Doncaster airport

[SydneyRover]

Who is to blame for WIzz air pulling out, themselves or DSA?

[Dagenham Rover]

So the road network has been vastly improved to the airport, ideal for logistics companies/warehousing making the Peel Holding land very attractive. One might wonder if it’s been a long term plan

They have history!  according to an interview on Radio Sheffield with the Mayor of Teeside they deliberately ran Teeside Airport down and submitted plans to turn it into a housing estate After the local authorities took control and started talking to airlines it seems the airlines wanted to increase flights and Peel refused

[Donnywolf]

As far as I know every report I have seen and read say Wizz Air have pulled out of DSA ... but ... what I think is the case is they no longer use DSA as a Base.

There is a big difference. They are still flying in and out of DSA but they have halved their Flights (roughly) and moved the Planes to Luton and offered Pilots First Officers relocation. As I understand it the Flight crews and other Staff have not been offered such a move

This took place on June 10th I believe and the Wizz flights still pour in and out but Wizz are not "based" here any more


Edit to add a bit of the truth / facts


https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/116600-wizz-air-uk-closes-doncastersheffield-base

[SydneyRover]

That's what I'd read Wolfie, that Wizz were blaming DSA, who knows what to believe, Peel does appear to have form.

[Donnywolf]

Yes my earlier post depicts what they are like Corporate wise.

[Dagenham Rover]

Most airports have decent transport infrastructure ideal to build on !

[selby]

  It is easily sorted then by Doncaster Council, make it known to Peel Holdings that all planning permissions not appertaining to an improvement to the airport will be refused, no private housing or commercial planning will be considered as that area is designated for improvement to the airport only in the planning structure.
  Then tell any planning authorities and council members they will be monitored for any brown envelope wrong doings.

[drfchound]

  It is easily sorted then by Doncaster Council, make it known to Peel Holdings that all planning permissions not appertaining to an improvement to the airport will be refused, no private housing or commercial planning will be considered as that area is designated for improvement to the airport only in the planning structure.
  Then tell any planning authorities and council members they will be monitored for any brown envelope wrong doings.

That is much too sensible an idea matey.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

If the combined authorities and business stakeholders follow Teesides model with a specific airport operator brought in then, every ounce of effort is put in to the success of the airport and the infrastructure and businesses around it, including the freight operations etc, rather than just maximising profit from a property portfolio. 

We have great basic infrastructure to become a proper integrated transport hub with road, rail and air connections.that can benefit the whole area, not just Doncaster.

Ryanair pulled out of Teeside but have since gone back in so anythings possible if all interested parties work together rather than trying to screw every penny out of each other.

Of course, it isn't simple but there's a great opportunity to be had before it's lost forever.

[Filo]

Ryanair pulled out because landing fees are too high, Easyjet pulled out for the same reason, Tui will probably get preferential treatment. Has anyone ever wondered why DSA gets very few diverts? The landing fee’s, thats why! Airlines would sooner circle round EMA, LBA and MAN waiting to land while DSA has no traffic

[Wiltshire Exile]

A bit more positive:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-62179065

[roversdude]

Shortfall in passenger numbers because they’ve put off airlines from using it, again can then be used to justify their closure plan

[Donnywolf]

OLIVER COPPARD

South Yorkshire Mayor. Search his Twitter out and he has done a brilliant string of tweets about 30 highlighting everything past present and future

Worth a read

[Colemans Left Hook]

at some time if the future Putin will be out of the way can anyone see any mileage in

if a decision is made to close airport

it is mothaballed or whatever ?? even bought ???? by the government to be used to fly out "stuff" when Ukraine is rebuilt  ? 

[DonnyBazR0ver]

This maybe the crucial part of that article on BBC

"We will be speaking directly to the group's board and senior leadership team as a matter of urgency and we are committed to working with them to ensure the future of DSA, or finding an alternative private sector operator who can unlock its potential."

[Dagenham Rover]

The loan stalled due to Peel refusing  to show the council the accounts



https://www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk/news/doncaster-sheffield-airport-ps20m-loan-to-owner-stalled-after-request-to-see-its-books-3770865

[BillyStubbsTears]

  It is easily sorted then by Doncaster Council, make it known to Peel Holdings that all planning permissions not appertaining to an improvement to the airport will be refused, no private housing or commercial planning will be considered as that area is designated for improvement to the airport only in the planning structure.
  Then tell any planning authorities and council members they will be monitored for any brown envelope wrong doings.

Except councils can't do that, because the planning permission process is a legal one, not a political decision.

And there's the problem with common sense answers. The common ones usually aren't very sensible.

[ravenrover]

And would be over ridden by Central Govt

[Donnywolf]

.... no doubt a la Jenrick and others.

[Donnywolf]

Just read online that Peel are saying under no circumstances other than a Council takeover will the Airport stay open

In fact they have given the end of October as their final date for last flight unless that happens




https://www.headforpoints.com/2022/07/13/doncaster-sheffield-airport-is-to-permanently-close/

[drfchound]

Wolfie, that outcome would be a massive blow to the area and probably increase the unemployed numbers too.

[Donnywolf]

Peel may be playing brinkmanship or "playing their hand " but unfortunately but it's their business (i.e. what they do) after all and they will come out "ahead" whatever happens.

[i_ateallthepies]

So much for a consultation process.

[Filo]

So much for a consultation process.

They don’t want to consult, they have played the long game here, had the link road built with other peoples money, had the infrastructure built around the airport with other peoples money, had land given them, had numerous grants, kept landing fees high to discourage airlines from using it, then come out with its not making money, so they are going to put warehousing on the site!

[tommy toes]

Spot on Filo.

[RobTheRover]

It’s bonkers that Manchester airport is under such pressure, yet here is a central location which can handle much more than it is.
If it closes it puts much more pressure on those remaining airports.

And Leeds Bradford is after approval for another runway.  It's madness.

[big fat yorkshire pudding]

I flew back on Saturday to Doncaster. What surprised me was how many of the passengers were not local (including a family who'd travelled from Scotland).  The myth people won't use it is just that.  It has pretty much everything it needs to be successful bar owners willing to do so especially compared to the inappropriately located Leeds Bradford.

I wonder if anyone will genuinely want to take it on, if so there's a lot of mileage in political pressure on peel.  For me it's a big test of the government's foresight and if they truly want an integrated transport plan and levelling up in the north.  We don't need more warehouse space we've enough of that already.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

If Peel get a deal, they'll not be bothered whether the airport stays open or not.

The Teeside situation has set a precedent and a full takeover maybe the only option.

If it shows Teeside, with a 75% public stake can work, eventhough it maybe a huge liability to take on, it maybe worth it in the long run.

[Muttley]

Maybe the running of airports should be nationalised so they can be part of a coherent, national transport strategy (& linked in to climate change objectives).

The current strategy seems to be to push all long-haul/business passengers through Heathrow, Manchester and, to a lesser extent, Gatwick and Birmingham meaning that Heathrow is continually trying to expand when there is excess capacity at regional airports.

Wouldn't it be possible for these regional airports to expand their long-haul offering to take the strain off Heathrow etc, or running flights to other established hubs such as Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt?

[River Don]

If this heatwave isn't enough to convince you we need more urgent action on climate change, nothing will.

A growing aviation industry isn't going to help us meet targets that aren't rigorous enough anyway.

That said I think Mutley is right, expanding Heathrow would be madness, in the short term pushing more flights out to regional airports would make more sense.

Ultimately though, I think we will have to get used to the idea of flying a lot less. Which won't be good news for any airport.