Bugibba proves attractive for Malta Air Show aerial display

Thousands of people lined the coast of Bugibba yesterday to view the flying display held as part of the 15th edition of the annual Malta International Air Show.

From as far as Salina, people stopped their cars and watched the 15 participating aircraft zoom on top of them in a spectacular show over the sea.

The display varied from a supersonic F-16 frontline fighter of the Royal Netherlands Air Force to a team of microlight aircraft and an amphibious water bomber from Italy. Aircraft of the Armed Forces of Malta and the seaplane which operates the Malta-Gozo service also took part in the air display.

People oohed and aahed as the planes flew low over their heads accompanied by a running commentary by AFM Staff Sergeant Loreto Spiteri. The F-16, which closed the show, twisted, turned and barrel rolled, creating an ear-splitting roar in the process.

Earlier, the bright yellow water bomber skimmed the sea surface to fill up its huge tanks before releasing tons of water as it does regularly on forest fires. This was the first time the air show was held in the area, something that put a smile on the faces of traders there, who saw their business boom over the weekend.

The Malta Aviation Society is considering keeping the show in Bugibba, president Joe Ciliberti told The Times. However, the society would need the support of the local business community.

The static display was still held at Luqa and again drew hundreds of visitors yesterday.

The St Paul's Bay Bar and Restaurants Association has already said it will not think twice before agreeing to the air show being held over St Paul's Bay again. Chairman Godwin Cutajar said the feedback from businesses was very positive.

"It has brought a good number of people to the area - the number of people on the seafront was incredible," association spokesman Isabelle Debattista said.

"Whenever an event is organised in the locality there are always more people," Ms Debattista, who also owns a restaurant and pub in the area, said.

This was reiterated by Vincent Bonnici, who has a business on the Bugibba seafront, and Mr Cutajar, who owns restaurants and a beach club in Xemxija. Mr Cutajar said that although his outlets were not bang in the middle of where the event was held, he was "positively surprised" by the effect. However, he felt the event could have been marketed better in order to attract more people.

The change in venue also went down well with people. George Schembri, from St Julians, believed that holding it over the sea was safer. Marianne Cachia, from Gzira, said that since the area was bigger, it allowed for more people to see the show. Self-proclaimed sea lover Daniel Buttigieg, also from Gzira, said he preferred an air display over the sea. The new area was better because it was easier to reach and it was also easier to park, he quickly added.

But his last comment was surely not shared by the tens of motorists who spent a long time going round in circles trying to find a place to park, only to realise that every nook and cranny - including illegal parking spots - had already been taken up.

Although residents said the two-day air show brought about a good atmosphere to the locality, they mentioned the hassle of finding a parking spot as its downside.

In the morning, the public could observe over 40 different aircraft during the static display in Luqa and also had the opportunity to speak to pilots.

Unlike previous years, there was no entrance fee for the air display and the ticket price for the static display held in Luqa was halved. Mr Ciliberti said fewer people than usual visited the static display yesterday morning.

The air show costs between Lm15,000 and Lm20,000 to put up, Mr Ciliberti said, adding that financial help was given by the Malta Tourism Authority and the Justice Ministry.

The flying display yesterday was followed by powerboat races, organised by the St Paul's Bay Bars and Restaurants Association. Paul Micallef, one of the organisers, said attempts would be made to organise the race some four to five times a year.