AIRCRAFT for the Great Pacific Air Show over Huntington Beach flying from the Army Airfield at the Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos in 2019 (DVIDS photo).

One of Huntington Beach’s signature public events has fallen victim to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Great Pacific Airshow 2020, scheduled for Sept. 18-20, has been cancelled.

“Our team has worked tirelessly to curate a spectacular family-friendly, patriotic weekend featuring the finest aviators in the world for your enjoyment,” said Kevin Elliot, air show director, in a statement released Friday (today). “Recently, we have exhausted all possible contingent scenarios in consideration of the COVID-19 crisis.”

The air show, which featured aerial acrobatics, classic aircraft and more, centered around the city pier and beaches. It started in 2016 as the Breitling Air Show. It was rebranded in 2018 as the Great Pacific Airshow under different sponsorship and at its peak attracted as many as an estimated 2 million spectators.

Analysis by the city indicated the show brought in millions of dollars of business to  Huntington Beach restaurants, bars, shops and hotels.

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