The International Aerospace and Defence Exhibition (ILA) is attracting visitors this year with an expanded flight program, generating interest among Berliners and Brandenburgers. According to the organizers, the German Aviation Industry Association (BDLI) and Messe Berlin, all private visitor tickets for Saturday, June 8th have already been sold. Tickets for Sunday, June 9th are still available online. Before that, the trade fair at BER airport is reserved for trade visitors for three days. All major companies and many other companies in the aviation industry are represented. They present the latest trends and technologies in civil aviation, aerospace, military aviation and supplier segments in separate exhibition halls.
The ILA Stages feature experts giving lectures or engaging in panel discussions on various topics related to the aviation industry. The centerpiece of this year’s event is Sustainability – a dominant theme that has been emphasized by the industry for the past decade at events such as ILA. While there have been visions of hydrogen aircraft and small measures to reduce carbon emissions, there is only one realistic solution for significantly reducing the environmental impact of aviation: Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF). In seven months, at the beginning of 2025, the EU’s first blending quota will come into effect. Germany alone will need 200,000 tonnes of SAF per year, with more required in subsequent years. However, there is still a shortage of sufficient supply due to complaints from airlines. The experts eagerly await the ILA to hear about the German government’s “Climate-Neutral Aviation Working Group”‘s ideas on SAF – their presentation promises to be highly anticipated at this year’s event.
