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Whether you want an incredible eye level aircraft view, a beachfront location with planes over head or perhaps you fancy a more relaxed time away from the crowds, there are plenty of perfect places to watch the Air Festival’s aviation action!

If the weather forecasts sunny days and balmy temperatures you can be sure the Air Festival will be busy with families, friends, aircraft enthusiasts and people simply after a fantastic day out – so if you want to be amongst the excitement be sure to get your spot nice and early.

Obviously one of the most convenient places is the beach area near Pier Approach, don’t forget your windbreak and deckchairs available to hire.  You can reach the beach from the Lower Gardens and zig zag slopes and from here Bournemouth’s historic Pier, another great spot to watch the incredible aircraft, is just a moments’ walk.

The display line stretches from Bournemouth Pier to just beyond Boscombe Pier and at the heart of this is another ideal location, the central flight line. Here you’ll also find the official Air Festival Hospitality Marquee, the perfect place to treat family, friends or business associates to a super special first-class day out.

What makes the Air Festival location different to others is the choice of vantage points and the overcliff area offers spectacular eye level views.  It’s busy but the perfect spot to capture images and enjoy the array of cliff top entertainment.

Should you fancy watching the planes away from the hustle and bustle of main festival site you can still see the action from a more relaxed location.  Boscombe beach is perfect, with ample amenities and, although not in the official event air space, you can still see and hear aircraft and display teams towards Southbourne or over the west side of the Pier towards Alum Chine.

Alternatively, if you want the beach front views but your own space why not hire a beach hut along the seafront or perhaps book one of the exclusive Beach Lodges.

With so much choice, perhaps you just want to be at home and hear what’s going on from the comfort of your armchair or deckchair – then simply tune into the Air Festival commentary on 87.7FM

Whatever your idea of the perfect festival location, we’ve got it covered – beachfront fun, cliff top vistas, central flight line experiences, relaxed alternatives, beach hut hire or simply tuning into the radio…we look forward to welcoming you to the another fantastic Air Festival this summer  Thursday 29 – Saturday 31 August 2024.

The Royal Air Force Aerobatic Team the Red Arrows will be looping, rolling, and putting the famous red, white and blue coloured trails on as they take to the skies of the UK’s greatest air event later this year. The RAF line up will also feature the awesome Typhoon and much loved Battle of Britain Memorial Flight (BBMF).

Coming back with gusto the Red Arrows will display Thursday 2^nd, Friday 3^rd, Saturday 4^th and Sunday 5^th September. Typhoon and the BBMF also performing across all four days – this is the first time all three RAF display teams have been part of the festival line up since 2016.

Squadron Leader Tom Bould, who is the new Red 1 and Team Leader for 2021, said: “Bournemouth is certainly one of our favourite UK venues, like so many display teams we missed the thrill of home airshows last year.

“We’re all certainly looking forward to entertaining the hundreds of thousands of spectators on the beach, it’s going to be really special to be back where we belong, performing and inspiring the next generation of pilots and engineers.”

As always spectators will be amazed by the team’s pinpoint precision as they demonstrate their breath-taking synchronised formation and astonishing aerobatics – which will include a number of new manoeuvres for the 2021 display season.  The Typhoon, with it’s new dedicated call sign of ANARCHY1, also makes a welcome return as does the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight – which this year features the full line up historical line up Lancaster, Hurricane and Spitfire.

Flight Lieutenant James Sainty, 2021 Typhoon Display Pilot said; “The team had a great time at the Bournemouth Air Festival in 2019 and can’t wait to be back again later this year!”

Jon Weaver Air Festival Director added; “It’s fantastic to have confirmation of not only the incredible Red Arrows but also the Typhoon and BBMF. We all missed the air festival last year and great news like this does give us real positivity that we will be in a great position by the end of the summer.  As always we’ll keep our preparations rolling forward while staying attuned to any further developments and government announcements.”

Councillor Mohan Iyengar, Portfolio Holder for Tourism, Leisure and Culture said; “Since the start of 2021 we’ve been determined to make this the year of ‘bounce back’. To engineer the fastest possible recovery for businesses and for jobs – and to help people back outdoors. We’re staying positive – our Festival Coast Live is now well under way with preparations – we just need the weather! And this latest news from our partners in the Air Festival is a massive boost for everyone involved.”

Exact Red Arrow display times to be confirmed, for more information please check social media and bournemouthair.co.uk nearer the time.

The annual Bournemouth Air Festival on land, in the air and at sea, with fantastic day to night entertainment, takes places 2^nd – 5^th September 2021. A free festival, located across a unique seafront site, he perfect place to watch the action is at the heart of the festival, in the VIP hospitality marquee, for more information please visit bournemouthair.co.uk

-ENDS-

Press Information: pr@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
Commercial and sponsorship opportunities: michelle.roberts@bcpcouncil.gov.uk

NOTES TO EDITORSmichelle.roberts@bcpcouncil.gov.uk
A quick, easy and efficient way to travel to Bournemouth is via South Western Railway. Trains regularly run from London Waterloo and takes as little as 1hour 46mins to reach the UK’s premier seaside resort, home to the UK’s Best Beach (TripAdvisor 2019).

