EU Aviation in Focus at Paris Air Show with Commissioner Tzitzikostas

The 55th International Paris Air Show opened its doors on Monday, June 16, in Le Bourget. Over the course of seven days, the show welcomed more than 2,000 exhibitors from over 40 countries, attracting 150,000 industry professionals and 160,000 general public visitors.
Organized every two years by the French Aerospace Industries Association (GIFAS) – the professional federation representing all aeronautical sectors – the event is a key fixture for the global aerospace industry.

This year’s edition was strongly influenced by the geopolitical context, including the war in Ukraine and conflicts in the Middle East, with defense taking center stage: out of 2,400 exhibitors, 926 were from the defense sector.

Key topics at the show included defense and security, but also innovation and artificial intelligence. Several strategic areas were highlighted: technological advancements in aviation, sustainable aviation, urban air mobility, the digital transformation of the aerospace sector, and career development – with a particular focus on increasing female representation in the industry through an initiative called “Women in Aerospace”. Other priorities included global cooperation and partnerships, and space exploration.
For the first time, a 2,500 m² hall was fully dedicated to the space industry, under the name “Paris Space Hub”. This new space aimed to promote the French and European space sectors through three major themes: space in daily life, the industrial ecosystem, and a future vision for European space activities.

The event also hosted Apostolos Tzitzikostas, European Commissioner for Sustainable Transport and Tourism. The Commissioner attended the official opening ceremony, as well as aerial demonstrations of both civilian and military aircraft. Alongside European Commission Vice President Stéphane Séjourné, he visited several major aerospace company stands, including Airbus, Dassault Aviation, Safran, Leonardo, and ATR. He also took part in a meeting with French Prime Minister François Bayrou.

Commissioner Tzitzikostas spoke at an event dedicated to the competitiveness of European aviation: “Boosting European investments into SAF for competitive aviation”. He discussed the challenges facing the European aerospace sector, emphasizing the essential role of air transport in maintaining Europe’s connectivity. It must be competitive, efficient, and sustainable:​ “Our top priority is to ensure that the EU maintains and strengthens its global leadership in aeronautical technologies,” he said.

He highlighted the key role of research and innovation, as well as the rapid development of new technologies. The Commissioner also focused on sustainable aviation fuels, clean air transport, and the necessary adaptations to airport infrastructure.

Tzitzikostas’ visit also provided the opportunity to officially present him with the new Aviation Research and Innovation Strategy (ARIS), designed to transform the many projects launched under various European research programs into real, operational, and competitive industrial products.
This new strategy was developed by around one hundred stakeholders, under the guidance of the Clean Aviation and SESAR Joint Undertakings – public-private partnerships coordinating European research for aviation decarbonization and air traffic control modernization, respectively.

According to Apostolos Tzitzikostas, this strategy offers:​ “Valuable insights on how to better invest in the aviation sector within the ongoing discussions on the next multiannual financial framework.”