Business Aviation in the Ascent at AERO Friedrichshafen 2026

The 32nd edition of AERO Friedrichshafen, Europe’s leading general aviation show, is set to welcome its largest-ever business aviation presence when it opens its doors on April 22 for four days.

Exhibitors include business aviation associations from Asia (AsBAA), Germany (GBAA), and Austria (AABA), along with an emerging Middle East contingent, including representatives of MEBAA.

AERO Friedrichshafen.

On the static display and in the exhibition halls, 50 showcased aircraft—both fixed-wing and helicopters—will be featured, a significant increase from last year’s 30. Highlights include debut appearances from Textron’s new mid-size Citation Ascend, which is stopping off on its European tour, the super mid-size Longitude, Dassault’s Falcon 6X, and Bombardier’s Global 6500. Turboprop headliners include Daher’s brand-new TBM 980, the latest Kodiak 900, and the return of the Piaggio P.180 Avanti Evo. Cirrus will also showcase its latest Series 3 Vision Jet.

For the first time under new Diamond Aircraft ownership, Volocopter will present its VoloXPro, a personal ultralight vertical mobility solution, in the Innovation Area (Hall A7). Diamond Aircraft will also unveil three world aircraft premieres at its main stand in Hall A4. Another newcomer is Germany’s ultra-light EvoCopter ClassiX helicopter.

Piaggio Aerospace back with the Avanti Evo.

“We took a bold decision to widen out our business aviation element, buoyed by the success of the Business Aviation Showcase Hub last year,” said Tobias Bretzel, Show Director, AERO Friedrichshafen. “We created more space on the static and had sold all slots by the end of March. We have doubled the exhibitor numbers in the Dome and opened a new Hall (A1) to accommodate mainly new exhibitors, which this year include JetEx, ViaSat, UAS, Hadid, Flight Safety International, CAE (which is coming with a Diamond 42) and Web Manuals.”

Other new collaborations see the arrival of The International Aircraft Dealers’ Association (IADA) with a member pavilion and a new pre-owned aircraft line up in co-operation with GlobalAir.com.  Prospective buyers are invited to use a special VIP entrance situated in the north part of the Dome. They can also apply for a landing slot if seeking to fly in and out. 

The Air Charter Association brings European Regional Forum to AERO

A newly ratified collaboration with The Air Charter Association (ACA) introduces its European Regional Forum 2026 at AERO. The ACA will moderate three panel sessions on April 22 from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM, starting with What Does the Air Charter Industry Do? This session will explore the broad scope of the charter industry, including relief flights, medevac, and sports and music tours. Moderated by ACA CEO Glenn Hogben, speakers include Oliver Smith (SaxonAir), Aaron Stein (Victor), Rasmus Bank (JoinJet), and John Hewett (Universal Aviation).

Avoiding Illegal Aircraft Charter will address regulatory variations across territories and risk mitigation strategies. Speakers include Adam Neaves (Gama Aviation), Adelaide Rispoli (St Barth Executive), and Dave Connor (RVL Aviation/ACA Board Member).

Citation Ascend to debut at AERO Friedrichshafen.

Understanding the Role and Value of the Air Charter Broker, will feature David Stocks (Air Charter Service), Sam Heather (26Aviation), and Tomas Camprubi (LunaJets), moderated by Julie Black (Hunt & Palmer/ACA Board Member).

Newcomers interested in becoming charter brokers can participate in a one-day Air Charter Essentials Certificate on April 21, designed as an introduction to the industry.

Corporate Jet Investor and Media Panels

Corporate Jet Investor is introducing two panels on April 23. How to buy pre-owned aircraft without headaches, moderated by CJI’s Yves Marchand, with Meghan Dwyer, Sales Director, Europe, Guardian Jet LLC; Olivier Knutti, Managing Director, 88K; Warren Lovell, VP Aircraft Sales Europe and Africa, Leviate Air Group and Steve Varsano, CEO, The Jet Business. The second panel dives into aircraft ownership with Algernon Trotter, CEO, LUMINAIR; Dr Oliver Kosing, Aero-Dienst, Managing Director and Damir Spojaric, CEO, Alpha Aviation.

Media partner AIN Media Group’s Managing Editor Charles Alcock will moderate two panels. Challenges in the global business aviation industry on 23rd April is scheduled for 1230hrs with Steffen Merz, Board Member, German Business Aviation Association (GBAA); Antonia Gilbert, President, Austrian Business Aviation Association (ABAA); Penny Lim, CEO, Southeast Asia, Asian Business Aviation Association (AsBAA) and Carsten Nesemann, Attorney & Expert on Aviation Taxation and Tariffs. The second, at 1430hrs, titled The Bottlenecks in business aviation will be addressed by David Bergold, CEO, LUMINAIR; Ieva Trotter, CFO, Platoon Aviation; Mohammad Osta, Commercial Director, HADID) and Maxim Ivanov, OCC Manager, FCG OPS.

The Air Charter Association brings the European Regional Forum to AERO

Another new feature this year will be the Women in Aviation International brunch on April 23rd at 10 a.m. with WAI CEO Lynda Coffman and special guest speaker, Dr Susan Ying, CEO, EM-power and Board member, Noemi Aerospace.

On April 22nd at 11 am, the newly created TAB (Technology Aviation Business) will announce ‘A New Chapter for Aviation Technology’ on the Dome stage.

As of April 16th, AERO Friedrichshafen had signed more than 850 exhibitors from 50 countries.

The organizers are also looking forward to working with new media partner Aviation Week Network for Innovation and Digital intelligence, collaborating on talks on the Innovation Stage and Flight Global, once again, as official Showcase sponsor with their Show Dailies.

Business aircraft line up 

88K – PC-12; Air Alliance PC-24; Pilatus PC-12 NGX, Pilatus PC-12; Air Alliance GmbH Pilatus PC-24 & PC-12 PRO; Air Independence PC-12; Airstream, a.s. Beechcraft King Air; Air X, Challenger 850; AMC Aviation, Learjet 60XR; Augsburg Air Service GmbH, King Air, Embraer Phenom 100E; BHS Aviation GmbH; Citation Latitude - 680A, AW109 SP; Bombardier, Challenger 6500; Business Jet Aviation TR GmbH, Phenom 100; Cirrus Aircraft, Vision Jet Series 3; Cirrus SF50, Vision Jet; DAS Private Jets GmbH, Embraer Phenom 300E; Dassault Aviation Falcon 6X; FAI Aviation Group Learjet 60XR; Haute Aviation, Bell 407; HTM Helicopter Travel Munich Airbus EC135; Jetron, King Air C90; MT-Propeller Entwicklung GmbH, Piper Meridian;  Piaggio Aerospace P.180 Avanti EVO; Piper Aircraft, Inc. Piper M700, Piper M500, Piper PA 28 Archer DX; Platoon Aviation; Pilatus PC-24; Rheinland Air Service DAHER TBM 980, HondaJet Elite II, Kodiak 900; Bell 407, Bell 505 Jet Ranger X; Silesia Air s.r.o. Beech King Air 260; Tecnam P2012 Traveller; Textron Aviation King Air 260, Caravan EX, Virus, Cessna 206, Citation Ascend, Citation M2 Gen2, Citation Longitude; Cessna T182, Cessna 172; Volare Aviation: Bombardier Global 5000; EC155; Wipaire; Cessna 172.

Please find further information at: https://www.aero-expo.com/trade-show-branches/branches-and-specials/business-aviation