A highly anticipated air show has been cancelled just weeks before it was due to be held.
Manston Airport, near Ramsgate, had been set to host the event – the first of its kind in more than a decade at the venue – on August 16 and 17.
But bosses behind Manston International Airshow have today confirmed it will not be taking off as planned this year, with organisers announcing a new date is now scheduled for 2026.
They say the “difficult decision” follows extensive consultation between the Flying Display Committee, which was appointed by the event organiser, and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
The bodies were discussing possible additional requirements over and above the statutory safety regulations surrounding air shows.
Further details of what those talks centred around have not been released.
Bill Giles, founder of the show, said: “Those discussions only concluded this week, and we were pleased that the CAA has agreed that our plans are approvable.
“However, this sadly leaves us without sufficient time to finalise the plans to a satisfactory level in order to run the show this year.
“We know how disappointed ticket holders will be that this much-anticipated event has had to be postponed to next year.
“Ticket holders will be able to apply for a full refund or defer their tickets to next year’s event.”
The organisers have confirmed the show will take place instead on June 6 and 7 next year.
Aircraft dating back to the First World War were lined up to perform displays alongside machines from the USA, France and Germany and possibly the Red Arrows in what was promised to be an “aerial ballet”.
Airport owners RiverOak Strategic Partners are said to be committed to ensuring the event takes place next year ahead of starting work to bring regular cargo flights back to the site.
RiverOak says it intends to plough £800 million into the airport to get it up and running again as a commercially successful venture, and hopes to eventually resume passenger flights too.
However, extensive renovation of the airport is not expected to begin until 2026, with a completion date of early 2028.
The air show’s two charity partners, the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) and Brain Tumour Research, both causes which have personal resonance for Mr Giles, will be beneficiaries of the 2026 show.
