Strong momentum for the AERO 2015

Strong international growth: With 33,900 industry visitors from 60 countries over four days, the AERO registered a marked increase in visitor numbers. International visitors in particular generated strong momentum for the aviation show at Lake Constance: “In under 40 years, the AERO Friedrichshafen has transformed itself from a small special show for gliders into the world’s most important industry trade show for general aviation,” said Messe Friedrichshafen CEO Klaus Wellmann and AERO project leader Roland Bosch at the close of the show on Saturday, summing up the positive results of the event. With 645 exhibitors from 38 countries, the international aviation show had already set a new record on opening day.

The number of world premieres and new products that were presented at the AERO also exceeded all previous records for the event. In addition to a comprehensive spectrum of products and the presence of the market’s leading players, industry visitors from Germany and abroad were met with a highly specialized range of international general aviation offerings. The industry meeting at Lake Constance has become an essential destination on the flight plans of aviation experts, pilots and industry media. 33,900 visitors from 60 countries (2014: 29,700 visitors) ensured a strong plus at the show. Media interest also grew considerably. The press center accredited about 600 journalists, half of whom came from abroad. Industry and media attention was focused on new aircraft in the business jet segment, as well as ultra-lights and gliders and helicopters and drones at the RPAS expo. Electric aircraft were the focus of interest at the e-flight-expo and also got the attention of policymakers, drawing EU Commissioner Violeta Bulc and the Baden-Württemberg state minister of Education Winfried Hermann to visit the AERO in Friedrichshafen on the show’s last day.


As project leader Roland Bosch said, “We are continuing the success story of Count Zegbppelin. Zeppelin built the world’s largest airships in Friedrichshafen, and 100 years later we are organizing the world’s largest and most important show for general aviation.” This is demonstrated not only by the exhibitor and visitor records, but also the high quality of the machines and aircraft exhibited at the show. “Whether it be high-tech sailplanes or exclusive business jets, with the arrival of the first mass-produced electric aircraft available for sale at the AERO, attention has now turned to sustainability in aviation”, Roland Bosch explained.


Exhibitor Comments

Eckhard Breuer, Sales Director, Bombardier Business Aircraft:

“For Bombardier, this was the first appearance in Friedrichshafen with a Learjet 75. We were impressed by how the business jet segment at the AERO has developed in the last few years. In addition to a series of good discussions with visitors from that segment, we were especially pleased by the strong interest expressed by many enthusiastic pilots in our Learjet 75. The collaboration with the Messe Friedrichshafen team was very professional and pleasant in every respect.”


Alberto Porto, Managing Director, Swiss Excellence Airplanes:

“The exhibition went quite well for us and many people came to visit our booth. However, there were many exhibitors here, and a lot from our segment. So the competition is tough. But there were several potential customers who visited us and we will be back next year.” 


Tine Tomazic, Head Engineer for Electric Aviation, Pipistrel d.o.o. Ajdovscina:

“We are very happy that more and more people are now following the trend of electric flight that we started in 2007. So far, we have had the largest number of visitors ever. This is also because we are the only stand that offers two electric planes for sale. Not only have we had more visitors than ever before, but these have included a high share of customers and potential customers and fewer casual visitors. Those who have visited us have been seriously interested. So this has been the best AERO yet. We will definitely come back next year.”


Dr. Nicolas von Mende, CEO, Atlas Air Service AG (Cessna):
“Atlas Air Service is appearing at the AERO 2015 together with its new subsidiary Augsburg Air Service (formerly Beechcraft Vertrieb und Service GmbH). Together with our partners Textron Aviation and Bell Helicopter, we are showing off the largest product range of any exhibitor at the AERO: single and twin-engine sport aircraft, the twin-engine Beechcraft King Air turboprops and the Cessna Citation Jets as well as Bell helicopters. We brought a lot of new ideas and expectations about our appearance at the AERO to the Messe Friedrichshafen team, which granted all of our wishes. This year, for the first time we are appearing at the show with our new partner, Bell Helicopter. We are presenting the successful Bell 429 and the new Bell 505 Jet Ranger X. This means that, for the first time, the turbine helicopter segment is being presented at the AERO 2015 by Atlas Air Service and Bell. Interest among visitors to the exhibition far exceeded our expectations. We hope that the AERO will become an important leading trade show for small and medium-sized helicopters for civilian and business customers. The AERO also had a very tangible result for us: On the next-to-last day of the show, we were able to sign a sales contract for a new Citation XLS+ with a southern German operator.”


The AERO 2016

The next AERO will take place from April 20 - 23, 2016 at the exhibition grounds in Friedrichshafen. More information is available at www.aero-expo.com.