Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2023: Everything you need to know about giant US event
The Gold Coast’s most famous beach will be radically transformed to host the US’s biggest airshow, with new images and video revealing what the city is in store for. SEE THE VIDEO
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The Gold Coast and its world-famous beaches will be showcased to more than 43 million people next month at the US’s largest air show.
RAAF jets will fly above California’s Huntington beach to promote the new Australian leg of the Pacific Airshow, which will be held above Surfers Paradise beach from August 18-20 2023.
In a bid to lure hundreds of US travellers to the city, a delegation of business and political leaders, including Mayor Tom Tate, will travel to California and appear in live broadcasts to talk up the Gold Coast.
Organisers say the “Indy in the air” will inject at least $25m into the Gold Coast economy, lure up to 150,000 tourists and boost the city’s quiet late winter events calendar.
CEO Kevin Elliott vowed the show would “change the face of winter tourism forever”.
“August is not necessarily the high season for the Gold Coast so we want to turn it into the most popular time of year to visit,” he said.
“Ensuring the city does not have a dip in the calendar is something I am keen on and in the US we took what was normally a period of year with few bookings and made it No.1.
“It will be an immersive and visceral experience because these jets will vibrate you to the core and you will want to come back year to year.”
Mr Elliott unveiled images of how giant grandstands would transform Surfers Paradise beach for the event.
Pacific Airshow was first held in California in 2016 and has featured performances by the US Air Force Thunderbirds, US Navy Blue Angels, Royal Air Force Red Arrows and Canadian Forces Snowbirds.
More than 3 million people attended the 2021 show at Huntington beach.
The US event is shown live on Disney-owned service Hulu.
While there will be some ticketed elements, attendance will be free, with the public invited to Surfers Paradise beach for the festivities.
Tickets for the corporate suites and hospitality grandstands will go on sale on November 1.
The event will be held over three days and include four hours of aerial acrobatics each day.
More than 40 performers from 20 different aerial acts will take part on the Gold Coast. Planes will launch from both Amberley air base in Brisbane and Coolangatta airport.
Mayor Tom Tate said it was critical for the city’s economy to establish a year-round events calendar.
“Diversifying our major events calendar is about attracting new visitors and boosting bed nights. This global event will put our city on the world stage,’’ he said.
Major Events Gold Coast CEO Jan McCormick said the air show would be a “game-changer” for the city.
“I’ve no doubt that now the 2023 dates are announced, the media and marketing exposure across Australia is sure to result in strong accommodation bookings giving our tourism sector a welcome boost though the traditionally quieter August period,” she said.
“Importantly, hosting this spectacular airshow well and truly cements our city’s reputation as a world-class events destination.”
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