Doncaster Sheffield Airport

Doncaster Sheffield Airport
IATA: DSA – ICAO: EGCN
Summary
Airport type Public
Owner Peel Group
Operator Doncaster Sheffield Airport Limited
Serves Doncaster, Sheffield
Location Finningley, South Yorkshire
Opened April 2005
Elevation AMSL 56 ft / 17 m
Coordinates 53°28′31″N 001°00′15″W / 53.47528°N 1.00417°W / 53.47528; -1.00417Coordinates: 53°28′31″N 001°00′15″W / 53.47528°N 1.00417°W / 53.47528; -1.00417
Website flydsa.co.uk
Map
DSA

Location in South Yorkshire

Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
02/20 2,893 9,491 Asphalt
Statistics (2015)
Passengers 857,109
Passenger change (14-15) Increase18.2%
Aircraft Movements 11,998
Movements change (14-15) Increase2.6%
Sources: UK AIP at NATS[1]
Statistics from the UK Civil Aviation Authority[2]

Doncaster Sheffield Airport (IATA: DSA, ICAO: EGCN), formerly named Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield, is an international airport located at the former RAF Finningley station at Finningley, in the Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster within South Yorkshire, England. The airport lies 3 miles (5 kilometres) southeast of Doncaster[1] and 18 mi (29 km) east of Sheffield. Handling 857,109 passengers in 2015, the airport is the smaller of Yorkshire's two large commercial airports, the other being Leeds Bradford Airport.[2]

The airport was initially operated by Peel Airports, a division of The Peel Group. At this time, Peel Airports also owned and managed Liverpool John Lennon Airport and City Airport Manchester. Peel Airports also owned a 75% stake in Durham Tees Valley Airport, the remaining 25% being owned by local councils in the DTVA area.[3] Doncaster Sheffield Airport has a CAA Public Use Aerodrome Licence (Number P876) that allows flights for the public transport of passengers or for flying instruction.

History

Main article: RAF Finningley

The airport owes its origins to military aviation, having been founded as Finningley Airfield in 1915.

During the First World War, it was used as a base by the Royal Flying Corps as they intercepted German Zeppelins targeting the industrial cities of the North. In the Second World War the airfield was used primarily for training purposes, serving as a finishing school for new crews of the larger aircraft in Bomber Command; only a few combat missions took off from Finningley. The Cold War saw the airfield's importance rise when it was used for nuclear-armed Vulcan bombers. Training once again became the priority in the 1970s and 1980s before the airport was decommissioned in 1995.

Following the ending of scheduled services from Sheffield City Airport, Finningley was reopened as Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield (DSA) in April 2005 after low-cost flights and rising passenger demand made a new commercial airport feasible.[4] The name of the airport was controversial with 11,000 people signing a petition to oppose it.[5]

The airport's first commercial flight flew to Palma de Mallorca in Majorca, departing at 0915 on 28 April 2005.[6][7] The airport was projected to serve at least a million passengers during 2006. The actual figure for its first year was 899,000, making the airport the 23rd largest in the UK. By August 2007 the new airport had handled 2.28 million passengers.

Long haul flights to North America began in summer 2007, with Flyglobespan operating to Hamilton, Ontario (for Toronto), and Thomsonfly to Orlando, Cancún and Puerto Plata. All these routes have since been discontinued. In 2007 over one million passengers used the airport, however this had decreased to around 700,000 by 2012.[2]

In December 2009, EasyJet announced that from April 2010 it would operate flights from Doncaster to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Faro, Palma de Mallorca and Prague. These flights were expected to carry 300,000 passengers in the first year of operation.[8] However, EasyJet withdrew all flights from the airport with effect from 4 January 2011.

By 2010 the Peel Group was attempting to secure outside investment for Peel Airports. In June 2010 it was announced that Vantage Airport Group (formerly Vancouver Airport Services) had agreed to buy a 65% stake in Peel Airports, with The Peel Group retaining the remaining 35%.[9] However, following a significant decline in passenger numbers,[10] Peel Airports sold Durham Tees Valley Airport back to the Peel Group in February 2012.[3] In the second half of 2012, monthly passenger numbers at Robin Hood fell significantly[11] and in December 2012 it was announced that Robin Hood would also be sold back to the Peel Group.[12] As a result, by January 2013 only Liverpool John Lennon Airport was still owned by Peel Airports, with Vantage Airport Group owning 65% of this company.[13] At Durham Tees Valley Airport and Robin Hood Airport, Vantage's involvement had ended. Robin Hood Airport was once again wholly owned by The Peel Group,[14] while at Durham Tees Valley Airport The Peel Group were majority shareholders, with local councils retaining a minority stake. In 2014, Peel took back full ownership of Liverpool John Lennon, bringing all of Peel's Airports back into group ownership, with Liverpool retaining its own management structure separate to Doncaster and Durham.

