The ILA Berlin 2026 has once again demonstrated how closely the future of aviation is linked to innovation, competitiveness and cooperation. For Hamburg Aviation, Germany’s leading aerospace trade fair provided an ideal platform to showcase the strengths of Hamburg as an aviation hub, nurture existing partnerships and forge new contacts.
Together with the northern German aviation regions of Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, Bremen and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Hamburg Aviation presented itself in the North German Chalet. As in previous years, the state of Bavaria was also part of the joint exhibition. Once again, the Chalet became a central meeting place for companies, research institutions, political decision-makers and international delegations during the exhibition.
Political support for the aviation industry
Chancellor Friedrich Merz had already sent a clear signal to Hamburg’s aviation industry at the opening of the trade fair. In his speech outlining the federal government’s new aviation strategy, he emphasised the importance of Germany as a strong aviation hub and of the next generation of civil airliners. This is of particular relevance to Hamburg as Germany’s largest centre for civil aviation: the discussion surrounding the development and production of the successor to the Airbus A320 family was one of the key topics at the trade fair. The Chancellor’s statement that the next generation of aircraft must come predominantly from Hamburg was seen by industry representatives and the specialist media as an important signal regarding industrial policy.
Hamburg policymakers tour the show
Another highlight from Hamburg’s perspective was the trade fair tours led by Hamburg’s political representatives. Hamburg Aviation accompanied the tours led by the First Mayor, Dr Peter Tschentscher; State Councillor Dr Christopher Schwieger of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Innovation; and State Councillor Liv Assmann, Plenipotentiary of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. During visits to various exhibition stands, the delegation learnt about current developments in industry and research, as well as the challenges and opportunities facing the aviation sector.
The programme included, amongst other things, discussions with representatives from Airbus, Lufthansa Technik Defence, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and the Hamburg-based company Scholz Mechanik. The focus was on topics such as sustainable aviation, new production and manufacturing technologies, defence and security applications, and the long-term competitiveness of the region. Dr Tschentscher also made himself available for an exclusive video interview. In the interview, Dr Tschentscher emphasised the importance of the aviation industry for the Hanseatic city’s economy, but also highlighted the need for close cooperation with the federal government.
High-level discussions at the Aviation Summit
The Aviation Summit took place on the Tuesday before the start of the trade fair, with Ralf Gust and Michael Vollrath – two representatives of Hamburg’s aviation sector – also invited to attend. The high-profile event brought together decision-makers from industry, politics and research.
Topics discussed included the challenges of ramping up production for major aircraft programmes, securing supply chains and the necessary expansion of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) production. These issues remain of central importance, particularly for Hamburg as a key hub for civil aviation.
Focus on international networking
Once again this year, the ILA offered numerous opportunities for international exchange. Among the guests at the North German Chalet was a high-level delegation from Tunisia, comprising the Tunisian Ambassador, H.E. Mr Wacef Chiha, representatives of the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency (FIPA) and the Tunisian Aerospace Industries Association (GITAS).
Discussions focused on the development of the Tunisian aerospace cluster and potential avenues for closer cooperation with companies from the Hamburg metropolitan region. The delegation highlighted the region’s expertise as an established supply hub for German industry. Whilst Tunisian companies have been successfully manufacturing for the German automotive industry for many years, the aim is now to place greater emphasis on the capabilities of the aviation sector. The exchange underscored the shared interest in further developing international value chains and exploring new opportunities for cooperation between the aviation hubs of Hamburg and Tunisia.
A new generation takes the helm at Hamburg Aviation
The ILA Berlin 2026 also marked an important transition within Hamburg Aviation. For the incoming Managing Director, Michael Vollrath, who will take up his post on 1 July, it was his first ILA. Together with the outgoing Managing Director, Ralf Gust, he took part in numerous meetings, discussions with members and networking events. The trade fair thus provided an ideal setting for making new contacts and preparing for a smooth transition in the cluster’s leadership. In addition, his predecessor, Ralf Gust, was honoured with the A380 Medal at the North German Reception to mark his retirement. Uwe Kleber, Senior Manager for Aviation Cluster Policy at the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Innovation of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg, was also honoured with the A380 Medal. Uwe Kleber has closely supported the aviation cluster since its early days and has played a key role in shaping the development of Hamburg as an aviation hub over many years.
Hamburg remains in the spotlight
ILA Berlin 2026 has made it clear that the industry’s major future challenges – sustainable aviation, ramping up production, securing a skilled workforce, digitalisation and technological sovereignty – are also the key issues for Hamburg as an aviation hub.
For Hamburg Aviation, the focus was therefore not only on presenting the cluster, but above all on engaging in dialogue with member companies, research partners, political decision-makers and international guests. Armed with numerous discussions, new contacts and important insights, the network is now looking ahead to the tasks and opportunities ahead for aviation in Hamburg.