Speech by Federal Chancellor Merz upon the opening of ILA 2026
The Federal Chancellor opened the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin with a tour and a speech. “Germany has always been a pioneer in aviation”, he said, as he presented the new aviation strategy aimed at making Germany a strong hub for the aviation industry.
The aerospace industry also safeguards “our sovereignty and our ability to defend our country and our alliances”, said Chancellor Merz upon the opening of the ILA--International Aerospace Exhibition.
Photo: Federal Government / Tobias Koch
In his speech to mark the opening of the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz outlined the Federal Government’s new aviation strategy, among other things. “Competitiveness and innovation in one of our country’s key growth sectors are at the heart of our strategy”, the Chancellor emphasised.
The most important points in brief:
- Securing Germany as an aviation hub: The new aviation strategy replaces the old strategy from 2014. According to the Chancellor, the aim is to “secure and further develop Germany as a strong aviation hub”. Germany and Europe should “be able to remain leading aviation nations and a continent of aviation” on the world stage. According to the Chancellor, the strategy brings together civil aviation, the aviation industry and military aviation for the first time, identifying and setting out key measures.
- Key strategic sector: “The aerospace industry is a key strategic sector”, said the Federal Chancellor. The sector recorded 19 percent growth in 2025 and a record number of 130,000 employees. According to Chancellor Merz, this success is down to innovations that always embody “sovereignty, security and sustainability”.
- Strengthening civil aviation: In response to the challenges facing the civil aviation industry, the Federal Government has put together a package of measures providing 500 million euros in relief for the sector – including the abolition of the e-kerosene quota and reductions in air traffic control charges and aviation tax. The Chancellor said that the costs of air traffic control at Germany’s regional airports would also be covered.
- Security and sovereignty: Federal Chancellor Merz said that Franco-German cooperation in the defence industry would focus in future on the European system of systems. This IT system network connects weapon systems, platforms and sensors via a combat cloud. Work on the system of systems is to be finalised in time for the Franco-German ministerial meeting in July.
Read the transcript of the speech here (in German only):