GA Airshow EuropePast edition

AERO Friedrichshafen

The global trade show for general aviation. AERO Friedrichshafen brings together aircraft manufacturers, avionics and equipment vendors, flight schools, and tens of thousands of pilots from across Europe and the world for four days every April.

April 22–25, 2026Messe Friedrichshafen, Friedrichshafen, Germany~33,000 attendees

Visit official site

What to expect

AERO is to general aviation what NBAA-BACE is to business aviation — the single largest industry gathering. Expect every major European GA aircraft manufacturer, the fast-growing eVTOL and electric-aviation segment, avionics and equipment vendors, training-aircraft brands, ULM/microlight makers, and a strong contingent of European flight schools recruiting students. Four days, twelve halls, an outdoor static display, and a flight demonstration area make AERO physically large — plan two full days minimum to cover the relevant halls. The training and education hall (typically Hall A3) is where flight schools and training-tech vendors concentrate; that's where most flight school owners spend their time.

Quick facts

Dates

April 22–25, 2026

Location

Messe Friedrichshafen
Friedrichshafen, Germany

Estimated attendance

~33,000

Exhibitors

~600

Registration

from EUR 28 day pass

Languages

DE, EN

Regulatory focus

EASA

Also known as

AERO, AERO Expo, Friedrichshafen Air Show, AERO Friedrichshafen

Who attends

GA aircraft manufacturers (Diamond, Tecnam, Pipistrel, Aquila), avionics and equipment vendors (Garmin, Avidyne), flight schools recruiting students, training-tech vendors, ULM makers, individual pilots from across Europe, and a substantial international contingent attracted by the global product launches that happen at AERO each year.

Why flight schools attend

AERO is the highest-traffic event in Europe for student recruitment. Tens of thousands of current and prospective pilots walk the halls; flight schools with a presence in the training hall meet more potential students in four days than they do in months at home. AERO is also the place to see new training aircraft, evaluate avionics fleet upgrades, and meet pipeline-airline recruiting partners — the German GA industry uses it as the de facto annual planning venue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes — AERO is the highest-traffic GA event in Europe with tens of thousands of current and prospective pilots walking the halls. Flight schools with even a small presence in the training hall meet more potential students in four days than they typically do in months of local marketing.

AERO runs annually in mid-to-late April at Messe Friedrichshafen, on the German shore of Lake Constance. Dates are usually announced about 12 months in advance via aero-expo.com.

The training and education hall (typically Hall A3 in recent years) concentrates flight schools, training-tech vendors, and pilot-development-related exhibitors. That's where most flight school owners spend their time, alongside the aircraft manufacturer halls if they're considering fleet decisions.

Related events

Dortmund, Germany