 corridor MAN is only around 1hr drive away…

 

LBA with a bigger catchment area than DSA, including specific diaspora, is worried about leakage and preference to MAN. Realistically what chance does DSA have. No hope and Bob Hope have already been mentioned

 

if the comments on the recent Doncaster Free Press Facebook post FB post are anything to go by of local opinion, the tide has certainly turned on opinion, with many now realising this is a white elephant.

 

if the comments on the recent Doncaster Free Press Facebook post FB post are anything to go by of local opinion, the tide has certainly turned on opinion, with many now realising this is a white elephant.

Most people aren’t that bothered about it when it comes to the bigger picture they have other priorities and are quite indifferent in a sense that they’d quite like an airport but it’s not the be all end all. It’s the perfect political tool though, but with that comes cynicism particularly when a private sector investor starts threatening to invest. They’re probably not credible, but it leads to mistrust in the public figures rejecting their advances. Like I said when rabbitfoot excitedly posted it, it’s a disruptor.

 

LBA with a bigger catchment area than DSA, including specific diaspora, is worried about leakage and preference to MAN. Realistically what chance does DSA have. No hope and Bob Hope have already been mentioned

Your forgetting that DSA has the longest runway in the whole wide world! And it was voted the best airport every year, largely due to being empty much of the time.

Most people aren’t that bothered about it when it comes to the bigger picture they have other priorities and are quite indifferent in a sense that they’d quite like an airport but it’s not the be all end all. It’s the perfect political tool though, but with that comes cynicism particularly when a private sector investor starts threatening to invest. They’re probably not credible, but it leads to mistrust in the public figures rejecting their advances. Like I said when rabbitfoot excitedly posted it, it’s a disruptor.

I agree. I feel that the timing is quite deliberate and intended to stir things up, in particular dilute trust in the politicians about to blow huge amounts of public money on this . Sow the seeds of doubt, stand back and watch!

 

Your forgetting that DSA has the longest runway in the whole wide world! And it was voted the best airport every year, largely due to being empty much of the time.


I agree. I feel that the timing is quite deliberate and intended to stir things up, in particular dilute trust in the politicians about to blow huge amounts of public money on this . Sow the seeds of doubt, stand back and watch!

I also think VH might be being a bit guilty of this too after today’s YP article

 

I also think VH might be being a bit guilty of this too after today’s YP article

Quite possibly. Although to be be fair, he's said it before hasn't he? It resulted in much wailing and gnashing of teeth among the pro DSA FB lot, in particular some guy who fixes cars.

 

One thing that VH said on Thursday night at Menston was, and I quote:
"DSA will never attract enough passengers to be profitable"

 

Council reveals it has multiple 'interested parties' in private DSA investment deals

The City of Doncaster Council has said there are “other interested parties” who have contacted the authority over private investment in Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk

‘Wel have loads of private sector interest, we can’t tell you who though and we’re not taking it seriously yet cos we need to get on with stuff, but there is interest.. Trust me bro’

 

I also think VH might be being a bit guilty of this too after today’s YP article

But has he said this again or is it just YEP regurgitating what what said a couple of years ago to be provocative ahead of the CDC Council vote??

 

Council reveals it has multiple 'interested parties' in private DSA investment deals

The City of Doncaster Council has said there are “other interested parties” who have contacted the authority over private investment in Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk

‘Wel have loads of private sector interest, we can’t tell you who though and we’re not taking it seriously yet cos we need to get on with stuff, but there is interest.. Trust me bro’

Is this just rallying talk to get Reform councillors to vote in favour of throwing millions more of public money away when in reality there is only one serious bid on the table which the council have rejected. Take BlueIslands airways as an example, announcing new routes to the UK mainland a couple of days before going into administration painting on the face of it what looks like a rosy picture. This is a council in serious financial trouble, in excess of £450m in debt and are more than happy to throw a further £190m and no doubt re-opening costs rising every year at a lame duck airport.

 

Is this just rallying talk to get Reform councillors to vote in favour of throwing millions more of public money away when in reality there is only one serious bib on the table which the council have rejected. Take BlueIslands airways as an example, announcing new routes to the UK mainland a couple of days before going into administration painting on the face of it what looks like a rosy picture. This is a cpoincil in serious financial trouble, in excess of £450m in debt and are more than happy to throw a further £190m and no doubt re-opening costs rising every year at a lame duck airport.

Yes basically it’s holding the council to ransom. It’s being framed by people like Coppard and Jones that it’s the single most impactful economic regeneration project that they can provide in South Yorkshire ‘for a generation’. This of course is questionable at best but it’s been framed as such so that nobody can argue against it. They will say the money isn’t going to divert from services and the debt will be reduced through increased economic activity on the back of the airport. Also BS but that’s how it’s being sold. Effectively they’re saying it’s airport or bust, but sheer bloody mindedness of it means they won’t consider what impact other uses of the site might have, particularly uses that don’t tie the council into a high stakes gamble that in all probability will fail again.

Just to add, if it was likely to be the success they claim it will be (and has to be to attain financial self sufficiency according to their own documents) then I would fully support it.

 

Council reveals it has multiple 'interested parties' in private DSA investment deals

The City of Doncaster Council has said there are “other interested parties” who have contacted the authority over private investment in Doncaster Sheffield Airport.

www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk

‘Wel have loads of private sector interest, we can’t tell you who though and we’re not taking it seriously yet cos we need to get on with stuff, but there is interest.. Trust me bro’

Guess there submission to the SAU must have either been misleading or their current statement is just a load of porkys..

