CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — The Wings over South Texas Air Show won't be coming to the Coastal Bend next year.
NAS-Kingsville confirmed that information to 3NEWS on Monday.
The air show usually rotates annually between NAS-Corpus Christi and NAS-Kingsville, but the 2024 schedule does not list Kingsville.
The show is something airplane enthusiasts look forward to, and culminates with the famous Blue Angels taking to the skies.
It's estimated that the event brings about 100,000 visitors through the course of the springtime weekend, something Spice Station owner Zohair Charania said brings a lot of attention to his business.
"Every year when the air show comes, there's all the hype, everybody is coming from out of town, a big deal," he said. "It's a shocker because the base is right there, every time they were there, the Blue Angels come and eat here as well."
It's also been a big economic driver for the cities of Kingsville and Corpus Christi. Texas A&M University- Kingsville student Nate Rivera said that for him and many other residents, the air show is a big deal.
"It's a little heartbreaking I won't lie just because there's only so many things we have here in Kingsville," he said.
Kamlesh Bhikha is the owner of the Kingsville Quality Inn. He said the absence of the airshow will mean a loss of revenue for him and several others who look forward to the business every other year.
"Going to be a very big impact as far as economic concern, all the hotels were always booked, tourist will come in for the weekend but the people who come in before and after to get the stage ready those also, we looking at a one week impact," he said.
The City of Kingsville was the proud sponsor of the air show back in 2022 and is motivated to bring it back. A spokesperson for Kingsville said city and county leaders have reached out to navy leadership in an effort to return the Blue Angels to Kingsville.
A letter from Kingsville's mayor was sent to the chief of naval air training last December requesting support for a Wings over South Texas Air Show at NAS Kingsville.
Buc Days officials are hopeful for the Wings over South Texas air show to return to Corpus Christi in 2025 to coincide with Buc Days. An official 2025 schedule is expected to be released in December.
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