Warbirds Over Wanaka Community Trust chairman Garth Hogan said in an interview with the Otago Daily Times yesterday the trust was "in the black but not as much as we would like to be" after the show at Easter.
He declined to disclose the financial outcome, which he had said, in an earlier statement, "needs to be better".
"No. It is commercially sensitive because of negotiations we are involved in and are going to be involved in".
"We are a community trust and we need to keep not only a sufficient surplus to carry forward... but eventually we would like to be able to look after various community organisations," Mr Hogan said.
He stressed the future of the airshow was secure.
Planning for the 2010 show has been under way for several months and trust members are working on a new job specification for the newly-created position of chief executive, based in Wanaka.
Christchurch-based full-time general manager Gavin Johnston announced his resignation this week, citing the restructuring as the reason for his departure in June.
Mr Hogan said he did not yet know what the chief executive's role would be or whether it would be full-time.
"We are in the throes right now of finalising the job description.
I am not sure what that will be.
But we want the CEO to oversee the whole operation," Mr Hogan said.
The trust would continue to present the type of event established by founder Sir Tim Wallis and Alpine Deer Group but needed to ensure financial security and sustainability, he said.
"The trust sees this as best being achieved by establishing a broader management regime.
The show contributes an estimated $50 million into the local economy, but is financially `neutral' in its own returns.
This year's show under the trustees' ownership and responsibility was an outstanding spectator success but the financial outcome needs to be better," Mr Hogan said.
The show attracted an estimated 86,000 people over three days in March.
Warbirds Over Wanaka is one of the largest spectator events in New Zealand.
An international rugby test, depending on stadium sizes, can pull between 30,000-50,000 people.
Mr Hogan rates Warbirds as one of the four "must-see" airshows in the world, partly because the public can get close to the action, the weather is reliable and the landscape is stunning.
The trust acknowledged the work by Mr Johnston and Alpine Deer Group in creating the event and looked forward to the challenges ahead, Mr Hogan said.