In December 2016, the airport received an entirely new corporate design including a namechange from Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield to Doncaster Sheffield Airport with the Robin Hood-title being downgraded to a fewer used graphic appendix.

Facilities

The airport has a single runway designated 02/20, with a length of 2,895 by 60 m (9,498 by 197 ft), making it longer and wider than those at many other airports in Northern England. This stems from the airport's history as a former long-range nuclear bomber base (see RAF Finningley), and makes the airport suitable for wide-bodied, long-haul or cargo-carrying aircraft. The runway is long enough that the airport was designated a Space Shuttle emergency landing site. There is significant room at the airport for further passenger and cargo capacity expansion in the future. As it stands, terminal capacity is around 2.5 million passengers annually.

The passenger terminal has 24 check in desks, 6 departure gates and 3 baggage carousels. World Duty Free, WH Smith and Wetherspoons have retail areas within the terminal as well as gaming facilities. In December 2015, a new Subway store opened inside the airport terminal.

As of June 2016, the airport is one of the few in the UK that is unable to accept mobile boarding passes for its flights, instead requiring customers to print a paper boarding pass before arriving at the airport.

Few landside facilities exist. "The Running Horse" is a pub/cafe serving passengers who have cleared security

A Ramada Encore chain hotel opened on 10 November 2008, with a 102-bed capacity.[15] It is situated about ten minutes' walk from the Terminal building, and although the city-centre bus leaves from in front of the Terminal building and travels directly past the hotel, there is no way of boarding or alighting the bus there.

Work is also progressing on a new business park across from the terminal, which will link to the access road into the airport. In March 2014 the 10-hectare (25-acre) site for the park became part of Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone.[16]

Defence company BAE Systems formerly operated its Aircraft Maintenance Academy from No. 3 Hangar at the airport, before moving to Humberside airport. Other companies that operate within the hangars include Bespoke Training Systems Limited, Kinch Aviation Services – a facility for the maintenance of the Cessna Citation, which also includes an aircraft spray facility,[17] and Anglo European Express (Doncaster) Ltd – onsite regulated agents for air freight and cargo operations.

The airport is home to Doncaster Sheffield Flight Training.[18]

Airlines and destinations

Passenger

AirlinesDestinations
Air Europa Seasonal charter: Palma de Mallorca, Tenerife–South[19]
BH Air Seasonal charter: Burgas[20]
Flybe Alicante, Amsterdam, Berlin-Tegel, Dublin, Düsseldorf, Jersey, Málaga, Paris-Charles de Gaulle[21]
Seasonal: Chambéry (begins 17 December 2016),[22] Faro, Newquay
Pegasus Airlines Seasonal charter: Dalaman[23]
SmartWings
operated by Travel Service 		Seasonal charter: Tenerife–South[24]
Thomson Airways Alicante, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Málaga, Sharm el-Sheikh,[25] Tenerife–South
Seasonal: Burgas, Corfu, Dalaman, Dubrovnik (begins 4 May 2017),[26] Faro, Heraklion, Ibiza, Larnaca, Menorca, Palma de Mallorca, Paphos, Reus, Rhodes, Turin, Zakynthos
Wizz Air Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, Gdańsk, Katowice, Košice, Lublin, Poznań, Riga, Sofia (begins 23 December 2016),[27] Vilnius, Warsaw–Chopin, Wrocław

Cargo

AirlinesDestinations
Amazon.com
operated by ASL Airlines France 		Kassel, Wrocław[28]
DHL Aviation
operated by DHL Air UK		Cincinnati

Vulcan XH558

In 2011, the Vulcan to the Sky Trust relocated Avro Vulcan XH558 (G-VLCN) The Spirit Of Great Britain to the airport, arriving from its former temporary winter base, RAF Lyneham, on 29 March. It was the last airworthy example of the Vulcan bomber fleet, restored to flight by the Trust in 2007. One of the reasons for the move to a commercial airport was to improve access for the public to see XH558 up close, something not possible while based at operational RAF bases. The move was deliberately not announced in advance, both to keep costs down at the not yet complete new base, and to not overshadow ongoing repatriation flights of Britain's war casualties to Lyneham from Afghanistan.[29] The airport remained XH558's home base until its final flight, a display over the airport, on 28 October 2015.[30]

With XH558 now permanently grounded, the Trust intends to remain at Robin Hood airport, and make the Vulcan the focus of a new educational and heritage facility, the first stage being to establish the Vulcan Aviation Academy & Heritage Centre. This will feature an academy building for 14-18 year olds, with the Vulcan housed in an adjacent heritage centre, where it will be maintained so as to be able to perform regular fast taxi runs, the frequency of which would be funding dependent.[31][32]

