The Chair welcomed Members to the fifteenth Annual General Meeting of Doncaster Sheffield Airport Consultative Committee. 

An extended welcome went to Peter Kennan, SCR LEP Private Sector Board Member (Transport & Environment) to the meeting. 

Apologies for absence were noted as above. 

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Annual General Meeting held on 30^th January 2020 be agreed as a correct record. 

There were no matters arising from the Annual General Meeting held on 30^th January 2020.

The Chair introduced his Annual Report, stating that, 2020 was like no other year before, with working from home, virtual meetings, social distancing, and other changes to ways of life.  Then there was the confused messaging from Government, not least that on quarantining and test and trace. 

Divergent messages from different parts of Government backed by hastily approved restrictions and laws made many in the industry feel let down by Government, even though Ministers said they were committed to careful and balanced plans to bolster travel.

And now we are in another lockdown.  So, I suppose I need only say "pandemic" and that’s the year in a nutshell. 

Obviously, the challenge facing the Government is one nobody would wish upon themselves.  Imposing restrictions is an agonisingly hard decision to have to take; but the challenge for businesses like DSA is not made easier for knowing that. 

In the absence of a national strategy, the aviation industry has had to do their best in coping with the consequences of Covid 19 and make best guesses on what the future might be.  Even the Government’s Global Travel Taskforce review, although welcome, produced more questions than answers.

The consensus is that the future will not look like the past and it’s unlikely that travel activity will get back to 2019 levels until 2024 at the earliest.  The Committee would be looking at some scenarios in the Ordinary ACC meeting.

Some think there will be significant pent-up demand for travel as households look for opportunities to spend the estimated £100bn they have saved since March last year.

But, it’s unlikely that the way ahead will become clearer until vaccination programmes internationally have had a real impact in controlling the virus.

Many think the pandemic will lead to a smaller aviation sector: it could easily be a case of survival of the fittest.  In fact, in 2020 over 70 airlines globally went to the wall while others are just hanging on, witness the news a week or so ago about Norwegian Air.

However, some have seen the pandemic as an opportunity, with several new strategies being developed.

For example, late last year wide bodied jets were being retired earlier than expected with an increasing emphasis on developing fleets of smaller, more fuel-efficient commercial aircraft, probably with single isles.  

Pressure was building on development of new aviation fuels, on commercial electric-powered aircraft: even hydrogen-powered aircraft are now being researched as the sustainable agenda gains further attention.

In particular, noise and its impact on health is being addressed more vigorously, not just noise linked to aviation but to all other forms of transport.  We’ve all got used to a quieter world.

After more than a year of people trying to avoid meeting in close contact, will seat occupancy rates have to be reduced with an inevitable impact on operating costs and margins?  Will non-profitable routes still be available as sector activity steps up? What about business and first-class sections, will these still be affordable?

Changes will  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

A report of the Committee Secretary was presented setting out the current membership of the Airport Consultative Committee and the Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee. 

It was highlighted that the nominated substitute Member for Auckley Parish Council had now stepped-down; the Committee Secretary would be notified of a replacement in due course. 

RESOLVED –That the Committee notes the current membership of the Airport Consultative Committee and Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee. 

RESOLVED – That the following schedule of meetings be agreed:-

Airport Consultative Committee

Thursday 28 January 2021 (AGM and Ordinary)

Thursday 15 April 2021

Thursday 15 July 2021

Thursday 14 October 2021

Noise Monitoring and Environmental Sub-Committee

Thursday 25 March 2021

Thursday 24 June 2021

Thursday 23 September 2021

Thursday 9 December 2021

All meetings will commence at 10:00 am, and Members notified of the meeting arrangements in advance of the meeting.