Airshow London launches its 2021 show as a drive-in show headlined by the U.S Navy Blue Angels

London, Ontario – December 9, 2020 – Airshow London is extremely excited to announce their 2021 show will return as a drive-in event, August 27-29, after a sell-out success in 2020 with Canada’s first socially responsible and physically distant air show. Headlining the show will be the U.S. Navy Blue Angels Demonstration Team, and added to 2021 will be a Friday evening show.

As the only air show that took place in Canada in 2020, SkyDrive was created as a result of Covid-19 and adheres to advanced safety measures. Airshow London is excited to once again host a safe, innovative and exciting tail-gate experience that conforms to public health guidelines and offers a family-friendly, memorable experience.

“After an amazing 2020 event, with incredible and extensive feedback from our fans to continue with the SkyDrive format, we look forward to hosting another drive-in air show in 2021” says Jim Graham, Chair, Airshow London. “We are excited build on this innovative concept and provide our fans with an awesome show!”

Guests will again be directed to their own 20 X 25-foot parking space to watch the show from inside or outside their vehicles. Roving food vendors will be offered onsite but guests can bring their own food and refreshments, listen to the show’s announcer on their car radios, and utilize portable washrooms.

The air show itself will offer a rare and exciting line-up of Canadian and American Forces aircraft. As a teaser for fans with the launch of the 2021 event, Airshow London confirms the Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 Hornet Demonstration Team, along with the United States Navy Blue Angels. Additional aircraft will be announced leading up to the show, as Airshow London looks forward to making the event much louder.

“As an established premier air show in Canada, we look forward to our 2021 event, providing our fans with an unmatched experience. We can’t wait to host the United States Navy Blue Angels for their only Canadian appearance this season, representing the positive reputation Airshow London is creating within North America. With clear skies ahead for 2021, we are extremely proud to showcase our SkyDrive event once again,” adds Graham.

Tickets must be purchased in advance and are sold per vehicle for up to 6 passengers. Tickets can be purchased at airshowlondon.com.

From Airshow London

LONDON, ON, July 13, 2020 /CNW/ – Airshow London is extremely excited to announce their 2020 air show will take place September 12 and 13 as a drive-in format, offering Canada’s first socially responsible and physically distant air show. This new and innovative approach will continue to feature a traditional air display, but removed this year will be the Static Display (additional aircraft parked all weekend for visitors to climb aboard), food vendors and displays.

Airshow London has always adhered to advanced safety measures as the show’s highest priority is the well-being of guests, volunteers and performers. Now with COVID-19, new measures will be introduced that conform to public health guidelines to ensure an experience that minimizes risk to health and safety to everyone involved.

The airport grounds can accommodate 2500 cars with this socially responsible model. Guests will arrive with a pre-purchased ticket (1 ticket per vehicle) and be directed to park in their own 20 X 25-foot space to enjoy the show either inside or outside their vehicle. Guests can bring their own refreshments, listen to the show on their car radios, and utilize portable washrooms.

“We know how much the air show is enjoyed by the community, so while the impact of COVID-19 prevents us from producing our traditional-style event, we wanted to create a solution that minimizes risk and interaction while still offering an exciting and family-friendly event,” says Jim Graham, Chair, Airshow London.

The air show itself will offer a rare and spectacular line-up of Canadian and American military aircraft. Along with aircraft representing the Royal Canadian Air Force, confirmed to appear are an unprecedented four U.S. demonstration teams:

• the only Canadian appearance in 2020 by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds
• U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
• U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor Demonstration Team
• U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster Demonstration Team

“The past few months have been devasting to so many in our community, and now that we are allowed to gather in a socially responsible manner, we are excited to offer this amazing opportunity for outdoor entertainment,” adds Graham.

Tickets go on sale today on www.airshowlondon.com. For people who already purchased General Admission tickets for this year’s show prior to today, those tickets will be valid for next year’s show August 27-29, 2021 when Airshow London welcomes the United States Navy’s Demonstration Team, the Blue Angels.  

For more information, visit airshowlondon.com or @airshowlondon on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

News from Global News – link to story

ByJacquelyn LeBel 980 CFPL | Posted June 30, 2020

The airline industry has been hit particularly hard by the novel coronavirus pandemic, but the London International Airport is starting to see a bit of a turnaround.

Gary Vanderhoek, manager of commercial services and passenger experience, says the airport had four flights scheduled on Tuesday.

“After the last 100 days of basically no flying at the airport, it’s amazing to see a bit of a comeback,” he said on London Live with Mike Stubbs.

“It’s about a quarter of what we used to see — we were up to 30 flights a day at one time.”

Vanderhoek says the airport started a new program on June 22 to “regain some of that passenger confidence.” The program, Flight Path to Recovery, outlines all of the policies and procedures implemented in response to the pandemic.

Airplanes have been operating at about half capacity for physical-distancing purposes but as of July 1, those restrictions will be eased. Some health experts have highlighted the risks of spreading COVID-19 in crowded airports and packed cabins, but director of the Harvard public health school’s Healthy Buildings program Joseph Allen said the HEPA air filters used on most planes effectively control airborne bacteria and viruses.

“One piece of confidence (passengers) can definitely take into account,” he added, “is aircraft have very strong air filters. There’s a HEPA air filter on most of them. Yes, there’s some movement of air on the aircraft but it does filter the air better than what it would, say, normally in a confined space that you’d see anywhere, that you’d see in a restaurant, let’s say.”

In line with federal directives, Air Canada and WestJet also conduct pre-boarding temperature checks and require masks on board. They have also implemented enhanced aircraft cleaning and scaled back their in-flight service in late March, cutting out hot drinks, hot meals and fresh food.

Vanderhoek says the airport has been pretty lucky in June with about three flights a day and four additional flights a week.

“Again, a far cry from where we used to be but nice story is that the bookings are solid enough that people are starting to come back.”

While Vanderhoek notes volume is generally increasing, Air Canada announced on Tuesday that it’s discontinuing service on 30 domestic routes — including its London to Ottawa route — and closing eight stations at airports across the country amid weakened demand for travel due to the novel coronavirus and measures put in place to limit its spread.

— with files from The Canadian Press’ Christopher Reynolds and Global News’ Andrew Russell.

© 2020 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.