Newcastle Airshow KZN

MEDIA STATEMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

24 July 2026

RESPONSE BY THE FORMER ORGANISERS OF THE NEWCASTLE AIRSHOW

Eleven years.
That is how long a local Newcastle company carried this Airshow on its shoulders, not for personal gain, but because we believed Newcastle deserved an event it could be proud of.

The irony of being accused of wanting to "monopolise" an event we built from the ground up is almost laughable.
Let us deal in facts instead of political theatre.

We have noted the media statement issued by the Newcastle Municipality on 24 July 2026 with profound disappointment.

We categorically reject the Municipality's allegations that we orchestrated, encouraged or participated in any campaign to sabotage the 2026 Newcastle Airshow. These allegations are false, unsubstantiated and unsupported by a single piece of evidence.

It is deeply concerning that a public institution, entrusted with serving every resident of Newcastle fairly and impartially, has chosen to publish a media statement filled with speculation, insinuation and personal attacks rather than verifiable facts. Municipal communications should be guided by professionalism, accountability and evidence, not by rhetoric designed to shift blame.

For eleven consecutive years, the Newcastle Airshow was organised by a local Newcastle company. It was never about personal gain. It was about giving our town an event that residents could be proud of, inspiring young people to pursue careers in aviation, creating opportunities for local businesses and showcasing Newcastle to thousands of visitors from across South Africa.

Contrary to the Municipality's claims, we did not receive ongoing financial support from the Newcastle Municipality. The Municipality's contribution in recent years was limited to the use of the airport runway and grounds. The last municipal funding we received was in 2016.

Whenever funding was received from the KwaZulu Natal Department of Economic Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs, we used that support to make the Newcastle Airshow free for every member of the public.

In the years where tickets were charged, admission never exceeded R80, purely to recover a portion of the significant costs associated with staging an event of this magnitude. School learners attended free of charge every single year because we believed aviation should inspire every child regardless of their financial circumstances.

The Municipality now speaks of economic opportunities while overlooking the fact that those opportunities were created and sustained by local people for more than a decade. Local suppliers were used. Local businesses benefited. Local accommodation establishments, restaurants, fuel stations and retailers all shared in the economic activity generated by the Airshow.

One comment made by a resident raises an important question:
"If the Municipality believes new organisers should be given an opportunity to host the Newcastle Airshow, why is the same principle not consistently applied to other long standing municipal events?"

That is a legitimate question deserving of an honest answer.

Equally troubling is the Municipality's attempt to imply that the former organisers somehow contributed to the postponement of the 2026 Airshow.

We did not organise a boycott.
We did not encourage residents to oppose the event.
We did not interfere with sponsors.

If the Municipality possesses credible evidence to support these serious allegations, it should place that evidence before the public. If it cannot, it should withdraw those allegations and apologise for the reputational harm caused by publishing accusations without proof.

The postponement of the 2026 Newcastle Airshow is disappointing for every resident, exhibitor, sponsor, local business owner and learner who looked forward to the event. Responsibility for that outcome cannot be shifted onto individuals or organisations through unsupported allegations contained in a media statement.

The Newcastle Airshow was not built by media statements.
It was built over eleven years through countless hours of volunteer work, sponsorship negotiations, aviation partnerships, logistical planning and the unwavering support of the Newcastle community.
A legacy of service cannot be rewritten through political rhetoric.

We remain immensely proud of what was achieved over more than a decade and grateful to every pilot, volunteer, sponsor, emergency service, exhibitor, local business and resident who helped make the Newcastle Airshow one of Newcastle's most celebrated events.
We reserve all of our rights in respect of the false and defamatory implications published against us and will consider the appropriate legal remedies available to protect our reputation.

Our hope remains that the Newcastle Airshow will once again become an event that unites the people of Newcastle rather than divides them.

A reputation is not built through media statements. It is built through eleven years of delivering results.

Newcastle knows who built this Airshow. History does not change because someone writes a press release.

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