DONCASTER SHEFFIELD
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Doncaster
Age: 50
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Give the chap a break....
Sounds like the luggage belts were a problem. Still it caused slight disruption - as apposed to the chaos it causes in the larger airports.
I've never been around for the desk to open - only living ten minutes away i get there close to the hour before....
The fast track is new. I did not realise that it was actually in use. The lounge is also new - I've not bothered to date - again I don't spend enough time in the airport to make it of value.
If you were going to Berlin - must have been Flybe on a Embrear. Small planes - I've not seen them board by row number anywhere (and trust me they dd it worse in Schiphol last week).
As for security. They are a minor irritation. I fly at least once a month and only at Doncaster does what I need to get out of my bag change each time....
Sounds like the luggage belts were a problem. Still it caused slight disruption - as apposed to the chaos it causes in the larger airports.
I've never been around for the desk to open - only living ten minutes away i get there close to the hour before....
The fast track is new. I did not realise that it was actually in use. The lounge is also new - I've not bothered to date - again I don't spend enough time in the airport to make it of value.
If you were going to Berlin - must have been Flybe on a Embrear. Small planes - I've not seen them board by row number anywhere (and trust me they dd it worse in Schiphol last week).
As for security. They are a minor irritation. I fly at least once a month and only at Doncaster does what I need to get out of my bag change each time....
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LEEDS
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Struggling to understand this forum's obsession with public transport access for regional airports, specifically DSA & LBA - even for MAN public transport access (Staff and Passengers) runs at only 10% (CAA stats). Real passenger number growth at DSA will only come with more routes, reliable convenient frequency at competitive prices - sort that out and people will find their way to the airport - 90% by car
Doncaster's problem is that even on its doorstep there is not enough passengers. The catchment population is small. Two airports fighting over the same passengers - and hence losing important routes. Two Yorkshire airports to Dusseldorf becomes zero airports to Dusseldorf!
Join Date: Sep 2016
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An airport with very poor public surface access
There are of course the odd exception to the rule such as the former RAF Horsham St. Faith which is right on the edge of Norwich.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Doncaster
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When transforming former military airfields in to regional airports that is invariably what one is going to get, p1ss poor transport. Just by the nature of the beast military air bases are often stuck out in the middle of nowhere, after all city folk don't want noisy aeroplanes flying past so unless one is going to build a brand new designer airport from scratch one is invariably stuck with it.
There are of course the odd exception to the rule such as the former RAF Horsham St. Faith which is right on the edge of Norwich.
There are of course the odd exception to the rule such as the former RAF Horsham St. Faith which is right on the edge of Norwich.
Compare this with Leeds, which involves any journey from the rail station / city centre along very busy roads - especially at peak times. The motorway stops at the City Centre - or you have to come in via a complicated route cross country.
I make no secret that to me Doncaster is far more convenient - it would be as it's 5 minutes from where I live (I like the new road!). But there are occasions when I cannot use DSA. For those I fly into Manchester, primarily because of it's superior transport links when compared to Leeds/Bradford.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Doncaster
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Have to agree with you David. I always use public transport when I'm flying, and if there isn't a flight from Doncaster, I always use Manchester rather than EMA or LBA even though flights may be available from there.
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Galway ROI
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Doncaster as has been stated has more check in desks than that.
To suggest no other flights this year makes me doubt your story - no offense, your blissfully unaware that the airport is not simply just for Airlines but handles a very interesting mix of cargo and private aviation .
Granted it is not as busy as other airports but then I can imagine you complaining if you had to endure Dublin airport, long walks to your gate expensive airport cafes etc.
But all par for the course when using ANY form of public transport.
To suggest no other flights this year makes me doubt your story - no offense, your blissfully unaware that the airport is not simply just for Airlines but handles a very interesting mix of cargo and private aviation .
Granted it is not as busy as other airports but then I can imagine you complaining if you had to endure Dublin airport, long walks to your gate expensive airport cafes etc.
But all par for the course when using ANY form of public transport.
Join Date: Feb 2017
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I'm not sure what the implications of the government review on regional airports will mean for DSA, but the airport now does seem to be making slow but steady growth.
Patience will see new airlines and routes eventually, Leeds approach I respect your love for LBA I as a child often flew from there and into adulthood with work on Knightair on one occasion.
But you cannot compare it to Doncaster in terms of surface access. Leeds is a nightmare , LBA is at the edge of a suburb with an absurd short D2 tunnel. North of which are hundreds if square miles of not very much.
LBS is crying out for a rail link but then ask yourself this , imagine a family with kids trying to manage luggage and kids on public transport.
Not going to happen - instead they will be sat in endless traffic risking a missed flight .
Or easier is an Hour run to either Manchester or for some routes DSA.
Both motorway connected both MUCH closer to a rail network and the latter quiet enough to be pretty much stress free.
I'm not knocking Leeds bit also it does suffer inclement weather even in summer. The runway is uphill.
Have you forgotten the Airtours Tristar that nearly became a serious disaster.
That airport simply put is in the wrong place.
There is no point in even touching the subject of Leeds East given it's proximity to DSA .
