The Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Wales Airshow) Regulations 2026

Published: Fri 24th Jul 26

These Regulations established a restricted airspace zone in the vicinity of Swansea to facilitate the safe execution of the Wales Airshow on 25 and 26 July 2026.

The order prohibits all aircraft from flying below 8,000 feet above mean sea level within a specified coordinate-bounded area, except for those with express permission from the event's flying display director or where existing prison-related flight restrictions apply.

The restrictions affect all pilots and aircraft operators scheduled to be in the South Wales area during the designated operational hours.

Arguments For

The Secretary of State asserts that these restrictions are necessary in the public interest to ensure safety during intended flying displays.
The Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport state that the high-energy manoeuvres performed by aircraft during the airshow require restricted airspace to protect the public.
The regulations provide a mechanism for authorized flight by allowing the Wales Airshow flying display director to issue specific permissions for aircraft to enter the restricted zone.

Arguments Against

General aviation pilots may face logistical difficulties or increased fuel costs if forced to navigate around the restricted zone during peak weekend hours.
Legal analysts might note that the 8,000-foot ceiling is a significant vertical restriction that could impact transit flights across the South Wales coast.
The use of Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC) in the document, while standard in aviation, may cause confusion for local non-aviation stakeholders, as it differs from British Summer Time (BST).

Citation and commencement

These Regulations may be cited as the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Wales Airshow) Regulations 2026 and they come into force on 25th July 2026.

This section establishes the official name of the regulations and sets the date they become legally active. The rules go into effect on 25 July 2026.

Interpretation

In regulation 3(2) the times referred to are Co-ordinated Universal Time( b ).

This section clarifies the time standard used for the restrictions.

It specifies that all listed times are in Co-ordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is one hour behind British Summer Time.

Restricted airspace

-(1) Subject to paragraph (3), during the periods specified in paragraph (2) no aircraft is to fly below 8,000 feet above mean sea level within the area bounded by straight lines joining successively the following points-

(a) 513800N, 0040040W,
(b) 513800N, 0035100W,
(c) 513400N, 0035100W,
(d) 513400N, 0040040W, and
(e) 513800N, 0040040W.

(2) The periods referred to in paragraph (1) begin with-

(a) 1000 hours and end with 2045 hours on 25th July 2026, and
(b) 1000 hours and end with 1600 hours on 26th July 2026.

(3) Paragraph (1) does not apply-

(a) insofar as flying is already prohibited by the Air Navigation (Restriction of Flying) (Prisons and Young Offender Institutions) (England and Wales) Regulations 2023( a ), or
(b) to any aircraft operating in accordance with a permission issued by the Wales Airshow flying display director.

This section defines the geographical boundaries and altitude limits for the flight prohibition.

It mandates that no aircraft may enter the specified box near Swansea below 8,000 feet during the daytime and early evening hours of the airshow weekend.

It also identifies exceptions to these rules.

The restrictions do not apply to aircraft that have received permission from the Wales Airshow flying display director or to areas where more stringent flight bans regarding prisons are already in effect.

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