Tuesday 12 May 2020 

Joint media release by BCP Council and Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch Destination Management Board

‘Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole take difficult decision to extend the cancellation of outdoor events until end of August 2020.

Major events and festivals including Bournemouth Air Festival that were due to go ahead this summer have been cancelled due to the continued impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

Responding to the government’s guidance on the outbreak, BCP Council – with support of Destination Management Board – has taken the decision not to permit outdoor events on council public open space until the end of August 2020.

This includes, the cancellation of BCP Council organised events – the Bournemouth Air Festival, Summer Fireworks and summer events programme on Poole Quay.  Other events that have had to be cancelled include BSO Concerts in Meyrick Park and Christchurch Food Festival.

Councillor Vikki Slade, Leader of BCP Council, said; “Our immensely popular summer events programme, including the Bournemouth Air Festival, attracts millions of visitors to the area bringing over £32 million income to our local businesses and supports the council’s services through our seafront offering.

“In response to the recent government guidance around the easing of lockdown, it will no longer be possible that events planned to take place this summer in public outdoor open space can go ahead.

“Cancelling major events and festivals is a decision we don’t take lightly. The most important consideration is the health of our residents, and the safety of everyone involved including visitors, festival goers, exhibitors, traders, staff, contractors, and the many more who contribute and play a part in delivering those much-loved events.

“Our NHS and emergency services have coped incredibly well during the Covid-19 pandemic and we would not want to risk this changing, or to try to manage events whilst adhering to government measures and advice including on social distancing.

“The government’s guidance indicated that hospitality businesses are not likely to open before July.  We know there are many hotels, restaurants, bars and local contractors serving this industry whose livelihoods rely on the summer events programme and we want to assure those businesses – including the 17,000 plus people employed in this sector – that BCP Council will do everything we can to support you and work together with you to come through this.

“We’re looking at every feasible option to help to sustain this industry, and with this we have already committed to deliver a refreshed Air Festival in 2021.”

BCP Council and Destination Management Board for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole will continue to work together in lobbying central government to ensure this vital sector is fully supported through the national recovery plan.

David Bailey, Chairman of the Destination Management Board, said; “The Board fully understands the decision taken by BCP Council. It is very important that as the Destination of Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole we show we are taking the sensible measures and demonstrate that in the future we want to offer visitors and residents the safest environment to enjoy the unique tourism and hospitality offer.   We thank BCP Council for its continued support and the confirmation of next year’s Bournemouth Air Festival.”

A Bournemouth Air Festival for next year has been confirmed for Thursday 2^nd to Sunday 5^th September 2021.

Dougie Scarfe, Chief Executive, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, “Our Proms in the Park concerts hosted in partnership with BCP Council are always a highlight of the summer season in Bournemouth; with audiences dancing away to our live music, the series is always a celebratory moment in the BSO year.  We know that loyal audiences will be sorry to miss the party this year, and we’ll miss you all too, but we look forward to seeing you next year for a spectacular celebration”.

ENDS 

Notes to Editor

All events that were due to take place on council land between now and 31 August 2020 have been cancelled.  These include:

Date	Event	Location
13/14 June 2020	Magic of Thailand Festival	Baiter Park
27 June 2020	Folk in the Quay	Poole Quay
Fridays 3 July – 28 August 2020	Quay for my Car	Poole Quay
4 – 5 July	Reggae Weekender	Kings Park
Tuesdays 7 July -25 August 2020	Dream Machines (Bike Night)	Poole Quay
12 July	Poole Goes Vintage	Poole Quay
10 – 12  July 2020	Sandpolo / Sandfest	Sandbanks
Thursdays 23 July -27th August	Summer Spectacular Fireworks	Poole Quay
25 – 26 July 2020	Mudeford Arts Festival	Mudeford Quay
28 – 30 July 2020	BSO Proms in the Park	Meyrick Park
28 – 30 July 2020	Poole Harbour Festival	Baiter Park
30 July – 2 August	Handball Beach Championships	Poole Seafront
Fridays 31 July – 28 August 2020	Bournemouth Fireworks	Bournemouth Seafront
31 July to 2 August	Poole Harbour Festival	Baiter Park
6 – 8 August 2020	RNLI Funday	Mudeford Quay
8 August 2020	Mini Steam on the Quay	Poole Quay
20 -23 August 2020	Bournemouth Air Festival	Bournemouth Seafront
28 – 31 August 2020	Mudeford Seafood Festival	Mudeford Quay
28 – 30 August 2020	Upton Concerts	Upton Country Park
29 – 31 August 2020	Christchurch Food Festival	Christchurch Quay & Town Centre