Statistics

Traffic statistics

Traffic statistics at Doncaster[2]
Year
Passengers
handled
Passenger
% change
Cargo
(tonnes)
Cargo
% change
Aircraft
movements
Aircraft
% change
2005600,907Steady31Steady6,914Steady
2006900,067Increase49.8167Increase438.710,642Increase 53.9
20071,078,374Increase19.81,602Increase859.312,667Increase 19
2008968,481Decrease10.21,350Decrease15.713,066Increase 3.1
2009835,768Decrease13.7344Decrease74.510,854Decrease 16.9
2010876,153Increase4.8216Decrease37.211,030Increase 1.6
2011822,877Decrease6.1102Decrease52.811,876Increase 7.7
2012693,661Decrease15.7276Increase170.611,724Decrease 1.3
2013690,351Decrease0.5354Increase28.311,197Decrease 4.5
2014724,885Increase5858Increase142.411,697Increase 4.5
2015857,109Increase18.23,201Increase273.111,998Increase 2.6

Busiest routes

10 busiest routes to and from Doncaster Sheffield Airport (2015)
Rank Airport Passengers handled % change
2014/15
1 Katowice77,627 Increase 38.9
2 Gdańsk76,029 Increase 17.9
3 Palma de Mallorca56,609 Decrease 8.9
4 Poznań54,101 Increase 24.0
5 Wrocław48,618 Increase 11.8
6 Warsaw44,286 Increase 20.2
7 Tenerife–South42,770 Decrease 10.1
8 Vilnius40,597 Increase 30.5
9 Málaga38,495 Increase 18.7
10 Alicante38,311 Increase 0.5
Source: UK Civil Aviation Authority [33]

Financial performance

The airport has struggled financially throughout its history. In August 2008, a BBC report revealed that losses were averaging £1 million per month.[34] In August 2012, a news report claimed that operating losses had reduced, but were still in excess of £3 million per year.[35]

Ground transportation

Road

The airport is located close to the M18 motorway, a direct road link from Junction 3 of the M18 to Parrot's Corner (junction of the A638 and the B6463) was opened on 29 February 2016 [BBC Look North]. Originally part of the Finningley and Rossington Regeneration Route Scheme (FARRRS) the road is now called the Great Yorkshire Way, and is a continuation of the A6182 from Doncaster town centre. In addition the M18 has been widened to three lanes (from two) from junction 2 (A1(M)) to Junction 3. Also nearby are the A1(M) Motorway and the M180.

Rail

Doncaster station is 7 mi (11 km) from the airport. Doncaster is 1 hour 30 minutes from London Kings Cross or 30 minutes from Leeds City on the east coast main line. The journey to Sheffield station is around 20 to 25 minutes. One local bus service links Doncaster station with the airport.

In addition, the airport lies alongside the Doncaster to Lincoln railway line, and plans for a station at Finningley to replace the station that closed in 1961 were granted planning permission in 2008. However, a 2012 report by Network Rail stated that more trains on the line would be required to make the station viable.[36]

Bus

There are regular bus services linking the airport with Doncaster, Barnsley and other surrounding areas.

A new express bus service between Doncaster and Doncaster Sheffield Airport was re-launched on 4 September 2016. The X4 bus, which is operated by First will pick up travellers from the Frenchgate Interchange in Doncaster, and Parrot’s Corner (Doncaster South Park & Ride) and drop off at Doncaster Sheffield Airport leaving every 30 minutes between Monday to Saturday and hourly on Sundays. Tickets cost £3 for a single, £5 for an open return and £6 for a group ticket for up to any 4 people.

Currently, no direct bus connects the airport with Sheffield city centre. Public transport users must take the bus to Doncaster then switch to a Sheffield-bound bus or train.

Accidents and incidents

Main article: Twitter Joke Trial

The airport in the media

During its first few years of operation, the aAirport has featured in the media, in particular numerous articles on its status as the UK's newest international airport have seen it become part of the debate into air tourism and environmental issues. On 24 January 2007, the airport featured in the BBC Two documentary Should I Really Give Up Flying?, with Doncaster actor Brian Blessed fronting local opinions on the issue.

Airport name

A statue of the airport's namesake Robin Hood.

