The skies above Motril are already offering a preview of one of the Costa Tropical’s biggest summer events. Aircraft taking part in the XX Motril International Air Festival have begun practice flights over Poniente Beach, building anticipation for the main event this Sunday, 21 June.
These training manoeuvres, carried out in the days leading up to the festival, include helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft performing low passes and coordination exercises visible from the coastline. The activity has quickly attracted attention from residents and tourists, who are already gathering along the seafront to watch the early displays.
The air festival will officially begin at 11:00 a.m. and will run for around four hours, transforming the beachfront into a continuous aerial showcase. The program will feature a wide variety of aircraft, including military units, rescue helicopters, and historical planes, alongside international participants and specialized demonstration teams.
This year’s edition brings together assets from different branches of the armed forces and emergency services, combining operational demonstrations with aerobatic performances. Organisers highlight the diversity of the lineup as one of the key features of the event, which aims to showcase both modern capabilities and aviation heritage.
The Festival Aéreo Internacional de Motril has become one of Spain’s most prominent air shows over the past two decades. It regularly attracts large crowds to the beaches of Motril, with previous editions drawing well over 200,000 spectators, making it one of the most significant tourism events in the region.
Originally created as a small local initiative linked to the city’s heliport, the festival has evolved into a major international showcase. With rehearsals already underway and the coastline filling with anticipation, Motril is set for a weekend where the sky becomes the main stage.