No Red Arrows at next year’s Air Display

Tuesday 23 October 2018

The Red Arrows will not be coming to the Channel Islands for next year’s Air Displays, due to the team being on a diplomatic tour in the USA and Canada.

Although Jersey haven’t officially confirmed that the Red Arrows won’t be performing, Guernsey’s Air Display have said that the RAF Acrobatic Team are unavailable for their 2019 commemoration of the Battle of Britain, due to the Red Arrows touring North America in August and September.

In a post on social media, Jersey Air Display organiser Deputy Mike Higgins has said that he is “monitoring the situation and waiting on exact dates of [the Red Arrows’] tour.”

However, the Guernsey Air Display, which is on the same date as Jersey’s, have officially confirmed that the Red Arrows won’t be available to perform at next year’s event, but that they are looking to find an alternative date for the team to appear.

Statement from M. Higgins of @JerseyAirshow, following announcement from @rafredarrows of 2019 tour:
“We are monitoring the situation, and waiting on exact dates of @rafredarrows tour.” Part 1 of 2.

— Jersey Air Display (@JerseyAirshow) October 21, 2018

The team will be on their first tour of the USA in more than 25 years on Thursday 12 September, the date set for the Channel Islands Air Display 2019.

Barry Neal, the Guernsey Air Display Director and Organiser, said: "While it is always very disappointing when the much admired, respected and loved Red Arrows are not available to display, we will be exercising every endeavour to ensure that the 2019 Guernsey Air Display builds on the strong success of the 2018 Air Display. 

"Plans are already well under way and we will be researching and exploring all opportunities for high calibre display teams for the 2019 Guernsey Air Display.”