Until December 2016, the airport was branded Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield. It was renamed 'Robin Hood' based on the following local information:

  1. The airport has a historical connection to Nottinghamshire (as the parish of Finningley was, until 1974 and the Local Government Act 1972, administered as part of Nottinghamshire) and still resides in the boundary of the Diocese of Nottingham.[41]
  2. Some later Robin Hood legends – and the popular 20th century books, films and TV programmes are set in Sherwood Forest.[42]
  3. The Metropolitan Borough of Doncaster is closer to what is left of Sherwood Forest than the city of Nottingham is.[43]
  4. The forests of Sherwood and Barnsdale merged in this area of Yorkshire.[44]
  5. The name would provide an identity which would raise a lot of attention (if a little controversy) for the airport and create a marketing opportunity.[45]

References

  1. 1 2 "Doncaster Sheffield – EGCN". Nats-uk.ead-it.com. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "UK Annual Airport Statistics". CAA. 31 December 2014. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
  3. 1 2 "Background Information". Durhamteesvalleyairport.com. 10 February 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  4. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-30.
  5. ↑ "Airport's new name misses target". BBC News. 12 November 2004. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  6. ↑ "'Take-off at new Yorkshire Airport'". BBC News. 28 April 2005. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  7. ↑ '"Bevy of Maid Marians laid on to cheer lift-off of DSA1 at Doncaster's Robin Hood airport"' The Guardian (29 April 2005)
  8. ↑ "Major boost for airport as UK's biggest airline set to move in". Yorkshirepost.co.uk. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  9. ↑ "Robin Hood Airport". Robin Hood Airport. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  10. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 September 2012. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  11. ↑ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2013-02-01.
  12. ↑ "Robin Hood Airport". Robin Hood Airport. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  13. ↑ "Our Airports | Vantage". Vantageairportgroup.com. 7 April 2009. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  14. ↑ "Aviation - The Peel Group". Peel.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  15. ↑ "Ramada Encore Hotel Lands At Airport Business Park". Robinhoodairport.com. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  16. ↑ Newton-Syms, Ellie (11 March 2014). "Sheffield City Region Enterprise Zone announces expansion plans". The Business Desk. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  17. ↑
  18. ↑ "Doncaster Sheffield Flight Training". Retrieved 20 June 2016.
  19. ↑ Account & booking (31 October 2015). "Flights Timetable | Thomson Airways". Flights.thomson.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  20. ↑ "Destinations | Doncaster Sheffield Airport". Robinhoodairport.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  21. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 19 November 2015. Retrieved 2015-11-10.
  22. ↑ "flyBe Adds New Doncaster/Sheffield Routes in W16 :: Routesonline". Airlineroute.net. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  23. ↑ "Pegasus Airlines flight PC6441". Flightradar24.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  24. ↑ "Arrivals & Departures | Doncaster Sheffield Airport". Robinhoodairport.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  25. ↑
  26. ↑ "Flight timetable". Thomson Airways Ltd. Retrieved 24 August 2015.
  27. ↑ Српски. "TimeTable". Wizzair.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  28. ↑ "Amazon runs trial air operation in Europe - report - Lloyd's Loading List". Lloydsloadinglist.com. 31 December 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  29. ↑ "Welcome Home - Vulcan XH558 returns to Doncaster". Global Aviation Resource, 5 April 2011.
  30. ↑ "Final Flight report". Vulcan To The Sky. 30 October 2015. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  31. ↑ "An exciting new life for XH558". Vulcan To The Sky, 25 November 2015.
  32. ↑ "EoF Question & Answers - Vulcan To The Sky". www.vulcantothesky.org. Retrieved 14 October 2015.
  33. ↑ "Airport data 2015 | UK Civil Aviation Authority". Caa.co.uk. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  34. ↑ "UK | England | South Yorkshire | Airport aims to land big carriers". BBC News. 25 August 2008. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  35. ↑ Start, Author (21 August 2012). "Mixed picture for Robin Hood Airport". TheBusinessDesk.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  36. ↑ Network Rail, Route Specifications 2012 – London North Eastern, p76
  37. ↑ "Robin Hood Airport Press Office". Robinhoodairport.com. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  38. ↑ "Robin Hood Airport". Robin Hood Airport. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  39. ↑ "Four Lions (2010) : Filming Locations". IMDb.com. Retrieved 31 July 2016.
  40. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-02-12.
  41. ↑ Table of parishes and other places in Nottinghamshire, up to 1842 Archived 3 July 2006 at the Wayback Machine.
  42. ↑ Robin Hood in popular culture
  43. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2006-12-31.
  44. ↑ "Reference to Barnsdale Forest with Map also showing Merger of Forests in this area". Robinhoodyorkshire.co.uk. Retrieved 24 November 2013.
  45. ↑ Haran, Brady (4 May 2004). "Evidence of Controversy caused by Airport Name and Marketing opportunity". BBC News. Retrieved 24 November 2013.

External links

Media related to Robin Hood Airport Doncaster Sheffield at Wikimedia Commons

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