 

Quite staggering over three years have passed since the last flight departed and the whole things not done and dusted one way or another and still may not be two weeks down the line from now. The whole thing should have been played out at a Circus it would be the most fitting place for it.

I really can't decide which word desribes the whole thing best - Farcical, embarrassing, ludicrous, crazy or shambolic.

It's gone from the fanfare of it closing which to be fair got people talking and interested in the subject and Ros Jones making it her life mission to reopen it to Coppard, Fletcher and Jones being involved in Nick's weekly rantings the mystery of who and why some parties would be involed in the project and if they still are or every really were. We have CDC who can't give a straight answer on virtually anything and suppress anything and everything deemed not what they want to hear. Still no real interest it appears from airlines or we would have heard something more positive even behind the phrase commercially sensitive appearing to be the straight bat and slogging it out for a draw scenario CDC have.

The only thing that makes sense is actually non of it makes sense be it opens or closes some dark dark secrets are going to stay behind closed doors and no sense will ever be made from the whole thing.

 

Quite staggering over three years have passed since the last flight departed and the whole things not done and dusted one way or another and still may not be two weeks down the line from now. The whole thing should have been played out at a Circus it would be the most fitting place for it.

I really can't decide which word desribes the whole thing best - Farcical, embarrassing, ludicrous, crazy or shambolic.

It's gone from the fanfare of it closing which to be fair got people talking and interested in the subject and Ros Jones making it her life mission to reopen it to Coppard, Fletcher and Jones being involved in Nick's weekly rantings the mystery of who and why some parties would be involed in the project and if they still are or every really were. We have CDC who can't give a straight answer on virtually anything and suppress anything and everything deemed not what they want to hear. Still no real interest it appears from airlines or we would have heard something more positive even behind the phrase commercially sensitive appearing to be the straight bat and slogging it out for a draw scenario CDC have.

The only thing that makes sense is actually non of it makes sense be it opens or closes some dark dark secrets are going to stay behind closed doors and no sense will ever be made from the whole thing.

It will be alright on the night @Rob c DSA ! - or will it?? I think the complete lack of transparency is the thing for me that cries out that democracy is not alive and well in Doncaster! The whole process seems to have been conducted in 'Putinesque' fashion - where is the business plan - warts and all - instead of specially cherry-picked bits intended to be positive but are ambiguous or misleading so that everyone - including the die-hards can see the full picture, risks and all? It's far more reaching than a few holiday flights! If there is a majority in favour, then fair enough. CDC seem to be becoming reactive now in defending the increasing number of questions being asked but at the end of the day when the funding is accepted on the 27th the losses will subsequently disappear into the black hole that you allude to never to emerge for public view for years. Probably, by the time they do Mayor Jones and crew will be long gone!

 

It will be alright on the night @Rob c DSA ! - or will it?? I think the complete lack of transparency is the thing for me that cries out that democracy is not alive and well in Doncaster! The whole process seems to have been conducted in 'Putinesque' fashion - where is the business plan - warts and all - instead of specially cherry-picked bits intended to be positive but are ambiguous or misleading so that everyone - including the die-hards can see the full picture, risks and all? It's far more reaching than a few holiday flights! If there is a majority in favour, then fair enough. CDC seem to be becoming reactive now in defending the increasing number of questions being asked but at the end of the day when the funding is accepted on the 27th the losses will subsequently disappear into the black hole that you allude to never to emerge for public view for years. Probably, by the time they do Mayor Jones and crew will be long gone!

Well I think you’re correct but noise coming from LBA suggests that there may be legal challenges brought assuming a positive decision next week. I also don’t believe LBA would be the only ones to challenge, and it might not even be another local airport owing to the way that airlines allocate aircraft/routes/resources.

We must assume it’ll be waved through next week, I think Reform will vote in favour with caveats attached and they’ll make a point of this when doing so. I genuinely do not believe this is the highest priority of the people of Doncaster though, but politically it’s a win regardless, but we all know politics is about short term wins and not long term strategy.

 

Didn't Regional Airports raise concern also regarding this? I wouldn't be surprised if there was something else form them, not to mention how BRS/CWL plays out. EMA only down the road securing a lot more cargo business, wouldn't be surprised if there is something from them.

 

Didn't Regional Airports raise concern also regarding this? I wouldn't be surprised if there was something else form them, not to mention how BRS/CWL plays out. EMA only down the road securing a lot more cargo business, wouldn't be surprised if there is something from them.

RCA did yes, in response to the SAU submission they said that airports in the U.K. aren’t just competing with their neighbours but they’re competing with all airports to obtain airline interest and resources. They also made a point about there being private finance in abundance and so the public sector shouldn’t be meddling.

 

See tis is appearing on the DSA Facebook pages, Good luck with that, we all know what happened last time a route to Pakistan was launched and collapsed.

Pakistan travel represenatives held talks with City of Doncaster Council.
Representatives from Pakistan Travel Mart met with high level officials from Doncaster Council at an event in London, organised in collaboration with the Pakistan Britain Business Council.
A spokesperson said: “We are truly inspired by Doncaster’s bold vision for the full reopening of Doncaster Sheffield Airport — a project recognised as an asset of national significance that will drive jobs, skills, transport connectivity, housing, and regional economic growth.
“This forward-looking initiative aligns perfectly with PTM’s mission to promote sustainable connectivity, tourism development, and bilateral collaboration between Pakistan and the UK.
“With PTM being Pakistan’s only government-supported travel and trade platform, we see vast potential in creating bridges between Doncaster’s innovation ecosystem and Pakistan’s dynamic business and travel markets. Together, we aim to facilitate opportunities that bring shared prosperity to both regions.”

 

Well that's it then. What could possibly go wrong!