Doncaster Sheffield Airport to reopen?

[mpthomson]

They have a named operator now. FlyDoncaster is the operator, 100% owned by the City of Doncaster Council. They have agreed a ‘strategic partnership’ with both Munich Airports International and FP Airports Ltd erstwhile known as FlyPlymouth.

What they’ve done is effectively mislead the public over a period of nearly 3 years into believing there was serious investor interest in returning the airport to operation, culminating only in the last few weeks in a hidden admission that they haven’t indeed managed to secure any outside investment. Therefore they propose to invest 100% public money into the project and when probed on their decisions, conveniently play the ‘commercial sensitivity’ card.

They hid the SAU submission by alerting the media of a light aircraft movement on 6th December. On the day that the media picked up on the SAU findings and the York Aviation report they announced that MAI would be involved. They have now announced that they’ve secured an additional £20million of public funding because SYMCA mayor Coppard has presumably seen the damning evidence and wants to get his ducks in a row (the legal teams on it to ensure they don’t get challenged!).

So that’s where we are. The groups petitioning to reopen the airport are doing so by now not allowing anyone to challenge the popular narrative, one run by a mechanic saw that mechanic type out an almost incoherent rant besmirching pretty much anyone from Louise Congden of York Aviation right through to Michael O’Leary of Ryanair, the CEO Leeds Bradford Airport and of course the Yorkshire Post and the BBC for doing some actual journalism and asking questions. I understand he even got himself blocked by the editor of the Yorkshire Post for being a pest.

It’s got to the point where people can’t be bothered to actually challenge the popular belief. It’s a dangerous precedent because as things stand they’re walking into a massive financial mess of their own ignorant making - it’s apparently the ‘people’s airport’ after all.. Nicolae Ceaușeacu would be proud.

Aware of that but it’s a relatively recent thing.

 

[pug1]

Aware of that but it’s a relatively recent thing.

Sorry, see what you mean. I think it’s been established for a number of months now, long enough to have those discussions. No idea who the CDC have managed to get to lead these discussions though.

 

[Tetchytyke]

As with Teesside Airport, the whole thing only makes sense if someone closely associated with the council leadership is benefiting financially. At Teesside Airport we know who is benefiting financially, it’ll be interesting to see what is discovered about Doncaster. Teesside had similarly aggressive people defending it too.

As I’ve said before, the only sensible use of the site is to flatten it and build 10,000 new homes on it.

 

[pug1]

Doncaster Sheffield Airport: Auditors reveal "major concern" about £105m reopening plans

A council’s auditors have expressed “a major concern” about its plan to spend over £100m on reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport, it has been revealed.

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

Oh dear.

 

[weeklycommuter]

They are now talking about not only reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport but also a railway station and link connecting with both the Lincoln Line and the East Coast Mainline. I just find this incredible.

Doncaster Sheffield Airport: The council's masterplan and proposals for a rail link

City of Doncaster Council mayor Ros Jones has announced its masterplan for Doncaster Sheffield Airport and proposals for a rail link.

www.doncasterfreepress.co.uk

Doncaster Sheffield Airport: The council's masterplan and proposals for a rail link

City of Doncaster Council mayor Ros Jones has announced its masterplan for Doncaster Sheffield Airport and proposals for a rail link.
Taking to social media, Ros said that work is continuing at pace to get the airport ready to reopen in Spring 2026.
“Our plan is for more than just an airport, but an economic hub for aviation industry, delivering jobs, opportunity and prosperity for Doncaster,” she said.
“We are working on an updated masterplan for what the airport alongside Gateway East could look like once fully developed, this also includes land allocated for rail link and station to connect with both the Lincoln Line and East Coast Mainline (ECML), which would dramatically increase access for the region and beyond to our airport.

 

[BrianW]

They are now talking about not only reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport but also a railway station and link connecting with both the Lincoln Line and the East Coast Mainline. I just find this incredible.

They have (amazingly?) got the ear of government and taxpayers money to address the Red Wall. Note the referneces to station and 'rail link' only refer to 'allocating land' in an 'updated masterplan'. Promises, what promises?

