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In a news conference on Wednesday, Mar. 20, Mayor Marty Small Sr. officially announced the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) will provide $300,000 to fund the 2024 Visit Atlantic City Airshow. The free event is scheduled for Tuesday, Aug. 13, and Wednesday, Aug. 14.
Organizers said inflation and lingering COVID-19 pandemic impacts created doubts about the 2024 show as early as July 2023. A news release announcing the event's cancelation was drafted and could have been made public as soon as Thursday, Mar. 21.
Mayor Small Sr. said the SJTA funding came after he talked with Gov. Phil Murphy about how the show was at risk of being canceled.
"The air show was important," said Mayor Small Sr. "It's vital midweek business for the casinos. Millions upon millions have attended that air show over its time."
The mayor also told the governor the event was crucial to the city because there were no beach concerts this upcoming summer.
"The Atlantic City Airshow brings thousands of spectators to the beaches of Atlantic City every year and is essential to the success of the city’s economy," Gov. Murphy said in a statement. "We’re thrilled to announce a partnership with the South Jersey Transportation Authority and Atlantic City International Airport to ensure this fantastic event takes place this summer."
The Greater Atlantic City Chamber runs the air show. Chamber president Michael Chait said the event attracts about 500,000 visitors and $50 million in economic impact to Atlantic City each year.
Chait also said it has a larger purpose beyond free summer entertainment.
"It also highlights the brave men and women who serve," Chait said. "It highlights our aviation economy here in the county. This has tremendous legs and reach as a single event."
The 2024 air show will take flight without a major act: the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. The squadron told the chamber in December 2023 that it wouldn't be returning.
Chait said the Thunderbirds have also shifted towards weekend events to rest their aircraft and to make more community appearances during the week.
"They get 2,500 requests to fly air shows across the globe," said Chait. "We've been incredibly fortunate to have them for 20 years."
While the funding is secure to hold the air show in 2024, it's not the first time the event has been in jeopardy. After financial concerns were raised in 2021, Visit Atlantic City became the event's title sponsor.
Chait said the air show industry as a whole is struggling, casting doubt over the Atlantic City event's survival.
"It is a conversation that you have to have going forward about the sustainability of the event," he said.
Chait also added that the air show was considering a move to a weekend during the "shoulder months" of May, June, or September. The event submitted a request to the Department of Defense to have the Thunderbirds and the Navy's Blue Angels perform in 2026.
Chait said the DOD's decision about 2026 was expected in December 2024.
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