The entry to EBACE 2025.
GENEVA—In its first year without the long-term partnership with NBAA, the European Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition (EBACE) is in a transition year and show details are under review, according to Holger Krahmer, secretary general of the European Business Aviation Association (EBAA).
EBACE, a not-for-profit organization, is the only show of its kind organized by the industry, he says. A trade show such as EBACE raises the flag for the industry, and it is an important part of Europe’s economy. According to EBAA, more than 450,000 people in Europe are directly and indirectly employed in business aviation.
A review now underway of the show is expected to conclude in June, with insights gleaned from EBACE 2025, says Krahmer, on the eve of the opening of EBACE 2025.
EBAA is now the show’s sole provider. The association bought out the interests of the show held by the National Business Aviation Association in August 2024.
Taking over the show was “a big thing to us—challenging,” Krahmer says. “But to be honest, what you find this year is a completely new look and feel—a lot of new ideas, a new concept.”
One new feature to EBACE this year is an Association Village, where national and other industry associations are located. Krahmer says, “compared to the U.S., there are different political cultures in each European country, which is why “it’s important to have strong national associations.” And given the immense pressure on business aviation in some countries, the village is a place to meet national groups to “help this sector grow” and fight against taxes, such as the ones France imposed on private charter operators March 1, Krahmer says.
While some are relatively smaller or new, such as the one in Austria, building off of their national expertise makes the business aviation strong.
National groups exhibiting in the Association Village include the Austrian Business Aviation Association, British Business and General Aviation Association, Irish Business Aviation Association, Maltese Business Aviation Association and Spanish Business Aviation Association.
“The big question in the room is, will there be an EBACE 2026?” Krahmer asked during a reception on the eve of the show’s opening. “Of course.”
EBACE 2026 will be held in the last week of May or the first week of June, he says. More details, including next year’s location, will be made during a press conference June 30.
Palexpo convention center has been the ideal location because of its proximity to the Geneva Airport. That provides a convenient spot to an aircraft static display with the exhibition facility, although the 2025 show does not include a static display. It could return next year, however.
Besides Geneva, a “short list” of other locations are also under consideration, Krahmer said.
“Since EBAA took over the running of EBACE in late 2024, we have been listening to and consulting with stakeholders across the industry on what they would most value in future EBACE events,” Krahmer says. “This consultation is part of a comprehensive review that is ongoing and EBACE25 is a core component of that feedback loop.”
Change takes time, he says.
Besides the location, under review are format modifications, including how to engage with high-net-worth individuals, new exhibitor offerings, the return and future of static aircraft displays, partnerships with show organizers and appropriate pricing strategies for attendees and exhibitors.
“One thing remains clear to us: The industry needs EBACE, and it remains the right place to meet the right people in aviation,” Krahmer said.
Luxaviation pulled out of EBACE in 2018 because it did not see the return on investment from exhibiting, but it is exhibiting again this year, David Van Den Langenbergh, the company’s chief industry affairs officer and a European Business Aviation Association board member, tells Aviation Week Network.
Luxaviation returned because “we understood EBACE is an important part of funding EBAA” and was seeing it struggle to find funds to fight for our industry,” he says.
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