Perhaps much of Yorkshire's air travel issues are having LBA,DSA And HUY all in similar distances between.
Just the further East the less services are offered. Perhaps lobbying your MP for a proper response to how things could be sorted once and for all.
But DSA like it or not has the space and connectivity to far outbuild LBA .
Patience will see new airlines and routes eventually, Leeds approach I respect your love for LBA I as a child often flew from there and into adulthood with work on Knightair on one occasion.
But you cannot compare it to Doncaster in terms of surface access. Leeds is a nightmare , LBA is at the edge of a suburb with an absurd short D2 tunnel. North of which are hundreds if square miles of not very much.
LBS is crying out for a rail link but then ask yourself this , imagine a family with kids trying to manage luggage and kids on public transport.
Not going to happen - instead they will be sat in endless traffic risking a missed flight .
Or easier is an Hour run to either Manchester or for some routes DSA.
Both motorway connected both MUCH closer to a rail network and the latter quiet enough to be pretty much stress free.
I'm not knocking Leeds bit also it does suffer inclement weather even in summer. The runway is uphill.
Have you forgotten the Airtours Tristar that nearly became a serious disaster.
That airport simply put is in the wrong place.
There is no point in even touching the subject of Leeds East given it's proximity to DSA .
Perhaps much of Yorkshire's air travel issues are having LBA,DSA And HUY all in similar distances between.
Just the further East the less services are offered. Perhaps lobbying your MP for a proper response to how things could be sorted once and for all.
But DSA like it or not has the space and connectivity to far outbuild LBA .
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: leeds
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hi jonnychips
i live in leeds and use both dsa and lba, if you like to use public transport then its the train from doncaster station to leeds then the airport bus from right out side the station main doors to lba this bus has proper case racks fitted to make things easier.
regards
sm1
i live in leeds and use both dsa and lba, if you like to use public transport then its the train from doncaster station to leeds then the airport bus from right out side the station main doors to lba this bus has proper case racks fitted to make things easier.
regards
sm1
Join Date: May 2007
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A very reliable barometer to show whether a particular airport has a large enough population catchment area [the watershed area between other nearby passenger carrying airports] to be a viable passenger carrying airport in its own right are the domestic terminal passenger numbers. Holiday flights and European flights are often subject to much more complicated and often long term funded deals even though the particular flights may be heavily loss making.
Bearing in mind that DSA is right in the centre of Britain, if the catchment area population was big enough, then these domestic flights should be pretty well patronised. Flights to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Inverness, Exeter, Southampton etc. Even allowing for Doncaster's good North South rail connection [which Manchester and Leeds also have] these flights would be well used. The March 2017 figures show that DSA has less domestic passengers than Both Teesside and Humberside (for example) and has dropped 14% since March 2016.
I also notice that a lot of the Eastern European routes have double digit percentage drops in passenger numbers since March 2016 [as we approach BRexit].
I also notice that after a blaze of glorious announcement in Winter '15 Flybe are down to 1 small Emb. jet.
Without true passenger demand airports will only work if they are funded. I expect the funds to keep flowing.
Yorkshire losing millions upon millions of its passengers to EMA, NCL, MAN, LPL etc- under gigantic competition attack from its neighbours, so
DSA [small catchment] + LBA [short runway on small hill top - cut off from M1/M62/Trans Pennine Express/East Coast Mainline/South Yorkshire] = Booming MAN
I have absolutely nothing against DSA just as I have absolutely nothing against LBA (where I am based) but this strategy of nonsensical Yorkshire infighting only helps every other airport that surrounds Yorkshire.
Bearing in mind that DSA is right in the centre of Britain, if the catchment area population was big enough, then these domestic flights should be pretty well patronised. Flights to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Inverness, Exeter, Southampton etc. Even allowing for Doncaster's good North South rail connection [which Manchester and Leeds also have] these flights would be well used. The March 2017 figures show that DSA has less domestic passengers than Both Teesside and Humberside (for example) and has dropped 14% since March 2016.
I also notice that a lot of the Eastern European routes have double digit percentage drops in passenger numbers since March 2016 [as we approach BRexit].
I also notice that after a blaze of glorious announcement in Winter '15 Flybe are down to 1 small Emb. jet.
Without true passenger demand airports will only work if they are funded. I expect the funds to keep flowing.
Yorkshire losing millions upon millions of its passengers to EMA, NCL, MAN, LPL etc- under gigantic competition attack from its neighbours, so
DSA [small catchment] + LBA [short runway on small hill top - cut off from M1/M62/Trans Pennine Express/East Coast Mainline/South Yorkshire] = Booming MAN
I have absolutely nothing against DSA just as I have absolutely nothing against LBA (where I am based) but this strategy of nonsensical Yorkshire infighting only helps every other airport that surrounds Yorkshire.
I think you will find domestic figures dropping in many places due rail improvements
Oil industry in Scotland well down etc domestic air travel unless there is a long journey is
well past it`s best
Oil industry in Scotland well down etc domestic air travel unless there is a long journey is
well past it`s best
Join Date: Jun 2013
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LeedsApproach DSA has no domestic routes to compare (NQY is a seasonal route for UK bucket and spaders)
MME & HUY do have domestic routes carrying business passengers between oil/Petrochemical facilities, without those industries those routes would not exist.
