'Red Arrows don't make Airbourne', organisers say

Eastbourne's annual Airbourne air show will not be dampened by the Red Arrows being unable to perform due to being stranded in Canada, a council leader says.

About 750,000 visitors are expected to come to the town over the course of the four-day show, which Eastbourne Borough Councillor Stephen Holt said was one of the premier events of the local calendar.

The Red Arrows, who are usually a star attraction for the show, pulled out of this year's show after the aerobatics team were grounded due to poor weather predicted for north-eastern regions of Canada.

Holt told BBC Radio Sussex: "It is a shame that they are not here, but the Red Arrows don't make Airbourne, the people make it."

He added: "It's so important for our town and businesses in the area, and it's bigger than just Eastbourne now.

"I'm incredibly excited. We work hard all year around to create the event."

The Eastbourne International Airshow, this year taking place from Thursday 13 August to Sunday 16 August, is organised by the council and contributes about £27m a year to the local economy, it said in 2024.

Beginning on Thursday, Airbourne will see planes flying over the town's seafront across the weekend, including acrobatics displays and historical planes including Spitfires and Hurricanes.

This year, Holt said that it would continue to work with partners to take precautions due to the ongoing heatwave, and urged visitors to plan ahead to protect themselves from the heat.

In 2025, 52 sea rescues were made across the four days from people taking a dip in the sea.

Further warnings also came amid the risk of wildfires, with councillor Jim Murray saying recent blazes were a "stark reminder of how quickly fires can start and spread when conditions are dry".

Displays this year include a Firecat water carrying plane used to fight fires in Canada and France in the 1970s.

Temperatures are expected to peak at 28C (82.4F) on Thursday, below the levels expected in other parts of the country.

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