The Great Yorkshire AirFest was canceled due to costs associated with last summer’s Shoreham disaster. The event was scheduled for July 2nd and 3rd at Church Fenton, near York. The organizers said they were canceling the festival after “a particularly trying year for the air show community.”
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) unveiled new measures in April which included higher air show charges due to the crash last August that killed 11 people. Because of the new measures, Hawker Hunter jets have been grounded, ex-military jets have been restricted to fly-pasts over land, and air shows are subjected to enhanced risk assessments.
The CAA also increased its charges to air shows starting April 1st. The increase can be as much as £2,695 for larger events.
The show in Yorkshire was scheduled to include fly-bys by aircraft including Spitfire and a 1940s UD Mustang fighter.
A spokesperson said: “We are incredibly disappointed to cancel this year’s Great Yorkshire AirFest. This year has been challenging for everyone involved in the air show community as we’ve seen from the number of UK shows which have been postponed or cancelled.
“At all times, our priority has been to host a safe and entertaining show for all visitors. Despite the great efforts and hard work from all the AirFest team, running a viable event for 2016 will be incredibly difficult.
“We’d like to thank everyone who has supported the AirFest in 2016 and hope to be back in the future.”
Those factors included the increased CAA fees, the heavy investment needed to support the show, and slow ticket sales.
A spokesman said, “We are incredibly disappointed. At all times, our priority has been to host a safe and entertaining show for all visitors. Despite the great efforts and hard work from all the AirFest team, running a viable event for 2016 will be incredibly difficult.”
All those who bought tickets would be refunded in full.