The annual airshow in Huntington Beach passed a pivotal test Friday afternoon when the California Coastal Commission unanimously voted to grant a five-year permit to operate. The approval means the airshow will take place as planned Oct. 3-5.

The operator, Pacific Airshow LLC, had failed to apply for a Coastal Commission permit in prior years. Some critics had concerns that the show violated rules protecting coastal resources and public access to the beach, which the commission oversees.

Plus, the airshow has generated controversy among Huntington Beach residents after the city agreed to pay the operator up to $7 million plus additional perks in order to settle a lawsuit over the show’s cancellation in 2021 after a major oil spill off the coast.

Numerous public officials and others

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