No decision over proposed air festival ticket plan

The free festival had attracted up to 1.3 million people in previous years

A council has said it does not have enough detail to make a decision about a popular air festival after plans to bring it back were announced online.

The Bournemouth Air Festival was last held in August 2024 and was funded by BCP Council but it cut the event to manage a £50m shortfall in its budget.

Now an events company is hoping it can stage its return through a ticketing scheme and is aiming to raise £1m.

BCP Council said it does not have enough details to make a decision on the future of the event with the interested party, but is open to further conversations.

It is the first time a group has publicly suggested people pay to go to the event since Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council scrapped the funding last year.

Organiser Dave Rogers said he needs to raise £1m and submit a full proposal including safety plans by the end of the month.

Mr Rogers took to social media to announce the new scheme at the end of last month.

Writing in a post he said that a single or family 'Air Card' could be purchased with money going towards raising £1m.

In return for buying a card, that cost £2 for a single or £5 for a family, 10% off food and drink would be offered at the show.

Mr Rogers said if the money is not raised the full ticket price will be refunded, but the ticket operator will keep its fee.

He added that he has been organising large events "for the last 20 years" under his company A.M.P Events and that he has a meeting with BCP Council organised for next week.

"I have to set up deals with security companies and cleaning companies but I need floor plans from BCP to move forward," he added.

A private air show operator had come forward to run the event on a 10-year contract but talks with the council ended without agreement.

Since then BCP Council voted not to actively pursue looking for new sponsors or operators.

The air show ran as a free event from 2008 to 2024 and was estimated to have attracted up to one million people to the resort each year at its peak.

Held in August, attractions included the Red Arrows as well as other military and civilian aircraft displays over the seafront.

Rising costs meant the council ended its financial backing, with its contribution to the final event in 2024 reaching £248,000.