SANFORD, Fla. — The much-anticipated Orlando Air Show was slated to begin in just a matter of days, but now the Sanford community is scrambling after the air show was abruptly canceled.
What You Need To Know
The 2025 Orlando Air Show has been canceled due to the government shutdown
Local businesses in Sanford are losing significant revenue from the event’s cancellation
The air show had an economic impact of $12.8 million last year
Ticket holders can request refunds or defer to the 2026 show
People living in and around the Sanford community say they look forward to the air show every year and even make plans with the air show in mind. Without it this year, they feel that they’re not only missing out on a yearly staple, but businesses are missing major revenue.
Over the past 41 years, The Cattle Ranch Steakhouse has been faithfully serving Sanford residents and visitors along Sanford Avenue.
They’re known for their dinner-only schedule, aged steaks and proximity to the Orlando Sanford International Airport, where they look forward to experiencing the Orlando Air Show each year.
“The air show is big here. I mean, all of our customers love to go to the air show,” said The Cattle Ranch Steakhouse Co-Owner Vicki Bishop. “It brings us a lot of business in here.”
Due to the government shutdown, the Orlando Air Show organizers say the 2025 show, originally scheduled for this weekend, is now canceled after the U.S. military and their Thunderbird and Blue Angels demo teams withdrew.
The result impacts multiple parties involved.
“Planning for this show goes on for quite some time. And it involves, just as you indicated, vendors and volunteers and staffers and police and fire,” said Orlando Air Show Director of Public Relations Chris Dirato. “It just runs the gambit if you will.”
It also has a major economic impact.
Dirato says last year’s air show generated $12.8 million as tens of thousands of people are estimated to come to each show.
It’s foot traffic that Bishop and other business owners look forward to every year.
“We would do as much in a weekend as we would do maybe in a month or two months even here. That’s the level of impact we can have,” said Sanford Hangar Bar owner Robert Kennerney.
“It’s going to hurt a lot of people. You know it brings us a lot of business,” Bishop said. “Not only our local customers but all the people that are there and in town for the weekend.”
The show doesn’t just bring a draw for the weekend as visitors come out during the week to watch the air show practices.
Bishop is hoping this cancellation is only a one-year hiatus.
“I’m hoping they bring that air show back. And our customers and their business,” Bishop said.
2025 ticket holders can either request a refund or defer their tickets to the 2026 show, where they will be celebrating America’s 250th birthday.
This year’s air show tour was scheduled to take place in eight different U.S. cities, ending with Orlando.
The last air show took place in Atlanta on the weekend of Oct. 11. Despite the withdrawal of the U.S. military demo teams, the event still took place as scheduled.