Air Charter Expo to Launch Regional Europe Edition at AERO Friedrichshafen 2027
Why It MattersThe move signals AERO Friedrichshafen consolidating its position as Europe's primary business aviation gathering point as EBACE's profile has diminished.
What happened
The UK-based Air Charter Expo (ACE) will stage its first regional European event, Air Charter Expo Regional – Europe, as part of AERO Friedrichshafen 2027 in Germany. The announcement was made at ACE26, held at London Biggin Hill Airport, which attracted more than 2,100 visitors from 62 countries.
Glenn Hogben, CEO of the Air Charter Association, confirmed that the regional event will run for two-and-a-half days, offering a dedicated programme of networking events and workshops covering training and professional topics for the air-charter industry. Attendees will have their own entrance and a dedicated event area in Hall A1 and the Dome, along with a conference stage.
Tobias Bretzel, Show Director of AERO at Fairnamic GmbH, announced at ACE26 in Biggin Hill that confirmed exhibitors for AERO 2027 has reached 306, including OEMs Dassault Aviation, Bombardier, and Robinson Helicopters. Between 50 and 70 business aircraft are expected in the static display, and Bretzel added that the show is on track to register a total of 900 exhibitors overall. Bretzel emphasised that the expanded business aviation presence and the partnership with the Air Charter Association will not come at the expense of AERO's traditional general aviation focus, noting the return of the gliding community to Hall B5 at the 2027 edition.
Industry impact & what to watch
This kind of tie-up, a national charter association folding a regional event into an established general aviation show, reflects how European trade events are consolidating around a smaller number of larger gatherings rather than each segment running its own standalone show. Business aviation exhibitors and buyers get access to a broader general aviation audience and existing exhibition infrastructure, while the host show gains a dedicated professional programme and floor space it did not previously offer.
The backdrop is EBACE's declining profile as the continent's leading business aviation trade show, which has left an opening for AERO Friedrichshafen to expand its business aviation footprint through partnerships like this one rather than building the segment from scratch. Whether AERO can hold both audiences depends on execution: Bretzel's commitment to keep the gliding community in Hall B5 signals an attempt to protect the show's general aviation identity while growing the business aviation side.
The next marker will be how exhibitor and static-display numbers for the 2027 edition compare with what was confirmed at ACE26, and whether the Air Charter Association's regional programme draws attendance distinct from AERO's core general aviation base.
