Updated 12.45pm

The Malta International Airshow will again not be held this year, the Malta Aviation Society announced in a one-line statement on its website on Monday. It gave no reasons.

The last show - the 25th annual event - was held in 2017. 

Last year, the MAS cancelled the show after complaining of a lack of support from the Ministry of Tourism. 

The show had been one of Malta's most popular outdoor events, having attracted some of the world's most modern combat aircraft as well as top aerobatic teams such as the Red Arrows.

But costs had spiralled, mostly on account of insurance requirements and the costs of fuel and accommodation for participants.

READ: Air show still grounded as talks between government, organisers stall

In a statement issued on Tuesday morning, MEP Francis Zammit Dimech expressed dismay at the news. 

"It is a pity that in recent months we have repeatedly heard how the Malta Aviation Society was not finding any support to organise the airshow," he said.

The former tourism minister said that PN administrations had always offered the show its support and that he had even called for it to be included in a national tourism calendar. 

 

Sign up to our free newsletters

Get the best updates straight to your inbox:
Please select at least one mailing list.

You can unsubscribe at any time by clicking the link in the footer of our emails. We use Mailchimp as our marketing platform. By subscribing, you acknowledge that your information will be transferred to Mailchimp for processing.