The 50 aviation companies at the most trade shows in 2026 and 2027
Airbus is on the exhibitor or sponsor lists of 60 aviation shows between October 2026 and December 2027, Boeing on 54. The full top 50, counted from organisers' published lists.
Radu BalasEdited by Adrian ManPublished 10 min read
Airbus and Boeing are at more aviation trade shows than any other company. Airbus appears on the published exhibitor or sponsor lists of 60 shows on our calendar between October 2026 and December 2027, and Boeing on 54. Thales (35), RTX (31) and Glenair (29) follow. Defence and maintenance companies make up most of the top 50.
We built this ranking from the exhibitor and sponsor lists that organisers publish for the shows on the Flying Engineer aviation events calendar. It shows which companies you are most likely to meet if you travel the show circuit, and which shows bring the most of them together.
How we counted
Source. 32,540 exhibitor and sponsor entries from the lists organisers publish, for 238 of the 462 shows on our calendar (the others have not published a list we could read). Shows run from 1 October 2026 to 31 December 2027, so a few have already taken place.
One show, one count. Each company counts once per show, whether it exhibits, sponsors or both. Speakers and media partners are not counted.
Same company, different spellings. We grouped entries by the company page they match in our directory, or by cleaned name when there is no page. National branches with the same name (for example Airbus Japan or Thales UK) count as the parent. Divisions with their own name, such as Collins Aerospace, Pratt & Whitney or Airbus Helicopters, count separately. Trade associations, media and universities are left out.
Older lists. Many organisers keep the exhibitor list of their last edition online until the next one fills up. 54% of the entries we used come from a previous edition, so a company on last year's list may not return.
Ranking. By number of shows, then by number of shows sponsored, then by name.
The 50 aviation companies at the most trade shows
Shows: shows on the calendar where the company is on the published exhibitor or sponsor list. As sponsor: how many of those it sponsors. Next shows: its next three shows on the calendar.
| Company | Shows | As sponsor | Main sectors | Next shows |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Airbus | 60 | 28 | Airlines and airports, Defence | IATA Wings of Change Europe (Oct 2026) ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) TIACA Air Cargo Forum (Oct 2026) |
| 2. Boeing | 54 | 30 | MRO and aftermarket, Defence | IATA Wings of Change Europe (Oct 2026) ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) Ishka Airfinance Investival: North America (Oct 2026) |
| 3. Thales | 35 | 8 | Defence, MRO and aftermarket | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) |
| 4. RTX | 31 | 14 | Defence, MRO and aftermarket | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) |
| 5. Glenair | 29 | 0 | Defence, Space | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) Space Tech Expo Europe (Nov 2026) |
| 6. Embraer | 28 | 16 | Defence, Airlines and airports | IATA Wings of Change Europe (Oct 2026) ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) Ishka Airfinance Investival: North America (Oct 2026) |
| 7. BAE Systems | 28 | 9 | Defence, MRO and aftermarket | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) MRO Middle East (Feb 2027) |
| 8. GE Aerospace | 27 | 13 | Defence, Airshows | ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) International Aviation Safety Summit (IASS) (Nov 2026) |
| 9. Lockheed Martin | 27 | 13 | Defence, Space | Silicon Valley Space Week (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) AIAA SciTech Forum (Jan 2027) |
| 10. Safran | 27 | 9 | Airshows, MRO and aftermarket | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) International Aviation Safety Summit (IASS) (Nov 2026) |
| 11. Northrop Grumman | 24 | 9 | Defence, Space | Silicon Valley Space Week (Oct 2026) AIAA SciTech Forum (Jan 2027) SmallSat Symposium (Feb 2027) |
| 12. StandardAero | 24 | 9 | MRO and aftermarket, General aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MRO Australasia (Nov 2026) |
| 13. Honeywell Aerospace | 23 | 9 | Business aviation, Defence | ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) Corporate Jet Investor Miami (Nov 2026) |
| 14. Viasat | 22 | 7 | Defence, Business aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) Silicon Valley Space Week (Oct 2026) Corporate Jet Investor Miami (Nov 2026) |
| 15. L3Harris Technologies | 22 | 6 | Defence, Space | Euronaval (Nov 2026) SmallSat Symposium (Feb 2027) Pilot Expo (Feb 2027) |
| 16. Leonardo | 22 | 5 | Defence, Airlines and airports | AIRTEC (Oct 2026) European Rotors (Nov 2026) Aeromart Toulouse (Dec 2026) |
| 17. Lufthansa Technik | 20 | 9 | MRO and aftermarket, Business aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MRO Australasia (Nov 2026) |
| 18. Rolls-Royce | 20 | 8 | Defence, Airlines and airports | ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) |
| 19. CAE | 18 | 10 | Training, Defence | Ishka Airfinance Investival: North America (Oct 2026) NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) EATS European Aviation Training Summit (Nov 2026) |
