Business aviation in the ascent at AERO Friedrichshafen 2026

• Record business aviation presence: 50 aircraft - up from 30 last year

• Major OEM highlights: latest jets and turboprops incl. Textron Citation Ascend, Falcon 6X, Bombardier Global 6500 and Daher TBM 980

• New collaborations & formats: expanded partnerships, forums and dedicated business aviation programme

The 32nd Edition of AERO Friedrichshafen, Europe’s leading general aviation show, welcomes its biggest business aviation presence ever when it opens its doors on April 22nd for four days.

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

Out on the static and in the halls, 50 showcased aircraft are business models - fixed wing and helicopters - versus a 30-strong line up last year. Highlights include debutantes from Textron - its new, mid-size Citation Ascend stopping off on its European tour, the super mid-size Longitude and Dassault’s Falcon 6X and Bombardier’s Global 6500.

Turboprop headliners include Daher’s brand new TBM 980, the latest Kodiak 900 and a welcome of return the Piaggio P.180 Avanti Evo. Cirrus will show its latest Series 3 Vision Jet.

Piaggio Aerospace back with the Avanti Evo.

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

“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

Another newly ratified collaboration, to be further widened out in 2027, is with The Air Charter Association, which introduces its European Regional Forum 2026 at AERO. The ACA will moderate three panel sessions from 1400hrs to 1630hrs during 22nd April starting with What Does The Air Charter Industry Do? It will explore the broad scope of the charter industry from relief flights, medevac to sports and music tours.

Citation Ascend to debut at AERO Friedrichshafen.

Moderated by The ACA CEO Glenn Hogben, speakers are: Oliver Smith, Head of Sales and Business Development, SaxonAir; Aaron Stein, Global Director of Operations, Victor; Rasmus Bank, Chief Sales Officer, JoinJet and John Hewett, Global VP, Universal Aviation.

Avoiding Illegal Aircraft Charter will explore how regulations vary in different territories and what can be done to avoid risk. The subject will be tackled by Adam Neaves, Head of Charter, Gama Aviation and Adelaide Rispoli, Sales Manager, St Barth Executive, with Dave Connor, Chief Executive, RVL Aviation/ACA Board Member.

Understanding The Role And Value Of The Air Charter Broker will be debated by David Stocks, Director, Private Jets (DE) Air Charter Service; Sam Heather, Managing Director, 26Aviation and Tomas Camprubi, Managing Director (UK), LunaJets, chaired by Julie Black, Head of Business Aviation, Hunt & Palmer/Board Member of The ACA.

Newcomers interested in becoming a charter broker are invited to participate in a one-day The Air Charter Essentials Certificate on 21st April, a timely segue to combine initial training with the exhibition the following day. No prior knowledge of air charter is required.

Corporate Jet Investor is introducing two panels on April 23rd. 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.

AEROFriedrichshafen 2025.

Another new feature this year will be the Women in Aviation International brunch from 1000hrs on 23rd April 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 16th April, AERO Friedrichshafen had signed more than 850 exhibitors from 50 countries.

The organisers 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.

Further information is available here

BlueSky Business Aviation News | 16th April 2026 | Issue #838