PUNTA GORDA — The Florida International Air Show has canceled its "Wings Over Charlotte Harbor" air show, which had been set for Oct 24-25.
The flyover of Punta Gorda and the waterfront was planned to replace a full show at Punta Gorda Airport, which is not available because of runway renovations.
Air Show board chairman Dana Carr said while the Punta Gorda City Council had given tentative approval for the plan, there was no way for the city to cover an estimated $30,000 cost of the fire, police and road services it would provide.
"The city has no grant mechanism to help with those expenses," Carr said.
Carr said that the decision to cancel the program is not related to coronavirus social-distancing concerns and projections that there may be a resurgence of the virus this fall.
"This is more of a funding issue; it's 95 percent a funding issue," he added.
Charlotte County has given the Air Show a grant out of its tourism budget to cover those expenses at the airport, because of the show's economic impact to the region.
"The county can't fund city operations, unfortunately," Carr said.
In addition to that, several longtime sponsors have had to suspend their backing because of the economic downturn.
Once named one of the "Ten Best Air Shows in the World," by USA Today, the Florida International Air Show has raised more than $3 million for area charities and nonprofits. It used to be a staple in the spring, but the all-volunteer effort decided to go on hiatus in 2015 because of mounting costs during peak season.
It returned in the fall of 2016.
Last year, the 38th annual show featured the return of the USAF Thunderbirds.
"Wings Over Charlotte Harbor" would have been easily seen from Gilchrist and Bayshore Parks, as well as various locations from Laishley Park to Fishermen's Village — including boaters in Charlotte Harbor.
"Essentially we were providing a free air show," Carr said.
Air Show organizers had been anticipating the runway rehabilitation projects at Punta Gorda Airport for years, with an eye toward using the waterfront, before the fundraising wrinkle developed.
Its return to the airport is tied to the completion of the runway projects — so no firm date is set.
While the show is canceled, the air show board hopes to organize some sort of flyover of the Charlotte County waterfront to thank nurses, doctors, first responders and others on the front line in dealing with COVID-19.
Referencing a national flyover tour by the Thunderbirds and U.S. Navy Blue Angels mentioned by President Trump, Carr said ideally it would link up with that, but even if no military jet teams are available, the air show board hopes to create something using local air show performers.
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