 

[ainsworth74]

The whole thing is absolutely barmy. Absolutely barmy. Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle have the short-haul market locked up between them to varying degrees and the bigger London hub airports are not difficult to get to either by train, coach or car (not that a re-opened Doncaster airport would have long haul flights). There is a reason the airport died in the first place and nothing has changed that would suddenly make it a roaring success. And now they're banging on about the ridiculous idea for a link of the East Coast Mainline again! Crackers. The only way this airport will be able to measure it's "success" is in taxpayer money sucked up to keep it propped open (see Teesside Airport which continues to be a money pit for taxpayer to help the vanity and re-election prospects of the local Combined Authority Mayor).

Far better use of taxpayer resources would be in demolishing the whole place, remediating it and then sponsoring a local housing association to build a load of social housing on it alongside trying to encourage some retail and leisure facilities (shops, pubs, that sort of thing) to set up shop alongside and with a railway station built on the railway just off the north end of the former runway.

That will have far more positives for the area and the local residents than chucking ludicrous amount of taxpayer money chasing a dream which will never come to fruition and will eventually end up crashing down around everyone's ears.

 

[westv]

I wouldn't say the London hub airports were particularly easy to get to if you factor in the several or more hours to get there from the north.

 

[BrianW]

I wouldn't say the London hub airports were particularly easy to get to if you factor in the several or more hours to get there from the north.

Did someone say that? I think the suggestion was that airports in places like Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds/Bradford and Newcastle, as well as Birmingham and East Mids catered well enough without whatever might be offered at Doncaster. Could be wrong

 

[ainsworth74]

Did someone say that? I think the suggestion was that airports in places like Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds/Bradford and Newcastle, as well as Birmingham and East Mids catered well enough without whatever might be offered at Doncaster. Could be wrong

Yes I could have phrased it better but my point was that the existing range of airports cater for the demand already very well and if for whatever reason they don't then going to London isn't that difficult in the grand scheme. And certainly in the event that whatever flight you are doing requires a trip to London a reopened Doncaster airport isn't going to magically remove that necessity either!

 

[YorkRailFan]

And certainly in the event that whatever flight you are doing requires a trip to London a reopened Doncaster airport isn't going to magically remove that necessity either!

Even if the flight you want goes from Doncaster, it won't necessarily be the cheapest option. Price will be a big factor for many, especially as DSA was primarily a Low Cost Airport when it was still open, and if there are cheaper options from other airports that are reasonably nearby (Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle), passengers will simply take their money elsewhere.

 

[westv]

Did someone say that?

Yes, the post just above mine.

Yes I could have phrased it better but my point was that the existing range of airports cater for the demand already very well and if for whatever reason they don't then going to London isn't that difficult in the grand scheme. And certainly in the event that whatever flight you are doing requires a trip to London a reopened Doncaster airport isn't going to magically remove that necessity either!

I was just disputing your use of the term "not difficult". In my view, a round trip of 6 to 8 hours can't be classed as easy. The London airports are reachable but with a little effort.

 

[mpthomson]

They are now talking about not only reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport but also a railway station and link connecting with both the Lincoln Line and the East Coast Mainline. I just find this incredible.

This is all part of the mayoral election campaigning which is ongoing, the airport features in all the campaigns, either positively or negatively.

Even if the flight you want goes from Doncaster, it won't necessarily be the cheapest option. Price will be a big factor for many, especially as DSA was primarily a Low Cost Airport when it was still open, and if there are cheaper options from other airports that are reasonably nearby (Manchester, Leeds, Newcastle), passengers will simply take their money elsewhere.

And it wasn't that low cost either, TUI holidays from there were always more expensive than from MAN or NCL/LBA.

The whole thing is absolutely barmy. Absolutely barmy. Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle have the short-haul market locked up between them to varying degrees and the bigger London hub airports are not difficult to get to either by train, coach or car (not that a re-opened Doncaster airport would have long haul flights). There is a reason the airport died in the first place and nothing has changed that would suddenly make it a roaring success. And now they're banging on about the ridiculous idea for a link of the East Coast Mainline again! Crackers. The only way this airport will be able to measure it's "success" is in taxpayer money sucked up to keep it propped open (see Teesside Airport which continues to be a money pit for taxpayer to help the vanity and re-election prospects of the local Combined Authority Mayor).

Far better use of taxpayer resources would be in demolishing the whole place, remediating it and then sponsoring a local housing association to build a load of social housing on it alongside trying to encourage some retail and leisure facilities (shops, pubs, that sort of thing) to set up shop alongside and with a railway station built on the railway just off the north end of the former runway.

