Airport Closure - Doncaster / Sheffield / Robin Hood

[whole diary]

[grahame]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page): https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-63033676

Doncaster Sheffield Airport to close despite financial lifeline offer

Doncaster / Sheffield Airport is to close in a few weeks.   On one hand, reduction of shared / public transport and loss of jobs is an "ouch", and on the other hand passenger numbers flying are down, perhaps for good, and airline flight is not exactly good for the climate.   What is your balanced though on this?

[Mark A]

I think it's that whether airport, railway station, bus infrastructure, an industrial site or housing, if it sits on land that can be redeveloped profitably the asset has long had cause to be nervous. Someone's recently flagged on Twitter that that airport has been vulnerable for this reason.

Mark

[broadgage]

I consider that any reduction in air travel, including the closure of airports is good news. If we are serious about the climate emergency we need to fly a lot less. Actual reductions, not trading, offsetting, or calling for research.

I feel sorry for those put out of work and wish them well in finding alternative work, but we cant keep propping up aviation forever in order to protect jobs therein.

Even I would not ban air travel, but I WOULD prohibit supporting it with public money, including both airlines and airports. I might make an exception for air transport to remote islands that are otherwise inaccessible, but general holiday and business, no way.

[eXPassenger]

I am not surprised that it is closing.  It was converted from a closed RAF^▸ (Royal Air Force) base in 2005 and 2 of the 3 airlines using it have stopped, leaving just Tui.  The economics must have always been marginal and the last 3 years will have finished it.

We need fewer airports not more as we reduce the generation of CO2.

[Bob_Blakey]

I 'Don't Care' in as much that I do not fly within the GB^▸ (Great Britain) mainland and therefore would never use this particular airport. Sympathies obviously to those about to be made redundant but some of the numerous TUI^» (Touristik Union International. Also known as TUI Group - "the largest travel, tourism and leisure company in the world". - website) & WizzAir, amongst others, flights currently using the airport will surely go elsewhere - Manchester, Leeds/Bradford and East Midlands are not that far away - with the potential for additional jobs.   

[WSW Frome]

The economics of this airport were always on the marginal side. Sheffield had a previous airport developed, but in the modern era say about 30 years ago. It was smaller and probably with more limited capability. Lots of public money went into that but traffic always light.

The relative proximity of Manchester or Leeds/Bradford with much more attractive service patterns seem to be the issue since new operators would not wish to set up at Doncaster.

[bradshaw]

Could the site’s future be a freight complex with access to the nearby rail line?

[Ralph Ayres]

At least it will save anyone travelling to Sheffield from flying in and then discovering they're still nearly 20 miles from their destination! Airports do seem to delight in shoehorning a vaguely-nearby town into their name in the hope of enticing extra custom.

[broadgage]

Could the site’s future be a freight complex with access to the nearby rail line?

Arguably it should be used for railway freight purposes, perhaps including factories that use or produce goods that could be reasonably conveyed by rail.

More likely, based on past experience, is a large housing estate without public transport and based on car use.

[paul7575]

The responses from local council leaders do nothing to change my belief that they just see it as some sort of status symbol for their particular area, keeping up with the neighbours?

Teesside Airport is another north east area basket case that I expect will go the same way.

Paul

[Hal]

Could the site’s future be a freight complex with access to the nearby rail line?

Arguably it should be used for railway freight purposes, perhaps including factories that use or produce goods that could be reasonably conveyed by rail.

More likely, based on past experience, is a large housing estate without public transport and based on car use.

The Doncaster-Lincoln railway line is nearby, and Finningley station about a mile away. The station closed in the 1960s but could presumably be reopened if needed.

Edit to correct grammar 16.34 Weds.

[Clan Line]

The first thing that struck me about this closure was the huge reported number of job losses - 800. It's difficult to compare airports because of Covid, post Covid shambles and airline failures - but I would put Southampton on a par with Doncaster over the past few years. Southampton's workforce is about a quarter of that at Doncaster.
It has always struck me as a bit of a "vanity" project..............and far too late to gather much trade. It has a staggeringly long runway, but not much else to offer. The airlines had already made their investments in some of the (many !) other airports in the general area

[GBM]

I am always sad to see any regional airport close.
I know the feeling when Plymouth airport closed of that little bit more isolation.

Then when Newquay lost Flybe and Ryanair, Newquay was also close to closing that left Cornwall with only Exeter airport.
For those of us in the far west, Exeter airport was almost a three hour drive.

Dawlish happened, so virtually overnight, transport became car only.

Thankfully Newquay is slowly offering more destinations, both UK^▸ (United Kingdom) and abroad, whilst GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) seem to be struggling to provide a reliable offering.

With apologies to members who wish less flying and closure of more regional airports, I'm happy for them to continue.

[TaplowGreen]

I am always sad to see any regional airport close.
I know the feeling when Plymouth airport closed of that little bit more isolation.

Then when Newquay lost Flybe and Ryanair, Newquay was also close to closing that left Cornwall with only Exeter airport.
For those of us in the far west, Exeter airport was almost a three hour drive.

Dawlish happened, so virtually overnight, transport became car only.

Thankfully Newquay is slowly offering more destinations, both UK^▸ (United Kingdom) and abroad, whilst GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) seem to be struggling to provide a reliable offering.

With apologies to members who wish less flying and closure of more regional airports, I'm happy for them to continue.

I agree.

The loss of Plymouth's airport has had a significant effect on the City's attractiveness for inward investment and made it more isolated - not good for the most strategically important City in the South West.