| 20. HEICO | 18 | 7 | MRO and aftermarket, Airlines and airports | ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) |
| 21. Moog | 18 | 5 | Defence, MRO and aftermarket | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MRO Middle East (Feb 2027) AFA Warfare Symposium (Mar 2027) |
| 22. Saab | 18 | 2 | Defence, Airshows | Euronaval (Nov 2026) Aeromart Toulouse (Dec 2026) SecD-Day Conference & Exhibition (Feb 2027) |
| 23. Rohde & Schwarz | 18 | 1 | Defence, Space | Euronaval (Nov 2026) Space Tech Expo Europe (Nov 2026) Aviation Forum (Dec 2026) |
| 24. GA Telesis | 17 | 8 | MRO and aftermarket, Airlines and airports | ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) Airline Economics Growth Frontiers New York (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) |
| 25. SITA | 16 | 9 | Airlines and airports, MRO and aftermarket | ALTA AGM and Airline Leaders Forum (Oct 2026) IATA World Financial and Passenger Symposiums (Oct 2026) Airports Innovate (Nov 2026) |
| 26. Textron Aviation | 16 | 8 | General aviation, Business aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) EBAA Week (Nov 2026) RVA Summit (Feb 2027) |
| 27. Mototok | 16 | 0 | MRO and aftermarket, Airlines and airports | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MEBAA Show (Dec 2026) |
| 28. Bombardier | 15 | 8 | Defence, Business aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) International Aviation Safety Summit (IASS) (Nov 2026) Corporate Jet Investor Miami (Nov 2026) |
| 29. ADB SAFEGATE | 15 | 7 | Airlines and airports | Airports Innovate (Nov 2026) Global Airports Forum (Nov 2026) ACI-NA CEO Forum (Feb 2027) |
| 30. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions | 15 | 6 | Space, Defence | Silicon Valley Space Week (Oct 2026) DoW Commercial SATCOM Workshop (Dec 2026) AFA Warfare Symposium (Mar 2027) |
| 31. AeroVironment (AV) | 15 | 4 | Defence, Space | Sea-Air-Space (Apr 2027) Space Symposium (Apr 2027) LAAD Defence and Security (Apr 2027) |
| 32. True Blue Power | 15 | 3 | MRO and aftermarket, General aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) European Rotors (Nov 2026) |
| 33. Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) | 15 | 2 | Defence, Space | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) Space Tech Expo Europe (Nov 2026) |
| 34. Pratt & Whitney | 14 | 9 | Business aviation, Finance and leasing | Airline Economics Growth Frontiers New York (Oct 2026) AMTC Air Medical Transport Conference (Oct 2026) Corporate Jet Investor Miami (Nov 2026) |
| 35. AAR | 14 | 3 | MRO and aftermarket, Defence | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MRO Australasia (Nov 2026) |
| 36. Proponent | 14 | 3 | MRO and aftermarket, Business aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Aeromart Toulouse (Dec 2026) |
| 37. MBDA | 14 | 2 | Defence, Space | Euronaval (Nov 2026) Aeromart Toulouse (Dec 2026) European Space Conference (Jan 2027) |
| 38. Gandhi Automations | 14 | 1 | MRO and aftermarket, Airlines and airports | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MRO Australasia (Nov 2026) Global Airports Forum (Nov 2026) |
| 39. Trelleborg Sealing Solutions | 14 | 1 | MRO and aftermarket, Space | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) Space Tech Expo Europe (Nov 2026) |
| 40. FDH Aero | 14 | 0 | MRO and aftermarket, Defence | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MRO Australasia (Nov 2026) Aeromart Toulouse (Dec 2026) |
| 41. Acron Aviation | 13 | 3 | MRO and aftermarket, Training | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) MRO Europe (Oct 2026) EATS European Aviation Training Summit (Nov 2026) |
| 42. Bell Textron | 13 | 2 | Defence, Helicopters | AMTC Air Medical Transport Conference (Oct 2026) European Rotors (Nov 2026) VERTICON (Mar 2027) |
| 43. Dedienne Aerospace | 13 | 1 | MRO and aftermarket, Airlines and airports | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) AeroEngines Americas (Jan 2027) MRO Middle East (Feb 2027) |
| 44. Exail | 13 | 1 | Defence, Space | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) EATS European Aviation Training Summit (Nov 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) |
| 45. Hutchinson Aerospace | 13 | 1 | MRO and aftermarket, Defence | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) MRO Australasia (Nov 2026) |
| 46. Wencor | 13 | 1 | MRO and aftermarket, Airlines and airports | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) MRO Australasia (Nov 2026) MARPA Annual Conference (Nov 2026) |
| 47. Blue Raven Solutions | 13 | 0 | Defence, MRO and aftermarket | MRO Europe (Oct 2026) AFA Warfare Symposium (Mar 2027) VERTICON (Mar 2027) |
| 48. Jeppesen ForeFlight | 12 | 4 | General aviation, Business aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) European Rotors (Nov 2026) NBAA Schedulers and Dispatchers Conference (Feb 2027) |
| 49. Dassault Aviation | 12 | 3 | Business aviation, Defence | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) 16th EASN International Conference (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) |
| 50. Dassault Systèmes | 12 | 3 | Defence, Business aviation | NBAA-BACE (Oct 2026) Euronaval (Nov 2026) Aviation Forum (Dec 2026) |
Just outside the top 50, with 12 shows each: Indra, Pilatus Aircraft, AMP Aero Services, Amphenol, Hensoldt and PartsBase.
