The AERO SOUTH AFRICA is set to go

Messe Friedrichshafen has set its sights on a new, promising destination. The global show for general aviation, which has been successfully taking place at Lake Constance for over 40 years, is now also landing in South Africa thanks to a close partnership with Messe Frankfurt. From July 4 to 6, 2019, Messe Frankfurt South Africa, in cooperation with Messe Friedrichshafen, will put on the first AERO SOUTH AFRICA at the Woonderboom Airfield in Pretoria, South Africa. “The collaboration with Messe Frankfurt South Africa underscores the great significance that the AERO Friedrichshafen brand enjoys around the world. In addition, the Messe Frankfurt is well present in South Africa to favorably position the AERO brand there,” said Klaus Wellmann, CEO of Messe Friedrichshafen.


For Roland Bosch, Head of AERO, Messe Frankfurt is the ideal partner for Messe Friedrichshafen in South Africa, as its South African subsidiary, based in Johannesburg, possesses important local expertise thanks to its many events, as well as operational resources. Konstantin von Vieregge, CEO of Messe Frankfurt South Africa, adds that “the AERO SOUTH AFRICA perfectly rounds out our South African portfolio, as we already offer the largest automotive and boating trade shows in the country and, with this new aviation trade show, will thus cover all three elements. We are looking forward to close cooperation with the Messe Friedrichshafen team.”


With this move, the AERO once again has underscored its strong international aspirations. The European event holds the top spot in the rankings of industry trade shows for general aviation. “South Africa is a classic land of aviation: the number of aircraft is high, but due to the current average age of this inventory the need for contemporary aircraft and the corresponding modernization of the infrastructure is great,” says AERO head Roland Bosch, assessing the market situation. Furthermore, the Johannesburg/Pretoria region is the most important hotspot in South Africa from a business perspective.


There will be yet another international AERO presence by Messe Friedrichshafen in the foreseeable future: in China, the Messe Friedrichshafen management said, announcing additional global business activities. The 27th AERO Friedrichshafen takes place from April 10 to 13, 2019.