10 March 2026
Sustainability will take centre stage at AERO 2026, as Europe’s trade fair for general aviation prepares to showcase a wide range of technologies.
The event, which takes place in Friedrichshafen, Germany from 22–25 April 2026, will highlight advances in propulsion systems, alternative fuels, lighter materials and operational technologies designed to make aviation more efficient and environmentally friendly.
Organisers say the show will give visitors a clear view of how the aviation industry is responding to pressure to decarbonise while continuing to expand air transport and recreational flying.
A key addition to the 2026 event is the Innovation Stage, located in Hall A7, where industry experts will present talks on sustainable aviation during the first two days of the exhibition. The stage will be surrounded by an Innovation Area where companies will present new ideas, projects and technologies shaping the future of flight.
New for 2026: AERO’s Innovation Stage. Image: AERO
Tobias Bretzel, Show Director of AERO at fairnamic GmbH, said sustainability has become a central focus for the event. He noted that AERO has long promoted new technologies, including launching the e-Flight Expo in 2009 to highlight developments in electric aviation.
“This year’s AERO Friedrichshafen puts sustainable aviation at the centre of the show,” Bretzel said, pointing to the new Innovation Stage and the redesigned exhibition space dedicated to future technologies.
Another new feature is the AERO Sustainable Aviation Trail, designed to guide visitors to exhibitors working on environmentally focused projects. More than 100 companies will be highlighted along the trail, which will be marked by green-and-white windsocks above participating stands.
These exhibitors will present a wide range of solutions, from advanced propulsion systems and alternative fuels to digital navigation tools that optimise flight routes. Improved routing software can reduce fuel consumption by enabling shorter and more direct journeys while accounting for weather conditions.
General aviation plays an important role in the development of these technologies. Smaller aircraft platforms allow innovations to be tested and refined more quickly and at lower cost before being applied to larger commercial aircraft.
How’s this for a solar panel? The hall roofs of Messe Friedrichshafen have been covered in a photovoltaic system. Image: AERO
The sustainability theme will also extend beyond the exhibition halls. Messe Friedrichshafen recently installed a 5.5-megawatt rooftop photovoltaic system across ten exhibition buildings, creating the largest solar installation of its kind in the Lake Constance region. The system will generate a significant portion of the venue’s electricity and reduce CO₂ emissions by around 2,735 tonnes annually.
Alongside the exhibition, the fourth AERO Hydrogen & Battery Summit will take place on 21–22 April, bringing together experts from industry and research to discuss battery technology, hydrogen propulsion and pathways toward CO₂-free aviation.