That will have far more positives for the area and the local residents than chucking ludicrous amount of taxpayer money chasing a dream which will never come to fruition and will eventually end up crashing down around everyone's ears.

Unfortunately it's what happens when you have elected mayors. You get populist policies that appeal to parts of the electorate that make absolutely no sense when they hit economic reality. Teesside is another example of this as you've pointed out, as is the rediscovered interest in the York - Beverley line for the East Yorkshire mayoral election.

 

[BoroAndy]

Re

And it wasn't that low cost either, TUI holidays from there were always more expensive than from MAN or NCL/LBA.

TUI pricing. We found DSA was the cheapest, that's why we used it.

 

[westv]

Re

TUI pricing. We found DSA was the cheapest, that's why we used it.

We find that neither TUI or Jet2 are "budget" or "low coast" unless perhaps you want to travel in the middle of the night.

 

[ainsworth74]

Unfortunately it's what happens when you have elected mayors. You get populist policies that appeal to parts of the electorate that make absolutely no sense when they hit economic reality. Teesside is another example of this as you've pointed out, as is the rediscovered interest in the York - Beverley line for the East Yorkshire mayoral election.

Yes it's a microcosm of wider issues with trust and truth in politics isn't it? Houchen sells a good story about the airport, people like the idea of a local airport (just as they like the idea of a local bank branch, which they also never use), therefore promising to reinvigorate the airport (as Teesside never actually closed) and make it profitable once again sounds like a dream.

Of course the reality is that it's just steadily burning through taxpayer cash. The parent company of the airport lost £13.4m in 2024 up from £10.8m in 2023 whilst the total amount of loans given to the airport by Tees Valley Combined Authority are somewhere north of £80m in total and apparently its expected to be drawning on further monies in future years.

Now it's not all gloom there is some private sector involvement and actually the airport might actually self-sustaining on its core non-passenger operations with small amount of passenger traffic via it's link to Amsterdam and some links to sunshine destinations at the right time of year. But that, of course, doesn't make for a good leaflet at election time unlike being able to whang on about how we have such a well connected airport to so many destinations (whilst burning through oodles of taxpayer cash).

Meanwhile, poor old Doncaster is in the even worse position of not even being currently operational. So if Teesside can burn through the thick end of at least £100m since 2019, when it was taken back into public hands, whilst being an operational airport with both passenger and non-passenger users whilst still being years away from profitability (not that it ever will turn a profit I wager), I wonder how much Doncaster will manage to burn through just getting operational again before it even welcomes a fare paying passenger?

As I said, the whole scheme is barmy. Knock down the airport and invest a fraction of what would be wasted on trying to run it as an airport on something useful like turning it into social housing.

 

[mpthomson]

Yes it's a microcosm of wider issues with trust and truth in politics isn't it? Houchen sells a good story about the airport, people like the idea of a local airport (just as they like the idea of a local bank branch, which they also never use), therefore promising to reinvigorate the airport (as Teesside never actually closed) and make it profitable once again sounds like a dream.

Of course the reality is that it's just steadily burning through taxpayer cash. The parent company of the airport lost £13.4m in 2024 up from £10.8m in 2023 whilst the total amount of loans given to the airport by Tees Valley Combined Authority are somewhere north of £80m in total and apparently its expected to be drawning on further monies in future years.

Now it's not all gloom there is some private sector involvement and actually the airport might actually self-sustaining on its core non-passenger operations with small amount of passenger traffic via it's link to Amsterdam and some links to sunshine destinations at the right time of year. But that, of course, doesn't make for a good leaflet at election time unlike being able to whang on about how we have such a well connected airport to so many destinations (whilst burning through oodles of taxpayer cash).

Meanwhile, poor old Doncaster is in the even worse position of not even being currently operational. So if Teesside can burn through the thick end of at least £100m since 2019, when it was taken back into public hands, whilst being an operational airport with both passenger and non-passenger users whilst still being years away from profitability (not that it ever will turn a profit I wager), I wonder how much Doncaster will manage to burn through just getting operational again before it even welcomes a fare paying passenger?

As I said, the whole scheme is barmy. Knock down the airport and invest a fraction of what would be wasted on trying to run it as an airport on something useful like turning it into social housing.

Doncaster costs to get the infra back up to commercial and regulatory operational standards are significantly north of £100mn as it stands now.