What the data shows
The top 10
Airbus and Boeing are well ahead of everyone else. Airbus is on 60 lists, almost twice as many as Thales in third place, and Boeing sponsors more shows than any other company (30). Seven of the top 10 (Thales, RTX, Glenair, Embraer, BAE Systems, GE Aerospace and Lockheed Martin) appear most often at defence shows. Safran, tenth with 27 shows, appears most often at airshows and MRO events. Boeing's most frequent sector is MRO and the aftermarket, and Airbus is spread across almost every part of the calendar.
Defence and maintenance lead
For 23 of the 50 companies, defence is the sector they show at most. For 16 it is maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and the aftermarket. Together the top 50 make 993 show appearances: 24% at defence shows, 19% at MRO and aftermarket shows, 10% at airline and airport shows, 8% at space shows, 8% at airshows and 7% at business aviation shows.
The large manufacturers spread widely: Airbus appears at shows in 12 of the calendar's sectors, from airlines and defence to cargo, helicopters and space. Others stay close to one market: ADB SAFEGATE appears at 15 shows, 14 of them airline and airport shows, and SITA at 16, 13 of them airline and airport shows. Lufthansa Technik, HEICO, GA Telesis, Wencor and Dedienne Aerospace appear mostly at MRO events.
The shows where the top 50 meet
The Paris Air Show in June 2027 has 39 of the 50 companies on its published list, more than any other show. Next come:
- DSEI UK, London, September 2027: 29
- MRO Americas, Orlando, April 2027: 26
- MRO Europe, Amsterdam, October 2026: 26 (and 26 for the 2027 edition)
- AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition, Washington, October 2026: 24
- MRO Asia-Pacific, Singapore, September 2027: 23
- MRO Middle East, Dubai, February 2027: 22
- NBAA-BACE, Las Vegas, October 2026: 22 (and 22 for the 2027 edition)
- AFA Air, Space and Cyber Conference, National Harbor, September 2027: 22
Five of these are MRO shows (Europe twice, Americas, Asia-Pacific and Middle East), which is why so many maintenance and parts companies rank high. Between them, the top 50 appear at 164 different shows.
Countries
The United States hosts 374 of the 993 appearances (38%), and every one of the 50 companies is on the list of at least one US show. France follows with 86 appearances, then the United Kingdom (63), the Netherlands (60), the United Arab Emirates (40) and Germany (37). Counted by company, 41 of the 50 are at a show in France, 39 in the United Kingdom, 30 in the Netherlands and 29 in Singapore. The top 50 appear at shows in 38 countries.
Most of them also sponsor
46 of the 50 companies sponsor at least one show, with 320 sponsorships between them. Boeing sponsors the most (30 shows), then Airbus (28), Embraer (16) and RTX (14). Four companies only exhibit: Glenair, Mototok, FDH Aero and Blue Raven Solutions. Glenair is the clearest case: it is on 29 exhibitor lists, fifth overall, without a single sponsorship.
Not only household names
Next to the large manufacturers, the list includes specialist suppliers that exhibit at many shows: Mototok (aircraft tugs, 16 shows), Gandhi Automations (hangar doors, 14), True Blue Power (15), Proponent (14) and FDH Aero (14). For a buyer, these are companies you can expect to find at many of the shows in their field.
What this ranking does not show
- Size. A small stand and a national pavilion count the same. The ranking says how often a company is on a list, not how much it spends.
- Shows without a list. 224 of the 462 shows on the calendar have no published list we could use yet. Companies that go mainly to those shows rank lower than they would with full data.
- Older lists. For Airbus, 29 of its 60 shows are counted from a previous edition's list. Across the top 50 the share runs from 14% to 79%, with a median of 48%.
- Groups. Subsidiaries listed under their own names count separately. RTX, for example, would rank higher if Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney were added to it.
How to use this
- Plan meetings around the shows. If you want to meet several of these companies in one trip, the Paris Air Show, DSEI, NBAA-BACE and the MRO series bring the most of them together. Each event page on the calendar shows its published exhibitor list.
- Follow a company from show to show. The "Next shows" column links to each event page, with dates, venue and exhibitors. Browse the full aviation events calendar, or by sector: defence and security, MRO and maintenance, business aviation and airshows.
- Look by country. For example, aviation events in the United States.
- Check before you travel. Exhibitor lists change. Where a list is from the last edition, confirm with the organiser or the company that it will be there.
For companies on this list
Each company above links to its page on Flying Engineer, built from public information. If you work for one of them, check that your page is correct and claim it so you can keep it up to date, including the shows you will attend.
About the author
Radu Balas
Founder, Flying Engineer
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