Where Aviation Software Companies Exhibit

Software is now a normal part of every aviation trade show. Flight planning, maintenance records, crew tools and airport systems all run on it. So where do the software vendors actually show up?

The Flying Engineer lists 1,323 aviation software companies. Of these, 1,051 exhibit at shows. We counted how many software exhibitors appear at each event, and which companies appear at the most events. This guide shares the results and explains what they mean for buyers and for vendors.

The shows with the most software exhibitors

Here are the top ten events by number of software exhibitors from our directory. Two editions of NBAA-BACE tie, so the table has ten rows.

Event	Software exhibitors
World Aviation Festival 2026	145
Paris Air Show 2027	104
I/ITSEC 2027	78
Space Tech Expo Europe 2026	72
NBAA-BACE 2026	67
NBAA-BACE 2027	67
DSEI UK 2027	53
Passenger Terminal Expo 2027	50
AERO Friedrichshafen 2027	50
AFA Air, Space and Cyber Conference 2027	44

What stands out in the list

World Aviation Festival 2026 is clearly first, with 145 software exhibitors. That is 41 more than Paris Air Show 2027 in second place. This event is built around airline and airport technology, so the result makes sense.

Paris Air Show 2027 is a large show for the whole industry. It is not only for software. Still, 104 software companies plan to be there.

The list also shows how wide aviation software reaches. I/ITSEC 2027 is a training and simulation event, and it has 78 software exhibitors. Space Tech Expo Europe 2026 has 72. DSEI UK 2027 is a defence show, and it has 53. Software firms follow the work, and the work spans civil, defence and space.

Business aviation is on the list too. NBAA-BACE shows 67 software exhibitors in both the 2026 and 2027 editions. Passenger Terminal Expo and AERO Friedrichshafen each have 50.

The next group is also worth a look. Aviation Festival Asia 2027 has 41, and MRO Europe 2026 and MRO Europe 2027 each have 39. MRO Americas 2027 has 37. If you work in maintenance, these four are the natural places to look.

The software companies that show up most

Some companies appear at many events. These are the ten with the most shows in our directory.

• GE Aerospace (formerly GE Aviation): 27 shows
• Viasat: 23 shows
• CAE Inc.: 20 shows
• SITA: 16 shows
• Proponent: 15 shows
• AAR Corp.: 14 shows
• Dassault Systèmes: 12 shows
• IBM Aviation Industry: 10 shows
• Siemens: 10 shows
• FlightSafety International: 9 shows

Most of these are large, well known firms. They have the budget to travel to many events each year. Many smaller software companies pick one or two shows and focus there.

What this means for a buyer

If you are looking for software, a show is a fast way to compare vendors. You can see products side by side and ask questions face to face. Here is how to use the numbers.

• Go where the choice is widest. World Aviation Festival, Paris Air Show and I/ITSEC list the most software exhibitors. One trip can cover a lot of ground.
• Match the show to your job. A maintenance team should look at MRO Europe or MRO Americas. A business jet operator should look at NBAA-BACE. An airport team should look at Passenger Terminal Expo.
• Make a short list first. With 100 or more software exhibitors at one event, you need a plan. Pick five or six vendors and book meetings before you travel.
• Do not skip smaller shows. A show with 20 or 30 software exhibitors can be easier to work. You get more time at each stand.

You can browse every listed vendor on our software category page. Use the events calendar to find dates and places.

What this means for a vendor

If you sell aviation software, the same numbers tell you where your competitors are.

• Know who stands next to you. At World Aviation Festival you share the floor with 144 other software companies. You need a clear, simple message to be noticed.
• Look at the focused shows. NBAA-BACE, MRO Europe and Passenger Terminal Expo each draw a more specific crowd. A niche product can stand out more there.
• Watch the big names. GE Aerospace, Viasat and CAE appear at many shows. If they are at an event, expect buyers to compare you with them.
• Think about the full year. Some vendors attend many shows and some attend a few. Pick the two or three where your buyers are, then do them well.
• Check the calendar early. Many top events in this list are in 2027. Stands and speaking slots often fill early.

Having a listing helps too. Buyers who read about a show often look up the exhibitors before they go. A complete company page gives them something to find.

How to use this list

Counts change as exhibitor lists grow. Some 2027 shows have not yet published full lists, so the numbers for those events may rise.

Treat the counts as a guide, not a ruling. A show with fewer software exhibitors can still be right for you if your buyers are there. Start with the buyer, then pick the event.

Each event page lists the companies that exhibit, so you can see who is on the floor before you book. Start with the aviation events calendar. Then explore the full aviation software category to find vendors by name and see where each one appears.

Source: The Flying Engineer directory and event exhibitor lists, October 2026.

Common questions

Which aviation show has the most software exhibitors?

A1: World Aviation Festival 2026 has the most in our directory, with 145 software companies. Paris Air Show 2027 is next with 104.

Which software company exhibits at the most shows?

A2: GE Aerospace (formerly GE Aviation) appears at 27 shows. Viasat is next with 23, then CAE Inc. with 20.

Where should I go to meet many aviation software vendors in one trip?

A3: Start with World Aviation Festival, Paris Air Show or I/ITSEC. Each lists 78 or more software exhibitors.

Do business aviation shows have software exhibitors?

A4: Yes. NBAA-BACE lists 67 software companies in both the 2026 and 2027 editions.

How many aviation software companies are in your directory?

A5: There are 1,323 software companies listed, and 1,051 of them exhibit at shows.