• Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz to open the event
• Minister for Economic Affairs Robert Habeck, Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius and Minister of Transport Volker Wissing to visit ILA
• The EU Commission is the strategic partner of the event
• 600 exhibitors from 31 countries
• Aircraft at ILA: Emirates A380, A310 ZeroG, A321XLR, Beluga ST, Eurofighter, F-35, NH90, Lilium Jet, Loyal Wingman, Eurodrone
• From climate-neutral aviation to defence systems in space – a wide-ranging programme on four STAGES

ILA Berlin 2024 kicks off today with the slogan ‘Pioneering Aerospace’. Over the next five days at Berlin/Brandenburg's airport BER the focus is on the future of aerospace. The industry’s leading trade fair for sustainability, new technologies and innovation is the meeting place of the international industry, policymakers, armed forces and science. Under the headings Defence & Support, Aviation, Space, Suppliers and Advanced Air Mobility, ILA Berlin covers the entire range of the aerospace market. What makes ILA unique is its wide-ranging programme on four STAGES, where the focus is on climate-neutral aviation, new mobility and space security.

Visits by high-ranking politicians: Federal Chancellor Scholz to open ILA
In view of the political and strategic importance of the aerospace industry, high-ranking politicians have announced their participation. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz will officially open ILA Berlin 2024. Among those accompanying him on the opening tour will be Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Affairs Dr. Volker Wissing, Brandenburg's Minister President Dr. Dietmar Woidke, Berlin’s Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises Franziska Giffey, and Director General GD DEFIS of the European Commission Timo Pesonen. Also due to attend ILA Berlin are Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action Dr. Robert Habeck, Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius, as well as CDU party leader Friedrich Merz and numerous other political representatives from Germany and abroad. On 5 June the federal ministers and Friedrich Merz will take part in tours open to the press. The exact times can be found here.

ILA Berlin – the largest aerospace exhibition in the EU
The European Commission is the strategic partner of the event and for the first time is represented at ILA with four directorates general (Mobility and Transport, Defence Industry and Space, Research and Innovation and Climate Action). Taking as its slogan ’Airborne in Europe’, the European Commission and ILA Berlin have made it their goal to strengthen Europe’s technological leadership and pave the way for a sustainable future for aerospace. With European elections taking place soon, ILA also sets the tone for European solidarity and sovereignty.

BDLI President Dr. Michael Schöllhorn: ”ILA is a showcase of our industry’s strength. This is where one can find new solutions – for sustainable aviation, defending a sovereign Europe, independent access to space. We in Europe are among the world leaders in aerospace technology. To maintain that role policymakers must take bold decisions and create the right framework for the industry to act upon. ILA is the ideal venue for engaging in an even closer dialogue on these issues.“

Exhibitors from all over the world present hi-tech solutions
Around 600 exhibitors from 31 countries are represented at ILA – including from Ukraine, Israel and for the first time Finland, which recently became a member of NATO.

Dr. Mario Tobias, CEO of Messe Berlin: ”This year, ILA Berlin has grown and become more international, underlining its role as Europe's leading innovative trade fair for the aerospace industry. We are pleased to be able to welcome exhibitors from all over the world – both long-standing partners and those new to the show or back after a long break. ILA mirrors the entire range of products of the industry and its value chain and is the ideal platform for dialogue and finding out about the latest innovations.“

Covering a display area of 150,000 square metres, exhibitors are displaying their innovations – including electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, climate-friendly propulsion systems, and air defence and satellite systems. At ILA visitors can get a close-up view of around 100 aircraft – both on the ground and in the air. The flying displays will for the first time feature an F-35 multirole stealth fighter, as well as a Tornado, painted in special colours to mark its fiftieth anniversary. An A321 XLR airliner, an NH90 NATO helicopter and an A330MRTT refuelling aircraft will also be flying over the exhibition grounds. This year, the German Aerospace Center (DLR), Airbus, Emirates and the German Armed Forces are focusing on Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for their aircraft.

The static display features the entire range of aerospace products – including a Loyal Wingman military drone, an Elektra Trainer electric aircraft, and the world’s largest passenger airliner, an Emirates A380. Among the highlights on the weekend for the general public will be an A310 Air Zero G, which the German Aerospace Center uses to conduct parabolic flights.

Focus on innovation, new technology and sustainability at ILA
ILA’s  wide-ranging and well-informed programme of stage events makes it unique. Over the five days of the event the focus on the four STAGES is on the latest aerospace topics. Key headings are Innovation and Technology, Sustainability, Design, Talent Development & Social Responsibility, National and International Cooperation, Research & Development, Defence & Security, as well as start-ups and SMEs. High-profile speakers including Inspector of the Air Force Ingo Gerhartz, ESA Director General Dr. Josef Aschbacher, and Deputy Director-General for Research and Innovation, European Commission, Joanna Drake, are due to attend.

ILA Space Pavilion: meeting place of the global space flight community
ILA Berlin is Europe’s most-visited aerospace exhibition. The focus is on topics such as sustainability, climate change, digitalisation, research and defending Earth from space. The highlight is the Space Pavilion, which jointly features the European Space Agency (ESA), the German Aerospace Center (DLR), the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK), and the German aerospace companies in the BDLI. The wide-ranging programme of events, including onstage, with high-profile aerospace players shows how space missions can benefit life on Earth. This is where visitors can meet and talk to astronauts including Nicola Winter, Samantha Christoforetti and Thomas Pesquet.

Talent Hub brings specialists and employers together
ILA Berlin is open to trade visitors during the week from 5 to 7 June and to the general public on the weekend on 8 and 9 June from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. On Friday the TALENT HUB is taking place for the first time at ILA, which brings talented people of all ages and backgrounds together with employers. 40 exhibitors from all parts of the industry are taking part in the Talent Hub. Some 600 students of all ages are expected to attend. Around 1500 participants are expected to attend, including students and school pupils, but also career changers and experienced professionals looking for new challenges.

Tickets to ILA are available online only at: https://www.ila-berlin.de/de/tickets. Tickets for Saturday are already sold out.