Teesside Airshow returns this summer after being grounded for five years

The Teesside Airshow is set to return this summer with plans to attract up to 25,000 people after it was grounded for the past five years.

It comes just days after it was announced that Sunderland Airshow has been cancelled for the third time due to Covid.

The event will take place at Teesside Airport on Saturday 11 June 2022.

Highlights of the previous shows in 2016 and 2017 included a display by the world-famous Red Arrows, a Eurofighter Typhoon, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight along with many other aerobatic displays.

The programme this year will include what was set up for 2020 but cancelled due to Covid - things like a series of fly-bys and aeroplanes, a classic car show, displays from the Army and a funfair as well as live music and a range of stalls, including street food and drinks.

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen says, “The airshow used to be one of the headline events for Teesside, attracting people from far and wide to witness some truly breath-taking displays. I remember going along as a child, and I’m thrilled I can play a small part in bringing it back this year.

“We’ve spent the past couple of years restoring the airport to its former glory, redeveloping the terminal building and securing even more routes to the destinations people love. Now we’re reintroducing events like this, which will be the only airshow in more than 120 miles and attract people from right across the north.

“This is just another way that our airport is being about more than flights to Alicante, and helping to generate visitors in its own right. There’ll be more details coming in the run-up to the airshow, but I look forward to being part of a packed crowd when it takes off again in June.”

Chris Petty, one of the organisers of the Teesside Airshow, says, "I'm over the moon that we're bringing the Teesside Airshow back for another year now that large-scale events can go ahead once again. We've been speaking to a whole host of exciting and interesting people and groups who are keen to show off their aircraft at the event, which is going to be bigger and better than ever."We're expecting this to be a sell-out event, with people coming from far and wide to see our displays and aircraft - especially after the Sunderland Airshow was recently cancelled. I'd tell people to snap up the tickets as soon as they can because when they're gone, they're gone!"