ACCOUNTS for the Jersey International Air Display have been published for the first time – revealing that the event posted a £500 loss last year.
The loss has prompted chief organiser Mike Higgins to repeat his call for more financial support from the government and sponsors – to ensure the longevity of the free show.
The unaudited income and expenditure report for 2023 and 2024 shows that the display made a small surplus of £131 in 2023, but ran at a deficit of £551 last year – its first financial loss in over 20 years, said Mr Higgins.
He added said the decision to publish the accounts was to provide transparency to individuals and organisations who put their hands in their pockets to support the display.
A statement accompanying the accounts reported: “As the air display is part funded through crowdfunding and a government grant (i.e. taxpayers’ money), we think it is important for you to see where we derive the money to put on the air display and where the money is spent.”
According to the figures, total income fell from £129,580 in 2023 to £118,074 in 2024. While taxpayers’ support dropped by £20,000 from £60,000 to £40,000, donations and sponsorship rose from £68,500 to £74,703.
Income
- Unaudited 2024
- Sponsorship & Donations: £74,703
- Government of Jersey Grant: £40,000
- Sundry income: £3,371
- Total: £118,074
- Unaudited 2023
- Sponsorship & Donations: £68,500
- Government of Jersey Grant: £60,000
- Sundry income: £1,080
- Total: £129,580
“The government has never paid more than 50% of the total cost,” Mr Higgins said. “Last year, they covered around a third of it. We raised another £35,000 through crowdfunding and the rest came from the private sector.”
The accounts show that accommodation costs fell from £32,620 in 2023 to £18,481 in 2024, which Mr Higgins attributed largely to the absence of international display teams such as the French Patrouille de France and the RAF Red Arrows, who were touring Canada at the time.
He explained that in 2023, the Patrouille team required 41 hotel rooms, during a week of the year in which hotel prices are among the highest of the year.
Despite the tight budget, Mr Higgins said planning for this year’s show was well underway, with 15 aircraft already confirmed and efforts being made to secure more.
Expenditure
- Unaudited 2024
- Aircraft: £30,167
- Accommodation: £18,481
- Transport: £6,873
- Arena & Lower Park: £22,330
- Broadcasting, Publicity and Brochure: £19,350
- Flight Control Committee, Ops, and Compliance: £8,867
- Hospitality: £12,072
- Sundry (incl finance costs): £485
- Total: £118,625
- Unaudited 2023
- Aircraft: £32,619
- Accommodation: £32,620
- Transport: £7,532
- Arena & Lower Park: £17,727
- Broadcasting, Publicity and Brochure: £12,292
- Flight Control Committee, Ops, and Compliance: £16,931
- Hospitality: £9,481
- Sundry (incl finance costs): £248
- Total: £129,449
“This year we’re trying to get back to the 2019 level of air display, which means aircraft costs will probably double what you see in 2024,” he said.
Organisers are still in talks with the government over this year’s grant, with Mr Higgins saying he hoped for “substantially more” than last year’s £40,000.
The 2025 display will be held on Thursday 11 September, with the RAF Red Arrows set to return as the headline act following their absence last year.
Other participants include the RAF Typhoon, Falcons Parachute Display Team, the Royal Navy’s Black Cats Helicopter Display Team, and historic aircraft such as the Catalina flying boat, Fairey Swordfish, and Fokker D.XXI.
A static display at Jersey Airport will return on Wednesday 10 September for the first time in five years.
Lower Park will again host food stalls, hospitality tents, military vehicles and family-friendly activities in the space between Victoria Avenue and St Aubin’s Road.
Organisers plan to launch a new crowdfunding appeal to help cover the cost of additional aircraft, including Swedish jets like the Saab Draken and Viggen, and have also appealed to businesses for sponsorship.