 

[ainsworth74]

Doncaster costs to get the infra back up to commercial and regulatory operational standards are significantly north of £100mn as it stands now.

Which leads me back to my original post on this subject the other day

The whole thing is absolutely barmy. Absolutely barmy. Leeds, Manchester and Newcastle have the short-haul market locked up between them to varying degrees and the bigger London hub airports are not difficult to get to either by train, coach or car (not that a re-opened Doncaster airport would have long haul flights). There is a reason the airport died in the first place and nothing has changed that would suddenly make it a roaring success. And now they're banging on about the ridiculous idea for a link of the East Coast Mainline again! Crackers. The only way this airport will be able to measure it's "success" is in taxpayer money sucked up to keep it propped open (see Teesside Airport which continues to be a money pit for taxpayer to help the vanity and re-election prospects of the local Combined Authority Mayor).

Far better use of taxpayer resources would be in demolishing the whole place, remediating it and then sponsoring a local housing association to build a load of social housing on it alongside trying to encourage some retail and leisure facilities (shops, pubs, that sort of thing) to set up shop alongside and with a railway station built on the railway just off the north end of the former runway.

That will have far more positives for the area and the local residents than chucking ludicrous amount of taxpayer money chasing a dream which will never come to fruition and will eventually end up crashing down around everyone's ears.

 

[Killingworth]

They are now talking about not only reopening Doncaster Sheffield Airport but also a railway station and link connecting with both the Lincoln Line and the East Coast Mainline. I just find this incredible.

The aspiration is credible. Achievement of practical operational railway links for such an airport with few guaranteed flights overlooks a lot of practical difficulties before a financial case is even attempted.

Look at maps. Consider impact on existing rail services. Lots of very wishful thinking needed to justify the massive amounts of construction and attendant costs involved.

Gatwick receives very frequent direct bus and train connections from a wide area. 44% of travellers use public transport. They are struggling to get that figure higher to back their second runway proposal.

Thanks to RAF needs attempts at commercialisation are 70 years too late. Diverting railway lines enough to make it more attractive just throws more cash into a bottomless financial pit.

 

[pug1]

The aspiration is credible. Achievement of practical operational railway links for such an airport with few guaranteed flights overlooks a lot of practical difficulties before a financial case is even attempted.

Look at maps. Consider impact on existing rail services. Lots of very wishful thinking needed to justify the massive amounts of construction and attendant costs involved.

Gatwick receives very frequent direct bus and train connections from a wide area. 44% of travellers use public transport. They are struggling to get that figure higher to back their second runway proposal.

Thanks to RAF needs attempts at commercialisation are 70 years too late. Diverting railway lines enough to make it more attractive just throw more cash into a bottomless financial pit.

The DfT reviewed the proposal for an ECML ‘loop’ down the Doncaster-Lincoln line and then back to the ECML via DSA with cost estimates at circa £300 million in 2019 money. Was thrown out due lack of value for money and low passenger throughput at the airport. There’s a common belief that building rail links to an airport isn’t going to see an ROI until the airport hits 10mppa. DSA will never even reach half that if it does reopen.

I’ve covered this before but the airport failed not due to lack of rail links or appetite to continue by Peel (some believe they purposefully ran it into the ground, but this is tosh), it failed because it’s in an area of intense competition. The propensity to fly in the area for which it is most convenient is lower than the national average. The little industry there is is served by the KLM at Humberside and people in Sheffield can quite easily get to Manchester or East Midlands which offers more choice. There is no commercial or strategic benefit to airlines investing, we saw during Peels tenure them literally paying airlines to fly from there, easyJet, Ryanair, Flybe and all of them failed to gain any market share so pulled out. Wizzair also dropped their base when they couldn’t sell enough seats to keep two aircraft busy and the one aircraft base wasn’t profitable.

Jet2 and Ryanair have both said they aren’t interested, easyJet have remained silent for now but appear to be building up a presence at LBA with a view to eventually opening a base. Without that core volume traffic the airport as a passenger facility just will not be able to pay its way.

