The air show was being moved from the airport to SmartCity “in line with the government’s plans to increase recreational activities in the southern part of Malta”, the Tourism Ministry said.
The ministry did not answer questions about the potential safety concerns of hosting the annual spectacle at SmartCity.
The Malta Aviation Society – the show’s organisers – have expressed concern in the past about flying displays held over the sea because of the risk of pilot disorientation.
Asked to explain the rationale behind the shift of the annual air show from the Malta International Airport to SmartCity, a Tourism Ministry spokeswoman said the decision had been taken as per government policy to make the island “a truly year-round destination”.
The spokesman skirted questions both about safety issues and whether the move was only a temporary one for this year.
The decision was taken to make the island a truly year-round destination
Airfields were generally preferred for hosting air shows, because they had clearly defined borders with good markings, aircraft enthusiasts said. A spokeswoman for MIA told this paper that the decision to shift the show away from the airport was made for safety reasons. The idea, she added, was to assure the safety and security of Malta’s national airport and the continuity of its operations at all times. The MIA spokeswoman said the hosting of the air show was considered on a yearly basis.
Malta Aviation Society president Joe Ciliberti said that unless clear indications were given about next year’s venue, official invitations to participants for the 2017
edition would not be sent out.
The air show has had various homes since it first started in 1993. Displays have been held over Sliema and St Paul’s Bay.
This year’s air show, on September 24 and 25, will now be split into two phases. A static show will take place at MIA between 10am and 3.30pm on both days.
Spectators can watch the flying display from SmartCity. The organisers said a one-way traffic system would be in operation at SmartCity during the air show weekend, as directed by the police.