The Warbirds charitable trust, like other Wanaka event organisers, has noticed increased pressure on funding organisations and corporate sponsors during the past few years.
New Zealand's economy - and particularly Otago's - is now said by some economists to be recovering from the recession, with domestic spending the main reason for economic growth.
Chief executive Roger Clark and events manager Mandy Deans said yesterday ticket pre-sales were stronger than sales for the 2008 show.
They have also been encouraged by support from Dunedin City Ford, which came on board yesterday for the first time as the airshow's official vehicle supplier.
Signing the first sponsor was "really important for us" and "a key plank in the sponsorship programme", Mr Clark said.
Other sponsorship negotiations were continuing and more information should be available next month, he said.
The trust has been keeping a close eye on international visitor trends and Mrs Deans has been promoting the airshow to the Australian market, which has remained strong for this region this year.
Australians have been prompted to visit the southern regions in large numbers this year because of the snow season, favourable tax returns and cheap airfares, according to tourism industry commentators.
But domestic visitors are expected to be the biggest contributors to Wanaka's economy this summer, so Mr Clark and Mrs Deans are particularly keen to entice visitors they know are in Wanaka for Easter but do not usually go to the airshow.
"Pre-sales would indicate one-off events have not been impacted by the recession.
"That seems to be a worldwide trend . . .
"We have had pre-sales internationally and nationally, but there's still a huge opportunity to get more locals to the event.
"So we are having a big drive on encouraging people south of the Waitaki to come," Mr Clark said.
The airshow programme had been tweaked slightly to include other attractions such as a wine and food festival and displays of other vintage vehicles and machines, Mrs Deans said.
Dunedin City Ford new vehicle sales manager Keith Kippenberger said yesterday a V8 racing car and V8 ute would take part in next year's runway display, plus new cars would be for sale.
"It will be all noise and colour, smoke and smell," he said.
Warbirds Over Wanaka was founded by Sir Tim Wallis and the Alpine Deer Group more than 20 years ago.
The charitable trust took over the event after the 2006 show and ran its first show in 2008.
