The Aire 25 Festival, set to take place in San Javier this weekend, is being described as the biggest air festival in Spain this year.
Organisers expect around half a million visitors to attend the two-day event, which will celebrate 40 years of the Patrulla Águila with a rare gathering of elite aerial display teams from across Europe and beyond. To help the event run smoothly, extensive plans have been put in place for parking, transport, beach safety, and public facilities.
25,000 parking spaces across the area
Due to the expected influx of visitors, the San Javier Town Council has arranged nearly 25,000 parking spaces between San Pedro del Pinatar and Los Alcázares. Around 14,000 of those are in San Javier itself.
The most convenient parking areas close to the main event zones include:
If you’re visiting the static aircraft display at the General Air Academy on Saturday, you can access it from the seafront promenade or Calle Coronel López Peña, where a newly opened car park has 174 designated spaces for vehicles carrying disabled drivers. Similar reserved spaces are available near the open-air cinema.
Shuttle buses available on Sunday
To ease the traffic on Sunday, June 15, free shuttle buses will run from more distant parking areas, including:
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Los Urreas
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Molina Plaza
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El Mirador
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Telefónica
These buses will take visitors directly to the beachfront area of Santiago de la Ribera, where the aerial displays will take place between 10:00am and 5:00pm.
Bathing restrictions in place for safety
Due to the nature of the aerial displays and possible water landings during the event, restrictions have been introduced on swimming in certain areas of Santiago de la Ribera:
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Friday, June 13: Swimming is not allowed beyond 50 metres from the shore until 7:00pm.
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Saturday, June 14: No bathing restrictions.
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Sunday, June 15: Swimming is not allowed beyond 50 metres from the shore between 10:00am and 6:00pm.
These measures are in place to ensure safety during high-speed flights and potential emergency landings.
What to expect from the Aire 25 Festival
The programme is split across two days. On Saturday, June 14, the General Air Academy (AGA) will be open to the public from 10:00am to 6:00pm, showcasing around 70 aircraft in a static display. Visitors can get a close look at military and civilian aircraft, and the event is expected to be attended by King Felipe VI, who will also watch the aerial displays on Sunday, June 15, alongside the Minister of Defence and high-ranking Air Force officials.
On Sunday, attention turns to the skies over the Mar Menor, where the full air show will take place. The event features:
There will also be demonstrations by modern aircraft such as:
Making their first appearance at a Spanish air festival are the LCA Tejas, supersonic jets from India’s Air Force, with a silhouette similar to the Mirage.
Saying goodbye to the C-101
A major moment in the festival will be the farewell to the legendary C-101 jet, nicknamed ‘culopollo’, which has served as a key training aircraft at the Air Academy for four decades. This will be the last chance to see the aircraft in action before it is retired and replaced by the new Pilatus PC-21, a Swiss-made turboprop trainer. A pilot from San Javier will demonstrate the PC-21’s capabilities during the show.
Extra facilities and services
To handle the high number of visitors:
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Two field hospitals will be set up: one on the seafront by the Santiago building, and another in the Atalayón area.
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Over 100 portable toilets will be available throughout the area, supported by access to facilities at restaurants and beach bars.
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A food truck zone offering food and drink will be located near the old Los Arcos hospital.
Live coverage and entertainment
The festival officially kicked off on Thursday, June 12, with the unveiling of a sculpture dedicated to aviation in Plaza de la Cruz, where fans were able to meet and get posters signed by members of Patrulla Águila.
Evening entertainment includes:
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Friday, 10:30pm – Concert by La Saga, playing Spanish pop-rock classics
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Saturday night – Tribute concert to El Canto del Loco
On Sunday, RTVE’s La 1 channel will broadcast live from the event between 12:00 and 2:00pm, offering a front-row seat for those who can’t attend in person.
The Aire 25 Festival promises to be an unforgettable celebration of aviation, community, and national pride, combining precision flying, history, and family fun in one of the most iconic settings in southern Spain.
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