The 32nd edition of AERO Friedrichshafen, widely regarded as Europe’s leading general aviation show, opens on 22 April for four days, with organisers expecting to welcome its biggest business aviation presence ever.

The event brings together business aviation associations from Asia, Germany and Austria, alongside an emerging Middle East contingent including representatives of MEBAA.

Across the static display and exhibition halls, 50 aircraft are being showcased in business aviation categories, including both fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters, up from 30 last year. The line-up includes new aircraft from Textron Aviation, with the Citation Ascend making a European tour stop and the super mid-size Citation Longitude also on display, as well as Dassault’s Falcon 6X and Bombardier’s Global 6500. Turboprop aircraft highlights include Daher’s new TBM 980, the latest Kodiak 900 and the return of the Piaggio P.180 Avanti Evo. Cirrus is presenting its latest Series 3 Vision Jet.

Under new Diamond Aircraft ownership, Volocopter is appearing for the first time in the Innovation Area (Hall A7) with its VoloXPro personal ultralight vertical mobility solution. Diamond Aircraft is also marking three world aircraft premieres on its main stand in Hall A4. Another first-time exhibitor 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,” says show director Tobias Bretzel. “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, FlightSafety International, CAE, which is coming with a Diamond 42, and Web Manuals.”

Additional collaborations include the International Aircraft Dealers’ Association (IADA), which will host a member pavilion and a pre-owned aircraft showcase developed with GlobalAir.com. Prospective buyers are invited to use a special VIP entrance in the north section of the Dome, with the option to request landing slots for fly-in visitors.

A new partnership with the ACA introduces its European regional forum for 2026 at AERO. The ACA will moderate three panel sessions on 22 April, beginning with What Does the Air Charter Industry Do?, in a discussion covering areas ranging from relief flights and medevac operations to sports and music touring. Moderated by ACA CEO Glenn Hogben, speakers include Oliver Smith (SaxonAir), Aaron Stein (Victor), Rasmus Bank (JoinJet) and John Hewett (Universal Aviation).

The second panel, Avoiding Illegal Aircraft Charter, will explore regulatory differences across regions and approaches to reducing risk, featuring Adam Neaves (Gama Aviation), Adelaide Rispoli (St Barth Executive), Dave Connor (RVL Aviation) and ACA board member.

Understanding the Role and Value of the Air Charter Broker will be chaired by Julie Black (Hunt & Palmer/ACA board member), with David Stocks (Air Charter Service), Sam Heather (26Aviation) and Tomas Camprubi (LunaJets).

Women in Aviation International will host a brunch on 23 April, featuring WAI CEO Lynda Coffman and guest speaker Dr Susan Ying, CEO of EM-power and board member of Noemi Aerospace.

As of 16 April, more than 850 exhibitors from 50 countries had confirmed participation.