MAI are on the payroll of Doncaster Council to the tune of £40,000 per month. No idea what they’re paying FP airports, nor do I understand what they’re bringing to the table as their only aviation interests is reopening Plymouth Airport which is, alas, still closed…

This is as has been mentioned by ainsworth74, nothing more than a useful tool for political capital. I understand the other mayoral candidates have been kept out of the loop so as to be able to pledge that Ros Jones will be the only one capable of reopening the airport. SYMCA mayor has sent the plans for a review by independent financial advisors and doesn’t expect to hear from that until ‘the summer’. The Doncaster Councils own external auditors issued a rare ‘notice of concern’ to the council over this project. Conveniently though the summer is after the local mayoral election which his party colleague will be hoping for reelection in.

This is only going to go one way, I just hope someone has the sense to put the brakes on before the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ kicks in and we start seeing the site being perennially bailed out by the local tax payer, as that’s an inevitability.

 

[mpthomson]

Indeed…

 

[Halifaxlad]

Overall the country needs a national airport strategy!

 

[thejuggler]

There are national aviation strategies. Unfortunately airports are an emotive subject and when it comes down to local planning decisions they are soon forgotten.

Leeds Bradford proposal to completely rebuild the terminal was based on a national strategy, but as soon as it became a local issue Government ignored national strategy.

The irony of course is that Leeds Bradford had an extant permission for a new terminal building, which is almost finished. I suspect government knew this and as expansion would be achieved in a different way, they could be seen to be on the side of locals by calling in the application.

 

[BrianW]

The DfT reviewed the proposal for an ECML ‘loop’ down the Doncaster-Lincoln line and then back to the ECML via DSA with cost estimates at circa £300 million in 2019 money. Was thrown out due lack of value for money and low passenger throughput at the airport. There’s a common belief that building rail links to an airport isn’t going to see an ROI until the airport hits 10mppa. DSA will never even reach half that if it does reopen.

I’ve covered this before but the airport failed not due to lack of rail links or appetite to continue by Peel (some believe they purposefully ran it into the ground, but this is tosh), it failed because it’s in an area of intense competition. The propensity to fly in the area for which it is most convenient is lower than the national average. The little industry there is is served by the KLM at Humberside and people in Sheffield can quite easily get to Manchester or East Midlands which offers more choice. There is no commercial or strategic benefit to airlines investing, we saw during Peels tenure them literally paying airlines to fly from there, easyJet, Ryanair, Flybe and all of them failed to gain any market share so pulled out. Wizzair also dropped their base when they couldn’t sell enough seats to keep two aircraft busy and the one aircraft base wasn’t profitable.

Jet2 and Ryanair have both said they aren’t interested, easyJet have remained silent for now but appear to be building up a presence at LBA with a view to eventually opening a base. Without that core volume traffic the airport as a passenger facility just will not be able to pay its way.

MAI are on the payroll of Doncaster Council to the tune of £40,000 per month. No idea what they’re paying FP airports, nor do I understand what they’re bringing to the table as their only aviation interests is reopening Plymouth Airport which is, alas, still closed…

This is as has been mentioned by ainsworth74, nothing more than a useful tool for political capital. I understand the other mayoral candidates have been kept out of the loop so as to be able to pledge that Ros Jones will be the only one capable of reopening the airport. SYMCA mayor has sent the plans for a review by independent financial advisors and doesn’t expect to hear from that until ‘the summer’. The Doncaster Councils own external auditors issued a rare ‘notice of concern’ to the council over this project. Conveniently though the summer is after the local mayoral election which his party colleague will be hoping for reelection in.

This is only going to go one way, I just hope someone has the sense to put the brakes on before the ‘sunk cost fallacy’ kicks in and we start seeing the site being perennially bailed out by the local tax payer, as that’s an inevitability.

Indeed…

Put another way: 'It won't fly'

Plymouth Airport- another vanity project. What gets into councillors' or mayors' or voters' heads? Where are the projected passengers coming from or going to? Plymouth the capital of where? Same for Sheffield- self-styled 'Emerging City' of the mid 20th century!

Overall the country needs a national airport strategy!

We've done well enough up to now without state control/ interference Arguably it will only be a 'make work' scheme for consultants, to be for ever debated, reviiewed, long-grassed, chopped, changed, another Hs2? LHR Runway 3?

There are national aviation strategies. Unfortunately airports are an emotive subject and when it comes down to local planning decisions they are soon forgotten.

Leeds Bradford proposal to completely rebuild the terminal was based on a national strategy, but as soon as it became a local issue Government ignored national strategy.

