After the chaotic years of COVID, it looks like 2023 will be an almost normal year for aviation (bar the current restrictions on Chinese travelers and the absence of Russian airlines). With a return to normality comes a return to events, and there are some major ones planned to take place across the industry this year.
Of course, it wouldn’t be possible to make this list exhaustive given how many large and small events take place over the year. We’ve included five of the more significant aviation events happening across the globe, but if you think something is missing, then let us know in the comments!
Paris Air Show - 19-25 June
The biennial Paris Air Show is arguably the most significant event that will happen in the aviation industry this year. Taking place at the tail end of June, this event will see the big names of Airbus and Boeing in attendance, along with 2,451 other exhibitors (based on 2019 figures).
Swapping place with the Farnborough Air Show every other year, this show typically sees a wealth of large aircraft orders placed with many manufacturers. At last year’s Farnborough Airshow, Qatar Airways finalized its order for 25 firm Boeing 737 MAX 10s.
Dubai Airshow - 13-17 November
Like the Paris Air Show, the Dubai Airshow takes place on odd ending years. The event is held on a smaller scale than Paris and Farnborough but is by no means a small event. Again, Boeing and Airbus both typically announce a host of new orders, usually focused on Middle East carriers such as Emirates and Etihad.
Like most big air shows, there are usually a host of exciting planes on display. The Emirates Airbus A380 is understandably the star of the show at this event, held at Dubai World Central Airport. However, in 2021 the Boeing 777X turned heads making its international debut at the show.
World Aviation Festival - 26-28 September
While it doesn’t have as long a history as some other events on this list, the World Aviation Festival is rapidly rising in prominence thanks to the notable names on its lineup.
The 2022 edition of the World Aviation Festival was held in Amsterdam, but this year, the three-day conference is bound for Lisbon, Portugal. Previous years have seen the likes of Tim Clark (Emirates President), Willie Walsh (IATA Director General), and Eddie Wilson (Ryanair CEO) participating in the talks.
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The Aircraft Interiors Expo - 6-8 June
For those interested in passenger experience and everything found in the cabin of an airplane, the annual Aircraft Interiors Expo is the place to be. The event takes place at the Hamburg Fair Ground and typically features big and small names in the cabin design space, including Collins and Recaro. Last year, Airbus added to the excitement, scheduling the first flight of the Airbus A321XLR to coincide with the Expo at its nearby Finkenwerder site.
EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 24-30 July
The EAA AirVenture is not a commercial aviation event on the scale of the others on our list, though it is still worth mentioning due to its sheer size. The show’s 2022 attendance was 650,000, and it sees many pilots flying their own aircraft in and camping on site, but past occurrences have also seen the likes of the UPS Boeing 747-8 and the United Airlines Boeing 737 MAX.
Of course, there are plenty more events due to happen across the industry this year. Which event are you most interested in? Let us know what you think and why in the comments below! Just tap the blue button.