Rising fuel costs linked to the Middle East conflict mean that Jersey Air Display organisers are having to work harder than ever to secure funding – and the biggest aircraft – for September’s show.
The 2026 iteration of the annual show will be held on Thursday 10 September.
Head of the JIAD fundraising committee, former Chief Minister John Le Fondré, told Express that the 2025 display had benefitted from government support of around £100,000 – with a further £140,000 raised privately.
With a similar grant this year alongside “a little bit of assistance on fuel”, he explained that organisers were aiming to “meet where we got to last year” and “go further”.
“We have a good display planned,” Mr Le Fondré said.
“We will be releasing through the social media side the various planes and the stories behind them as we build up towards the display.”
Red Arrows to return
JIAD organiser Mike Higgins recently confirmed that the “exciting” variety of aircraft confirmed for the 2026 display includes the Red Arrows.
And the static display reintroduced last year is set to return to Jersey Airport on the afternoon of Wednesday 9 September and the morning of the main event.
Mr Le Fondré noted the rise in fuel costs triggered by the Middle East conflict, as well as efforts to increase the fundraising base to meet display costs and “attract bigger and better aircraft”.
To help with fundraising efforts, an online raffle to win the “Ultimate Air Display VIP Experience worth £5,000” went live earlier this year.
Seeking “certainty”
“The more tickets we sell on the raffle, for example, the greater certainty we get about the full funding for the display, which we aim to exceed relative to last year – which then means we can actually guarantee that we can get the more expensive jets to come over,” said Mr Le Fondré.
He said those behind the annual show were “very grateful” for the support of government, sponsors and Islanders.
Get involved
Details of the raffle and the package up for grabs can be found on the Jersey International Air Display website. Tickets are £10 each and entrants must be over 18 and reside in Jersey.
Also returning this year is the children’s art competition launched last year, with VIP passes for the static display up for grabs.
Entrants to the Jersey International Art Display Competition can use “any traditional or digital medium” to capture their favourite plane from any previous Jersey International Air Display.
There are two categories available, one for those aged eight to 11 and one for those aged 12 to 15.
The winner of each category will receive five VIP backstage passes to the static display, with a private tour taking them close to aircraft and crew.
Entries must be submitted by 1 September by scanning or emailing a copy of the art to sharonbetts@jerseyairdisplay.org.uk with the subject heading “Jersey International Art Display”, including the name of the entrant, age and name of the aircraft depicted.
The competition, which is open to Jersey residents only, will be judged by Annabel Harrop as well as Mr Le Fondré.
Only one entry per person is allowed. Multiple entries will be disqualified.
Mr Le Fondré added: “This is the second year of running it. We had some lovely drawings that came through last year.”
