The Malta International Airshow is likely to go ahead as planned after the government settled pending sponsorship on last year’s edition and is due to meet organisers next week to discuss funding for this year’s show, the Times of Malta has learnt.
Both the Malta Aviation Society and the Tourism Ministry confirmed their commitment to this year’s airshow.
Wrangles about sponsorship had threatened to cancel the 2017 airshow in January when organisers said that they had put preparations on hold while they awaited settlement of last year’s government sponsorship. The ministry had said that the airshow was an important contributor to the country’s attractiveness as a tourism destination and that the government was committed to backing it.
Last September, the aerial display was held over Smart City in Kalkara, on the basis of the sponsorship promised by the Tourism Ministry, which wanted the show moved to the seaside, where it was free for all spectators, causing a drop in revenue for organisers.
An MAS spokesman confirmed when contacted that the ministry had settled the payment agreed as a result of the move away from the airport last year.
He explained that a meeting will be held next week “where we expect to be given a clear indication of the level of financial support for this year’s event.”
“Hopefully, it will suffice for us to hold this year’s airshow as it would be a pity not to celebrate 25 years of consecutive airshows,” the spokesman added.
A spokeswoman for the Tourism Ministry confirmed that discussions were under way.
“Discussions are ongoing and the Ministry for Tourism looks forward to have the 25th airshow featuring in our annual calendar of events,” she said when asked whether the ministry would be supporting the event. Over the years, the show regularly drew large crowds for its static and aerial displays, having brought to Malta well known aerobatic teams such as the Red Arrows as well as top-of-the-range fighter, transport and patrol aircraft and helicopters from many countries.
Safety precautions have always been taken but the show was always dogged by complaints about noise from people bordering the airport.