Originally Posted by
G-FORZ
Post CPO Perhaps the only viable future for DSA would be a MAG buyout, Peel would hate it but so would AMP - that way MAN and EMA aren’t losers and their pull over FR/TUI/U2 sort of fits with any prospective growth, even LS would surely want to pick up some of that TUI market they had to themselves (yep I get market dilution with EMA and LBA but EMA and BHX survive together). DSA’s not dead until the terminal comes down and the runway is dug up.
Why would MAG buy it? They assessed the site in the late 90’s and determined that it would not be viable so purchased HUY (and later EMA) instead. It’s not about ‘pull’ over anything, these airlines fly from MAN LBA EMA because it’s where the passengers are, it’s really that simple. EMA and BHX survive together because they are both in densely populated areas, 75% of DSA catchment area is rural, the largest conurbation is within easy(ish) reach of competition, people still make the journey to those airports in sufficient numbers that airlines do not need to take the risk and shoulder the costs of opening a base at DSA to compete with themselves. This is compounded by the lacklustre support some of the airlines garnered when they dipped their toes in at DSA. I can quite confidently state that Jet2 have never and would never want to operate passenger services from DSA. There will always be the issue of insufficient demand regardless of who may own it. You’re talking about a CPO as if it’s likely to happen, I would be confident to suggest that the odds are heavily stacked against it getting far, even less chance of actually having someone wanting to purchase it and operate it should a CPO be successful.
One of the key determinants in the granting of a CPO (or not) is viability. The authority pushing for a CPO must prove, with recent evidence, that the scheme they intend for the land upon which they wish to purchase is viable. If they cannot do this, or there is evidence to the contrary, then the CPO will be rejected. Peel will have the evidence and this will be backed up by PWC and York Aviation. Another is finance, can DMBC/SYMCA prove they have the necessary capital to purchase DSA?
The only interested party that have made Peel an acceptable offer have been unable to provide Peel with the information they require to be able take the offer seriously. The other two parties that showed interest initially quickly backed out.