Events Cancelled Or Postponed Around The World
If you were hoping to attend an air show this summer, be sure to check carefully to be sure the event is still scheduled.
One of the major shows that has already been postponed is Sun 'n Fun in central Florida, which was to have gotten underway at the end of this month. As the virus spreads, additional shows have announced they are pulling the plug on their events.
The Wings over Columbus Air Show which had been scheduled for April 25-26 in Columbus, MS has been cancelled following the announcement of DOD guidance regarding precautions and restrictions related to the pandemic. Refunds for tickets purchased in advance are being processed, according to the show organizers.
Naval Air Station Kingsville in Texas has announced the cancellation of the 2020 Wings Over South Texas Air Show, planned for April 4-5. Base officials also cited the DOD guidance as the reason for cancelling the event. Refunds will be offered to those who purchased upgraded seating and chalet tickets for the event.
In New Zealand, the Southern Hemisphere’s largest Warbirds Airshow, Warbirds Over Wanaka, has been cancelled in the wake of the New Zealand Government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Airshow, planned for Easter weekend, had been expected to attract 55,000 people over the three days with several thousand of those international visitors.
Organizers have confirmed all tickets will be refunded in full but have asked ticket holders to wait for a few days while organisers confirm specifics about how people will be able to access refunds.
The Wings Over Illawarra in South Australia has been postponed, according to a notice posted on the event website.
In the interests of Public Health and the directive of the Federal Government Wings Over Illawarra 2020 is being postponed. "In an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 the Federal Government has made the decision to ban non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people. At this stage we have no idea on how long this ban will be in effect, and considering the risk to public health, along with the potential of travel bans being introduced, we feel it is in the best interests of the public and the future of the event to postpone until later in the year, the show's organizers said.
"We would like to emphasize that we are postponing the event and not cancelling it.
"We have been in discussions with all our stakeholders over the weekend in an attempt to lock in a suitable date as soon as possible, and as you can imagine there are a number of parties that need to be consulted before dates can be released. We anticipate being in a position to announce the new dates within a couple of days, so please bear with us while we finalize all the details."
(Source: News releases. CDC image)