This year’s Avalon International Airshow has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The not-for-profit AMDA Foundation Limited, which organises the biennial airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition at Avalon airport, last week announced that the “increased uncertainty created by the impacts of the Delta variant of COVID” has led to the cancellation.
The airshow, which was to be held from December 3 to 5, usually attracts tens of thousands of visitors.
This year’s airshow would also have coincided with the RAAF’s 100th year of service in Australia.
However, AMDA Foundation chief executive Ian Honnery said that “in order to minimise uncertainty and disruption to attendees and participants, the difficult decision has been taken now that AVALON 2021 will not go ahead”.
Mr Honnery said it was “deeply disappointing” for the AMDA Foundation team, its stakeholders, exhibitors, participants and patrons that the 2021 airshow and expo could not proceed.
“But public health and safety must be paramount and responsible levels of certainty must be achieved for all involved in or attending such a complex and multi-faceted major event,” he said.
Mr Honnery said it while the airshow would not be held this year, the AMDA Foundation was already preparing for the next one, which will be held between February 28 and March 5, 2023.
“With the expected transition to post-COVID normalcy, AVALON 2023 will return to international prominence as one of the world’s great air shows,” Mr Honnery said.
