'Sadness and frustration' as airshow cancelled again

Organisers of an airshow in Kent have expressed "sadness and frustration" after the event was postponed for the second year running.

Manston International Airshow was originally scheduled for 6-7 June after being dropped in 2025 amid negotiations with authorities over "statutory safety regulations surrounding airshows".

The airshow said that organisers had done "everything in their power" to resolve outstanding issues with the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), but that holding the event this year would not be possible.

The CAA said it had not received a submission for an airspace restriction from the organisers regarding a show this year.

The statement from the airshow said: "It has become clear that the variations to the guidance for running a safe event that have been imposed cannot be resolved without clear answers that until now have not been forthcoming."

Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey and Sussex (KSS) and Brain Tumour Research were to be the charity partners of the 2025 event, had it gone ahead. They were also scheduled to be the beneficiaries of the 2026 show.

The airshow organisers said anyone who held their tickets over from 2025 will be automatically reimbursed by the end of May.

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