Sunderland Conservatives have written to council leader Graeme Miller calling for the reinstatement of the beloved Sunderland International Airshow.
In the letter, councillors detailed that the event was “the biggest free annual airshow in Europe and attracted between 600,000 to 900,000 each year, generating £11,500,000 of direct economic impact and £5,300,000 of Gross Value Added to Sunderland local economy”, noting that it was “popular amongst local residents.”
The event was first cancelled in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but was then permanently cancelled with the council claiming they sought to make the city carbon neutral. However, Conservatives have accused them of doing so for “financial reasons”, only for them to then fund the Triathlon instead.
However, it has since been revealed that the Triathlon, held last weekend, will be a one-off event only and will not be repeated.
Councillor Sam Johnston, Sunderland Conservatives spokesman for Culture and Communities commented:
“Following the conclusion of the City’s partnership with British Triathlon and World Triathlon, we now need to be actively looking at new marquee events to take place along our seafront next summer.
“Bringing back the Sunderland International Airshow is such an obvious place to start, the event remains hugely popular and the positive impact it will have on our local economy is clear.
“Seaside towns such as Blackpool and Eastbourne continue to host similar events with great success, we just need Cllr Graeme Miller and his cabinet to show leadership and ambition to bring back this beloved event.”