Paris Air Show

The Paris Air Show (Salon du Bourget) is a biennial international aerospace exhibition held at Le Bourget Airport in France. It showcases a wide range of civilian and military aircraft, helicopters, drones, space systems, and related technologies. The event provides a platform for manufacturers, suppliers, and service providers to display their latest innovations and to conduct business negotiations. It also features flight demonstrations, static displays, and conferences that highlight trends in the aerospace sector.

The Paris Air Show is recognized as one of the foremost gatherings of the global aerospace industry, attracting participants from numerous countries. While specific attendance figures vary each edition, the event regularly hosts hundreds of exhibitors and tens of thousands of professional visitors, including government delegations, airline representatives, and defense officials. Its biennial schedule, typically held in odd-numbered years, allows it to align with major product development cycles in the sector. The show's location at Le Bourget places it near a major transportation hub and within proximity to other aerospace facilities in the Paris region.

Organized by the French aerospace industries association (GIFAS), the Paris Air Show benefits from close ties to both civil and military aerospace stakeholders in France and abroad. Its long history, dating back to the early 20th century, gives it a reputation as a benchmark for technological unveilings, such as the debut of new jetliners, fighter aircraft, and space launch systems. The event also incorporates a strong focus on innovation, featuring dedicated zones for startups, research institutions, and emerging technologies like urban air mobility and sustainable aviation. These attributes position the show as a key venue for networking, partnership formation, and market intelligence within the aerospace community.

The Paris Air Show is operated under the auspices of GIFAS, which is funded by its member companies and receives support from French governmental bodies. The 2025 edition experienced a cybersecurity incident on its opening day, when the official website faced an abnormal surge in connection attempts interpreted as a potential cyberattack. The site was temporarily taken offline by the IT maintenance team between 12:00 and 12:15 to mitigate the disruption. An investigation was launched by the Brigade de Lutte contre la CyberCriminalité (BL2C) of the Paris Police Prefecture. This event underscores the growing cyber threats targeting aerospace-related organizations and highlights the need for robust digital security measures during large-scale international gatherings.