AERO 2025: general aviation showcase

AERO reflects the entire spectrum of General Aviation, from air sports aircraft to business jets. This mixture of different areas of aviation is unique at a trade fair and is one of AERO's strengths. General Aviation can look back on a successful year and is entering the new year with optimism. The need for young pilots at airlines and other aircraft operators around the world is ensuring good capacity utilization at flight schools and a high level of orders for manufacturers of training aircraft. Private demand for single-engine and twin-engine piston aircraft is also at a good level globally despite all the crises. Therefore, the conditions for a successful AERO 2025 are in place.

Tobias Bretzel, AERO show director at fairnamic commented: “We are delighted with the development of AERO in general as well as in the individual areas. In addition to our traditional, loyal exhibitors, who have been meeting their customers and interested parties at AERO for many, many years, there are also many new companies that we will be welcoming to AERO in 2025. The number of exhibitor registrations is already ten percent up compared to last year. The e-flight expo in hall A7 will welcome again the Dutch Pavilion, as well as the Chinese Innovation pavilion for the first time. Both will be focusing on innovations within sustainable aviation. Furthermore, pavilions from the Czech Republic, and local German regions like Brandenburg, Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, and Bremen. We are very happy to see so many pavilions joining us for AERO 2025 – this truly underlines the importance of the show in the different areas."

The exchange between the different aviation branches and with the authorities and organizations, especially at the international level, is another strength of the trade fair. Quite a few technological innovations, such as glass cockpits, winglets, or the use of composite materials in primary structures of aircraft, were first introduced in light aviation and – once the advantages of these innovations became apparent – were also integrated into commercial aircraft. General Aviation is an innovation incubator for other areas of aviation. 

The ultralight aircraft industry will once again present itself at AERO 2025 as particularly innovative and with a wide variety of products. The raising of the weight limit to 600 kilograms in Germany two years ago enables the development and production of even more innovative aircraft, which will be on display at AERO 2025. 

In 2025, glider manufacturers will once again enrich AERO 2025 with their aircraft and services as part of the AERO Gliding Expo in hall A1 before returning to the traditional two-year participation rhythm. For AERO 2025, over 10 various pavilions have confirmed their participation. Amongst them, national pavilions, regional Aerospace cluster pavilions, and association pavilions within different sectors. 

Visitors who want to find out what the future of aviation looks like can see groundbreaking innovations such as hydrogen fuel cell engines, electric aircraft, innovative avionics and new, lighter materials at AERO. The AERO Sustainable Aviation Trail will once again guide visitors to companies that are particularly involved in the topic of “sustainable aviation” through the entire venue.

The AERO Conferences, which at AERO 2025 will once again include over 200 individual topics ranging from the AERO Hydrogen & Battery Summit to the General Aviation Academy training series and product presentations, will promote this exchange on an international level across the individual areas of aviation and will be gratefully received by the stakeholders. 

AERO 2025 will feature an expanded exhibition area for business aviation, without forgetting traditional general aviation exhibitors such as manufacturers of piston engine aircraft, gliders, microlights, gyrocopters and others. Exhibitors from the business aviation sector will find optimal conditions for their product and service presentations in Halls A2 and A3 as well as in the spectacular Business Aviation Dome, which will be installed for the first time in the Static Display. An evening event on Wednesday (April 9, 2025) will offer exhibitors and invited customers an informal communication platform for an informal exchange of information. 

AERODrones, the “trade show within the trade show” for unmanned aerial systems previously held in hall A2, will take place in hall B4 for the first time in 2025. This brings it closer to Helicopter hall B5, which is important for drone operators. Still, it will be held as a three-day event from April 9 until April 11.

Within the Helicopter Hangar, multiple helicopter OEMs like Airbus, Bell, and Leonardo, as well as distributors, operators, and suppliers, will present themselves and their innovations. Together with the German Helicopter Association, a dedicated four-day conference program linked to rotorcraft will be held. The aviation industry offers outstanding career opportunities in many areas. Cockpit personnel, engineers, skilled workers, and software developers are being sought to shape the industry's future. Many companies use AERO 2025 to attract young talent.