The future of ILA Berlin is secure until 2030

At the joint cabinet meeting of the Senate of Berlin and the government of the State of Brandenburg the two states concluded a framework agreement for staging ILA Berlin from 2026 to 2030. The signatories to the agreement were the Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Franziska Giffey, the Minister for Economics, Employment and Energy Dr. Jörg Steinbach, the CEO of Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH Aletta von Massenbach, the CEO of Messe Berlin Dr. Mario Tobias, and the member of the board of the German Aerospace Industries Association Martin Kroell.

Since 1992, ILA has been held at Schönefeld Airport and since 2012 at the Berlin-ExpoCenter-Airport site in the Schönefeld district of Selchow, on the grounds of Berlin Brandenburg Airport (BER). With today’s signing of the new ILA framework agreement for 2026 to 2030, the parties underlined the aerospace trade fair’s importance and secured the staging of ILA in Berlin/Brandenburg until 2030.

As Europe’s leading innovative trade fair for the aerospace industry, ILA showcases the future of aviation. Every two years it gathers figures from the international industry, politics, the armed forces, research and science at BER Airport for a dialogue on innovation, new technology and sustainability. On the Open Weekend it gives the wider public the opportunity of a first-hand experience of the latest aerospace trends.

Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Minister President of the federal State of Brandenburg: 

“ILA is the world’s longest-running air show and the most important showcase for the industry in Germany. As one of three leading centres of aviation technology excellence, the Berlin/Brandenburg region is the ideal venue for ILA and benefits hugely from it. It gives an enormous boost to the region in terms of growth and employment. That is why it was important for Brandenburg to secure a long-term prospect and planning certainty for ILA. With the signing of the framework agreement we paved the way for that today. The States of Berlin and Brandenburg want to accompany the future development of this long-standing and important event.“

Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin: 

“The International Air Show (ILA) is the most important showcase for the industry in Germany. 115 years after it was first launched it continues to exhibit cutting-edge aerospace technology. At this year’s ILA the focus is on forward-looking topics such as climate-neutral aviation and digitalisation. With the framework agreement, Berlin and Brandenburg have secured the staging of ILA until 2030. Aerospace is a key industry that creates and secures good jobs in the Berlin/Brandenburg region.“

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jörg Steinbach, Economics Minister of the State of Brandenburg: 

“ILA is Brandenburg’s most important industrial fair. The new framework agreement is the result of close cooperation between the five partners of ILA. I would like to thank our four partners for committing to the new framework agreement which runs until 2030. This ensures planning certainty for those involved and for all future exhibitors at ILA. That sends an important message to the entire aerospace sector and every related industry.”

Franziska Giffey, Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises: 

“ILA has established itself globally as a leading trade fair for the aerospace industry. It is a symbol of the international competitive standing and innovative drive of the Berlin/Brandenburg region and of all of East Germany as a high-tech business location. The aerospace industry with around 17,000 employees is a key industry in the metropolitan region of Berlin/Brandenburg. We want to further strengthen its dynamic development with ILA, and in doing so secure more long-term jobs for the region. Today we are taking yet another step towards becoming Europe’s leading business location for innovation.“

Aletta von Massenbach, CEO, Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: 

“With the staging of ILA now guaranteed until 2030, both hosts and international participants have more planning certainty for this important innovative trade fair. This will boost business in the Berlin/Brandenburg region and further the ongoing dialogue for developing low-emissions technology for the aerospace industry. We very much look forward to visitors at the exhibition grounds at BER.”

Martin Kroell, member of the board of the German Aerospace Industries Association (BDLI): 

“As the owner of the ILA brand the BDLI is pleased that the show has received this strong backing from committed partners. This is not something we take for granted, rather it gives us further encouragement. ILA is invaluable for the German aerospace industry, in particular for SMEs, because it involves all the stakeholders and concentrates and drives our topics of the future.“

Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin: 

“Be it climate-neutral aviation, optimum equipment for the armed forces, or monitoring the environment and climate from space – in times such as these especially the topics at ILA are more pressing and important than ever. ILA is Europe's leading innovative trade fair for the aerospace industry and is the ideal platform for finding out about the latest industry topics, networking and for dialogue.“


For further information about the growth industries, economic development, business and technology support for companies, investors and scientific institutions in the Airport Region Berlin Brandenburg please contact:

Sandra Koletzki ​​​​​​ | sandra.koletzki(at)airport-region.de

(Source: Messe Berlin GmbH, 04|09|2024 | “The future of ILA Berlin is secure until 2030”)