The irony of course is that Leeds Bradford had an extant permission for a new terminal building, which is almost finished. I suspect government knew this and as expansion would be achieved in a different way, they could be seen to be on the side of locals by calling in the application.

For strategies, read 'so-called strategies'; and why plural? Are there Aviation Strategeies for Norther Ireland/ Scotland/ Wales?

 

[pug1]

Overall the country needs a national airport strategy!

Be very difficult to implement one now that most airports are largely a private sector concern in the U.K. People were calling for one back in the 1940’s and aside from a number that were retained as part of what became BAA (and the airports under that banner changed on occasion) airport provisions were left to local authorities to implement. That’s why we’ve got a Yorkshire airport at the far end of Leeds, and why Manchester and Liverpool each have an airport yet are only 30 miles apart.

What should have happened is a national airport framework alongside the motorway building phase in the 60’s. Didn’t happen then and definitely isn’t going to happen now.

The current case being made for DSA is on the basis that the public sector can meddle in matters commercial, and we know that doesn’t usually result in a successful outcome.

 

[generalnerd]

This is all part of the mayoral election campaigning which is ongoing, the airport features in all the campaigns, either positively or negatively.


And it wasn't that low cost either, TUI holidays from there were always more expensive than from MAN or NCL/LBA.


Unfortunately it's what happens when you have elected mayors. You get populist policies that appeal to parts of the electorate that make absolutely no sense when they hit economic reality. Teesside is another example of this as you've pointed out, as is the rediscovered interest in the York - Beverley line for the East Yorkshire mayoral election.

That’s been talked about long before any mayoral election, our ‘populist policies’ have been to make roads better

 

[mpthomson]

That’s been talked about long before any mayoral election, our ‘populist policies’ have been to make roads better

And it's still not remotely viable, for a whole host of reasons. Whilst it comes up every few years or so it has more recently been picked up in campaigning for the mayoral election round here, as you'll be aware, as something that looks attractive to voters. Which is the point I was making.

 

[Killingworth]

Ah well, by Friday morning Ros Jones is virtually certain to be re-elected as Doncsster mayor from 12 candidates. See; https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/mayor.doncaster.2025-05-01/mayor-of-doncaster/

She is a very determined fighter for DSA and none of the other candidates could oppose it. That implies strong support from Doncaster and I feel sure that's correct. Whether the electorate understands complex financial arrangements is another issue. Many can make unsubstantiated accusations of bias,, fraud and back handers. They can judge viabilty on the strength of their flight to Malaga in 2019 when they had the airport terminal and car park almost to themelves.

Meanwhile other transport spending in South Yorkshire could benefit more people more often by utilsing the apparently earmarked funds elsewhere. But there'd be hell to pay if it was seen to be benefitting Rotherham or Barnsley more than Doncaster. Sheffield's Chamber of Commerce seemingly supports DSA.

 

[zwk500]

Ah well, by Friday morning Ros Jones is virtually certain to be re-elected as Doncsster mayor from 12 candidates. See; https://whocanivotefor.co.uk/elections/mayor.doncaster.2025-05-01/mayor-of-doncaster/

She is a very determined fighter for DSA and none of the other candidates could oppose it. That implies strong support from Doncaster and I feel sure that's correct. Whether the electorate understands complex financial arrangements is another issue. Many can make unsubstantiated accusations of bias,, fraud and back handers. They can judge viabilty on the strength of their flight to Malaga in 2019 when they had the airport terminal and car park almost to themelves.

Meanwhile other transport spending in South Yorkshire could benefit more people more often by utilsing the apparently earmarked funds elsewhere. But there'd be hell to pay if it was seen to be benefitting Rotherham or Barnsley more than Doncaster. Sheffield's Chamber of Commerce seemingly supports DSA.

Voting for a candidate does not imply strong support of all their policies. However I'm sure you're right that there is strong local support for a local airport, after all who wouldn't want their holiday flights to leave from down the road? It being a sensible idea is another matter entirely, as you point out.

 

[generalnerd]

And it's still not remotely viable, for a whole host of reasons. Whilst it comes up every few years or so it has more recently been picked up in campaigning for the mayoral election round here, as you'll be aware, as something that looks attractive to voters. Which is the point I was making.

Oh absolutely. The most viable option (in my opinion at least) is turning one of the closed routes into a busway, but we’re going off topic. That might be a thread idea though