February 09, 2026
AERO, taking place from 22 to 25 April 2026, is the world’s leading international trade fair for general aviation, business aviation and air sports. Once again, the exhibition will welcome visitors to Friedrichshafen. With the exhibition grounds located directly at Friedrichshafen Airport, AERO offers pilots the opportunity to arrive conveniently in their own aircraft. The optimized slot booking process, which has proven its worth in recent years, will be applied again in 2026.
Following its introduction in 2024, the slot allocation system was jointly reviewed by the event organizer fairnamic GmbH, Friedrichshafen Airport, air traffic control and the relevant security authorities. Minor adjustments were made to ensure that unused slots can be reassigned efficiently. The total number of available slots remains unchanged compared to the previous year.
Pilots wishing to secure arrival and departure slots during the show days from 22 to 25 April can pre register via the online booking system starting on 12 February 2026. From mid March 2026 onwards, registered users will be notified in stages when they are able to book and pay for their mandatory arrival and departure time windows for the duration of the show.
Advance registration ensures a fair and transparent distribution of the available slots. The booking system also allows users to update their personal details and slot selections. As in previous years, the pilot package for arriving aircraft includes a complimentary one day trade fair ticket.
At the time of slot booking, crews will be charged a slot reservation fee. All additional services, including landing and parking fees, will be invoiced after the show. Any changes made by the pilot prior to departure that affect the applicable charges will be settled in a single, transparent invoice.
Prior to departure, pilots are required to present their license at the crew tent for verification. It will also be checked whether passengers have been registered in advance. Passengers not accompanied by the pilot will not be permitted to enter the airport premises. These measures support airport security and ensure full traceability for both the authorities and the airport operator. A shuttle service between the crew tent and the aircraft will once again be provided. For safety reasons, the use of the shuttle vehicles is mandatory and offers a comfortable transfer for pilots and their passengers.
Tobias Bretzel, AERO Project Manager at fairnamic GmbH, commented that slots are often a sensitive issue in general aviation. He emphasized that the current allocation procedure has proven to be customer friendly over the past two years and enables optimal use of the available capacity, while safety and customer focus remain top priorities.
As a long standing partner of AERO, Segelfliegergruppe Markdorf e.V. will once again make the Markdorf gliding airfield available as the designated AERO UL airfield. During the show days from 22 to 25 April 2025, the airfield located approximately ten kilometers west of Friedrichshafen will be available for ultralight aircraft, including three axis controlled aircraft, trikes and gyrocopters, during published operating hours. E class aircraft and motor gliders are not permitted. Operations at Markdorf require prior permission, with registration via www.SFG Markdorf.de. Please note that customs services and fuel are not available at the airfield.
Further arrival options with shuttle connections to the show are available via Regio Airport Mengen EDTM, Leutkirch EDNL and Konstanz EDTZ, the latter accessed by catamaran. Special combined tickets are offered by the organizer.
Alternatively, pilots may also choose Biberach airfield EDMB, located to the north of Friedrichshafen, and continue their journey to Friedrichshafen Airport by train using Deutsche Bahn.