Visitors and exhibitors attending AERO 2026, taking place from 22 to 25 April at Messe Friedrichshafen, will benefit from an expanded range of travel and accommodation options designed to improve access to Europe’s leading general aviation trade fair.

Air connectivity to Friedrichshafen has been strengthened with the launch of scheduled services by Air Uniqon. Since 12 January 2026, the airline has been operating flights from Berlin, Düsseldorf and Hamburg using a 76-seat De Havilland Dash 8-400 turboprop aircraft. The new routes complement existing transport links to the Lake Constance region and are intended to make access to the show quicker and more convenient.

Tobias Bretzel, Show Director of AERO at fairnamic GmbH, said the new scheduled services represent an important addition to the mobility options available to AERO participants, supporting efficient travel to the exhibition grounds. In addition to the scheduled network, charter services will also be available, including a dedicated charter flight from London Stansted to Friedrichshafen on Wednesday 23 April, returning to the UK on the evening of 24 April.

As a general aviation event, AERO continues to cater extensively for visitors arriving in their own aircraft. The proven slot booking system, optimised in 2024 through cooperation between the organiser, Friedrichshafen Airport, air traffic control and security authorities, will again be used to manage arrivals and departures. Registration for the online system opens in mid-February, with mandatory slot booking becoming available from mid-March to ensure fair allocation during the trade fair period.

Alternative regional airports are also available for self-flying visitors, including Mengen, Leutkirch and Konstanz. From Konstanz, Friedrichshafen can be reached quickly via catamaran across Lake Constance. The Markdorf Gliding Club, a long-standing AERO partner, will once again make its AERO UL gliding airfield available as a trade fair airfield. Located around 10 kilometres west of Friedrichshafen, it will be accessible to ultralight aircraft during the show, although piston aircraft and motor gliders are not permitted.

Rail travel remains another convenient option, with direct connections to Munich, Basel and Stuttgart. From Friedrichshafen Stadtbahnhof, regular shuttle buses will provide fast links to the exhibition grounds. Visitors travelling from Switzerland can also make use of ferry services from Romanshorn, connecting to the shuttle network on arrival in Friedrichshafen. Those arriving by car will find ample parking available at the venue.

Accommodation has also been addressed through a new partnership with Hotel Management International (HMI), which has been appointed as AERO’s official housing partner. HMI is providing a bundled overview of available hotel rooms in Friedrichshafen and the surrounding region, all bookable online. For the first time, three free shuttle bus routes will connect hotels in Ravensburg, Überlingen and Lindau with the exhibition centre, serving multiple intermediate stops and operating at no cost to guests.

AERO 2026 will again showcase the full spectrum of general aviation, business aviation and air sports, from drones and gliders to helicopters, training aircraft and business jets. New propulsion systems, electric flight, advanced avionics, services and pilot accessories will also feature prominently, alongside the AERO Conferences, reinforcing the event’s role as a key platform for knowledge exchange and professional development.