It's not about population it's about meeting the demands of those who fly.
MME & HUY do have domestic routes carrying business passengers between oil/Petrochemical facilities, without those industries those routes would not exist.
It's not about population it's about meeting the demands of those who fly.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
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A very reliable barometer to show whether a particular airport has a large enough population catchment area [the watershed area between other nearby passenger carrying airports] to be a viable passenger carrying airport in its own right are the domestic terminal passenger numbers. Holiday flights and European flights are often subject to much more complicated and often long term funded deals even though the particular flights may be heavily loss making.
Bearing in mind that DSA is right in the centre of Britain, if the catchment area population was big enough, then these domestic flights should be pretty well patronised. Flights to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Inverness, Exeter, Southampton etc. Even allowing for Doncaster's good North South rail connection [which Manchester and Leeds also have] these flights would be well used. The March 2017 figures show that DSA has less domestic passengers than Both Teesside and Humberside (for example) and has dropped 14% since March 2016.
I also notice that a lot of the Eastern European routes have double digit percentage drops in passenger numbers since March 2016 [as we approach BRexit].
I also notice that after a blaze of glorious announcement in Winter '15 Flybe are down to 1 small Emb. jet.
Without true passenger demand airports will only work if they are funded. I expect the funds to keep flowing.
Yorkshire losing millions upon millions of its passengers to EMA, NCL, MAN, LPL etc- under gigantic competition attack from its neighbours, so
DSA [small catchment] + LBA [short runway on small hill top - cut off from M1/M62/Trans Pennine Express/East Coast Mainline/South Yorkshire] = Booming MAN
I have absolutely nothing against DSA just as I have absolutely nothing against LBA (where I am based) but this strategy of nonsensical Yorkshire infighting only helps every other airport that surrounds Yorkshire.
Bearing in mind that DSA is right in the centre of Britain, if the catchment area population was big enough, then these domestic flights should be pretty well patronised. Flights to Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Inverness, Exeter, Southampton etc. Even allowing for Doncaster's good North South rail connection [which Manchester and Leeds also have] these flights would be well used. The March 2017 figures show that DSA has less domestic passengers than Both Teesside and Humberside (for example) and has dropped 14% since March 2016.
I also notice that a lot of the Eastern European routes have double digit percentage drops in passenger numbers since March 2016 [as we approach BRexit].
I also notice that after a blaze of glorious announcement in Winter '15 Flybe are down to 1 small Emb. jet.
Without true passenger demand airports will only work if they are funded. I expect the funds to keep flowing.
Yorkshire losing millions upon millions of its passengers to EMA, NCL, MAN, LPL etc- under gigantic competition attack from its neighbours, so
DSA [small catchment] + LBA [short runway on small hill top - cut off from M1/M62/Trans Pennine Express/East Coast Mainline/South Yorkshire] = Booming MAN
I have absolutely nothing against DSA just as I have absolutely nothing against LBA (where I am based) but this strategy of nonsensical Yorkshire infighting only helps every other airport that surrounds Yorkshire.
FlyBe are cutting back their DSA operation, and realistically are they going to continue when they are shedding aircraft and refocusing on their core services?
Wizz - as said their passenger numbers are declining, and as Brexit sets in, the demand for services will be severely reduced. They'll probably still have a presence, but nothing on the scale of what they do now.
Which leaves Thomson, who keep plugging away.
The future at DSA, in my opinion, isn't in passenger routes.
The good burgers of Lincolnshire voted in their droves against the EU, largely because they don't like the level of immigration, and DSA seems likely to be a victim of that decision, and the decision made by the (small) majority of the rest of the UK population that bothered to vote.
I'm not sure who we can expect to pick our sprouts and cabbages post 2019, but if the level of foreigners doesn't decline the voters won't be happy. Wizz modus operandii for DSA is the migrant workforce, and if that does decline, the level of Wizz activity through DSA will surely decline with it, and Wizz is a very important customer for the airport.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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I don't buy the suggestion that the popularity of domestic flying gives any wider indications as to the viability of an airfield at all. For most UK airports they make up only a very small part of the pie, and especially so for those (like DSA) whose bread and butter of passenger ops (itself one part of the business) is Thomson sun routes and ad hoc charters. Besides, given the planned reduction in flying later this year, from a commercial point of view it would seem that the Flybe operation isn't particularly self-sufficient without DSA subsidy.
The impact of Brexit on Wizz will be most interesting to observe. We know that EU nationals living here already will have the right to continue to do so, and there's no obvious reason why Brexit will have any substantial effect on their marginal propensity to fly. So I wonder whether we will merely see a plateau in the growth of Wizz's UK ops, rather than a more notable diminution.
The impact of Brexit on Wizz will be most interesting to observe. We know that EU nationals living here already will have the right to continue to do so, and there's no obvious reason why Brexit will have any substantial effect on their marginal propensity to fly. So I wonder whether we will merely see a plateau in the growth of Wizz's UK ops, rather than a more notable diminution.