Even those at Southport didn't expect the great number of people attending the weekend's air show. Southport Aerospace is responding to the Saturday Event, which saw major complications as a result of highway construction, road washouts, and between 18,000 and 20,000 people driving south of Portage la Prairie for the event. CEO Peggy May notes while they weren't organizing the event, they were shocked by the sheer number of people who came out for the show, citing the last Air Show hosted by Southport in 2009.

"I think our numbers were more like the 6,000 mark and I don't think anyone thought we'd get those numbers. Perhaps because there wasn't a show in Manitoba in so many years, that people thought they'd get out because the weather was supposed to be a nice. It was a little bit rainy in the morning, but the afternoon was lovely and it just would have been nice to have a few more days of that in advance to help the roads and the mud."

The attendance, combined with those road issues led to major backlogs on the highways leading to Southport, causing some potential attendees to abandon their plans. That led to several complaints and calls for refunds from the organizers, who've already stated they'd not be issuing any refunds for those who turned around.

Despite those concerns, May says they're not writing off the possibility of partnering on, or hosting an air show in the future. She feels the vast number of people who bought tickets and support the show displays a public interest in air shows.

"Two years ago we hosted the Snowbirds when they came out to do a practice. They gave us a few days notice, and we were able to organize some food vendors and I think it was even a rainy afternoon. We still managed to have 3,000 people come out to watch them, so there's definitely an interest and enthusiasm in the community to see some our military perform."

She says traffic congestion aside, the performers for the 2016 Manitoba Air Show were excellent, and they look forward to hosting another air show in the future.