AERO Expo 2026 · Friedrichshafen
CollectAirs at AERO Friedrichshafen 2026
In April 2026 the CollectAirs team went to AERO Expo 2026 at Messe Friedrichshafen. The Friedrichshafen AERO expo is one of the most important general aviation events and airshows in Europe.
For us it was more than a stand at a trade fair. It was a chance to meet the market in person: owners, sellers, buyers, brokers, collectors and partners who care about aircraft as much as we do.
Our team met visitors at the booth, showed them how our aircraft auction platform works, and made a lot of new contacts.
Photo gallery
On the ground at AERO 2026
Photos from CollectAirs at the Friedrichshafen AERO expo 2026: our booth, the static aircraft line, and the conversations we had at Europe's leading general aviation airshow.
What is AERO Friedrichshafen?
AERO Friedrichshafen (widely called AERO Expo or aero friedrichshafen) is one of the leading aviation trade shows and airshows in the world. The AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 dates were 22–25 April 2026 at Messe Friedrichshafen in Germany, next to Friedrichshafen Airport.
The AERO airshow covers piston aircraft, turboprops, business jets, helicopters, ultralights, gliders, drones, avionics, maintenance, training and new aviation technology. The scope is much the same as earlier editions such as AERO Expo 2023.
Around 37,000 visitors from 88 countries attended AERO Expo 2026, while roughly 860 exhibitors from 50 countries made up the AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 exhibitor list: manufacturers, brokers, flight schools and aviation services.
Visitors typically arrange Aero expo registration or Aero expo tickets through the official organiser before they travel to Friedrichshafen. Planning AERO Friedrichshafen 2027? Messe Friedrichshafen publishes the dates and ticket options for the next spring edition once they are set.
Why AERO 2026 mattered for CollectAirs
We run an aircraft auction platform, so our work depends on trust, on visibility and on getting the sale right. AERO put us in the same room as the owners, sellers, buyers, brokers and partners who shape this market every day.
Our goal was simple: make CollectAirs better known, explain how our auctions work, and start partnerships that last. We want aircraft sales to be open, visible and easy to reach from anywhere.
The journey
Flying to AERO in a 1960 Beechcraft Twin Bonanza
The CollectAirs team flew from Magdeburg to Friedrichshafen in a 1960 Beechcraft Model H50 Twin Bonanza (N773AG) . An old aircraft, flown by hand, on the way to an aviation show. That is the kind of flying we care about.
Preflight, departure, the view along the way, then arrival at the show. The flight said everything about why we do this. It is technical work, but it is also personal.
Every aircraft has a story, and every flight adds to it.
Our stand
Our booth at AERO 2026
At the booth we showed visitors how our aircraft auction platform works. Sellers get professional presentation and real visibility. Buyers get hand-picked aircraft and an auction process they can follow.
For sellers
Reach the right aviation audience, in a real auction, with your aircraft presented properly.
For buyers
Browse hand-picked aircraft auctions with clear details and a process that hides nothing.
Market insights
What we learned at AERO 2026
Sellers need better visibility
How an aircraft is presented now decides whether it sells. Good photos, a real story, complete papers, the right audience. A few pictures and a phone number is not enough any more.
Buyers want trust above all
Nobody buys an aircraft they do not trust. Buyers want clear information and a process they can follow. An auction gives them both.
The market is truly international
AERO 2026 drew visitors from 88 countries. General aviation and business aviation are no longer local businesses.
Relationships still drive deals
Even online, aircraft sales run on trust. Meeting people face to face is still the fastest way to build it.
AERO Expo 2026
Frequently asked questions
- What is AERO Friedrichshafen and the AERO Expo?
- AERO Friedrichshafen (often searched as AERO Expo or aero friedrichshafen) is one of the largest general aviation trade shows and airshows in the world. It runs at Messe Friedrichshafen, right next to Friedrichshafen Airport in Germany. Aircraft manufacturers, brokers, pilots, owners, maintenance shops and aviation services are all there, under one roof.
- What are the AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 dates?
- AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 ran from 22 to 25 April 2026. Four days is normal for the spring edition of this aviation airshow. There are static aircraft displays, indoor halls and activity out on the apron across the Messe Friedrichshafen site.
- How do Aero expo registration and Aero expo tickets work?
- Visitor registration and Aero expo tickets are handled by the show itself, through Messe Friedrichshafen. We do not sell them. You can usually register online before the show, and tickets are also sold at the door for trade visitors and enthusiasts. For AERO Friedrichshafen 2027 ticket types and prices, check the official AERO Friedrichshafen website.
- Is there an AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 exhibitor list? How many exhibitors attended?
- The organiser publishes the full AERO Friedrichshafen 2026 exhibitor list. It runs to hundreds of companies in general aviation, business aviation, drones, avionics and services. The 2026 show had around 860 exhibitors from 50 countries, which makes it one of the biggest in the sector. CollectAirs was one of them.
- When is AERO Friedrichshafen 2027?
- AERO Friedrichshafen runs every spring at Messe Friedrichshafen. The organiser announces the AERO Friedrichshafen 2027 dates, so watch their official channels for the schedule, exhibitor registration and visitor tickets.
- How does AERO Expo 2026 compare with AERO Expo 2023?
- Like AERO Expo 2023 and the years before it, AERO Expo 2026 was about general aviation, business aviation and air sports. 2026 was a record year: around 37,000 visitors from 88 countries. The European aviation market has grown steadily since the pandemic.
- Did CollectAirs exhibit at Friedrichshafen AERO Expo 2026?
- Yes. We had a booth at AERO Friedrichshafen 2026. We showed visitors our online aircraft auction platform, had aircraft on the static line and promoted live CollectAirs auctions during the airshow.
- How did the CollectAirs team travel to AERO Expo 2026?
- We flew from Magdeburg to Friedrichshafen in a 1960 Beechcraft Model H50 Twin Bonanza (N773AG). Going to an aviation show by air, in an aircraft with that much history, felt like the right way to travel.
How CollectAirs supports sellers
Selling an aircraft comes down to presentation, trust and reach. Our online auctions put your aircraft in front of enthusiasts, buyers, collectors and professionals.
- Professional presentation to a targeted audience
- Auction-based urgency and genuine buyer interest
- Clear process from first contact to closing
- International reach beyond traditional channels
How CollectAirs supports buyers
Buyers want to trust the seller, the information and the process. We give you hand-picked auctions in one place, instead of listings scattered over a dozen sites.
Browse current auctions
From Friedrichshafen to the future of aircraft auctions
AERO 2026 was an important step for us. New conversations, new partners, and a clearer view of how we can help people buy and sell aircraft anywhere in the world.
AERO is about aviation. CollectAirs is about making sure an aircraft is seen by the right people, with the right information around it.