After calling off the Eastbound 2025 edition, VATSIM has confirmed that its flagship Cross The Pond (CTP) event will return in Spring 2026. Organisers paused the event to rethink its structure and management, responding to rising demands on both volunteers and participants. The goal is to ensure CTP remains both enjoyable and sustainable, with more details on the next event due in the coming months.
A Flagship Event Facing New Challenges
Running for more than twenty years, Cross The Pond has become VATSIM’s largest recurring event, bringing thousands of pilots and controllers together for coordinated flights across the North Atlantic. Traditionally held twice a year with alternating westbound and eastbound editions, the scale and complexity of the event have steadily grown. Organisers cited this growth as the main reason for the recent cancellation, explaining that a review of management processes was necessary to preserve the event’s quality and to support those involved.
Restructuring and Annual Format
During the hiatus, VATSIM’s planning team worked closely with local representatives and the Board of Governors to overhaul how Cross The Pond is organised. As the organisers state:
“Cross the Pond and Cross the Land will form part of the annual VATSIM.net Major Network Events calendar. The planning team will work closely with the Vice President, Network Events and Regional Representatives, and the event will now be run under the VATSIM.net umbrella rather than as a standalone event.”
A major outcome of these changes is that Cross The Pond will now take place once each spring, replacing the former twice-yearly schedule. This new annual format aims to prevent volunteer fatigue and balance the workload across the year, ensuring the event’s continued quality and sustainability for the VATSIM community.
The planning team is finalising the date for Spring 2026, promising a full announcement soon. The restructuring signals a new chapter for Cross The Pond, aiming to balance the event’s popularity with the well-being of those who make it possible.
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