BOURNEMOUTH Air Festival’s future is guaranteed following the announcement of a major new sponsorship deal.

Specially invited guests, including the Mayor, Councillor Rod Cooper, toasted the welcome news during a patrons’ evening at the cliff-top Miramar hotel.

CityFibre, a leading UK fibre optic infrastructure provider and Gigler, the UK’s fastest Internet service provider, confirmed their backing for at least the next two years.

Rob Hamlin, CityFibre’s director of business development, said: “We are very proud to be sponsoring such a fantastic, popular and well regarded event.

“Investing in the Air Festival is another way we can support the local community. We have an office in Bournemouth which is home to one of our largest fibre optic broadband projects in the UK, with many local businesses and residents taking advantage of unprecedented superfast broadband speeds.”

Jon Weaver, Air Festival director said: “To receive a commitment from CityFibre to support the air festival is terrific. It is thanks to their support that we are able to secure so many varied displays across the four-day festival.

“We look forward to working with them over the next few years to deliver another brilliant event for residents and visitors to enjoy.”

The air festival will be staged from Thursday, August 29 until Sunday, September 1.

The RAF’s Red Arrows air display team will take to the skies on Thursday and Friday at 4pm as well as on Saturday at noon, with the ear-splitting Typhoon putting on displays on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

There will be a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight each day with the Tutor and Tucano training aircraft also on show. Other attractions will include appearances by the Tigers and Red Devils Parachute Display Teams, The Blades and Miss Demeanour Hunter Jet as well as Brendan O’Brien’s Flying Circus.

Five Royal Navy frigates will be at sea along with the French Navy L’Etoile training ship. Details of timings will be announced later.

Terry Trevett, chairman of the Bournemouth Red Arrows Association, said: “Times are tough and getting financial backing isn’t easy. I’m delighted sponsorship has been secured; this is great news.”