Doncaster Sheffield-3
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So airports have a divine right to existence, even when the owners are losing money and could make a profit using the site for something else?
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I’m certainly no expert in financial obligations but I believe there has been a requirement for Doncaster Airport Ltd to post its annual financial performance, and this is available to view. I’ve no doubt that there has been some clever accounting as you would expect from an organisation such as Peel, but DSA has been posting operating losses since it opened. General consensus seems to be that the airport have been charging too much in landing and handling charges creating a barrier to growth, but this would seem to contradict the fact that it has been losing money in spite of a fairly buoyant passenger throughput. Peel have stipulated a critical mass that has not been reached, which suggests to me that they’ve been offering very favourable deals to airlines to operate from there with the understanding that a minimum passenger throughput is reached in order to generate profit from ancillary revenue (car parking, retail). Worked with TUI but not so much with the other airlines that have been and gone.
Not sure on the legalities of cross subsidies from other land surrounding the airport? Perhaps an operator like MAG may run things differently in that respect. Airport operating costs have increased significantly in the 17 years since DSA opened. There is clearly a bigger picture here and sadly Peel have not given sufficient time to allow for a truly independent scrutiny process to be completed.
Not sure on the legalities of cross subsidies from other land surrounding the airport? Perhaps an operator like MAG may run things differently in that respect. Airport operating costs have increased significantly in the 17 years since DSA opened. There is clearly a bigger picture here and sadly Peel have not given sufficient time to allow for a truly independent scrutiny process to be completed.
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Any group company can shift costs around to show a loss, and I think that’s the bit that hurts here, especially when the airport seems to be pulling its weight in attracting an albeit limited (to tui) healthy footfall. It’s the unrealised potential that just seems wrong and stifled. Bigger sadness is the fact that on Nov 1st peel could dig up the runway and knock down the terminal and from there there is no going back in reasonable financial viability of an operational civil airport.
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Any group company can shift costs around to show a loss, and I think that’s the bit that hurts here, especially when the airport seems to be pulling its weight in attracting an albeit limited (to tui) healthy footfall. It’s the unrealised potential that just seems wrong and stifled. Bigger sadness is the fact that on Nov 1st peel could dig up the runway and knock down the terminal and from there there is no going back in reasonable financial viability of an operational civil airport.
One thing that I feel is overlooked and must not be forgotten though is that until the early part of this year, there were some highly passionate and experienced people heading up the aviation development and management of the airport. I do think they pulled out all the stops to bring in new business…. Whether they were operating to tight internal constraints is open to debate, sadly it seems that may have been the case in recent times.
Last edited by pug; 1st Oct 2022 at 19:51.
Join Date: Nov 2001
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What will bring Peel more profit longer term, an airport or a large business park? Their decision to make, as they own the site, sentiment will not be a consideration.
If the airport was making money why would Peel go to all the hassle of tearing it up and spending a lot of cash in the short-term to build a business park?
Its pretty clear that post -Covid it will take a long time before the airline industry starts to reach the levels of say 2018/19 -and all the current hassles are souring people from the whole business of going by air on a holiday. Just look at all the ads for "no-Fly Holidays"
Doncaster was always marginal - it' was always high on the list of "at danger" airports.
Its demise will help E Midlands & Leeds Bradford survive for pax flights
Its pretty clear that post -Covid it will take a long time before the airline industry starts to reach the levels of say 2018/19 -and all the current hassles are souring people from the whole business of going by air on a holiday. Just look at all the ads for "no-Fly Holidays"
Doncaster was always marginal - it' was always high on the list of "at danger" airports.
Its demise will help E Midlands & Leeds Bradford survive for pax flights
Nice buildings, but not enough self-loading-freight. With the demise of the ILS/radar approach service at Coventry, it was one the useful strips in the are if you got caught out in bad weather and didn't fancy the daft prices at bham. I think it is done for now, it was hard to get the few airlines that used it there in the first place, will be impossible to get them back even if a CPO could be organised. If the mayor had wanted to do something, he should have done it weeks ago, but its all too late now.
I suspect Peel will want to remove the buildings fairly quickly if they attract business rates.
There is a "save doncaster airport" FB group with some delusional admins that's worth a look if you are bored.
I suspect Peel will want to remove the buildings fairly quickly if they attract business rates.
There is a "save doncaster airport" FB group with some delusional admins that's worth a look if you are bored.
Join Date: Jul 2022
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And thats it, game over.
PEEL announced internally this afternoon that all cargo operations and general av will cease this Friday, 7th October at 1500L.
All based operators have now been told that they have to be departed from the airport (2Excel, NPAS, 3x flying schools) by 18th November at 1430L.
Vulcan has also been told, No engine runs after 4th November, and has to be offsite by 23rd June 2023 (Either by road or scrap bin as it won't fly).
RIP DSA.
PEEL you total bunch of hunts with a capital C.
PEEL announced internally this afternoon that all cargo operations and general av will cease this Friday, 7th October at 1500L.
All based operators have now been told that they have to be departed from the airport (2Excel, NPAS, 3x flying schools) by 18th November at 1430L.
Vulcan has also been told, No engine runs after 4th November, and has to be offsite by 23rd June 2023 (Either by road or scrap bin as it won't fly).
RIP DSA.
PEEL you total bunch of hunts with a capital C.
Avoid imitations
My understanding is that NPAS took out a long lease on their new hangar - possibly a slight thorn in the side in their case.
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Avoid imitations
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Doncaster
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The Eot generally starts from the management downwards, in this case, the local management who installed themselves and operated like a bunch of school kids who had just nicked all the toys of everyone, and then from the leaks and general chit chat from people who work for the place but do nothing but criticise,
falsifying board papers was never going to end well
falsifying board papers was never going to end well
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Join Date: Mar 2008
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According to the local MP, a consortium is likely to put an offer to Peel in the next 48 hours.
Too little too late? Probably. But hopefully not. Time will tell.
Too little too late? Probably. But hopefully not. Time will tell.
