German Chancellor tours Emirates flagship aircraft at ILA Berlin 2026 opening
Four-class Airbus A380 becomes focal point of aerospace exhibition
DUBAI/BERLIN – Friedrich Merz, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, visited the Emirates Airbus A380 at the opening of ILA Berlin 2026 in Berlin on the event’s first day.
He was formally welcomed onboard by Sir Tim Clark, President Emirates Airline, Volker Greiner, Emirates Vice President for North & Central Europe, and Ahmed Alattar, Ambassador of the United Arab Emirates to Germany.
Berlin’s Governing Mayor Kai Wegner and Brandenburg Minister-President Dr Dietmar Woidke also joined the high-level tour of the aircraft. The visit placed the Emirates flagship at the centre of the aerospace exhibition’s opening-day engagements.
VIP tour
The Emirates A380 continued to attract strong attention from industry leaders and trade visitors at Berlin ExpoCenter Airport. As the only Airbus A380 on display at the event, the four-class aircraft remained a key highlight for visiting delegations throughout the opening day.
The aircraft’s presence underscored its role as a showcase platform for Emirates at major global aviation gatherings.
Emirates at ILA Berlin
Emirates is participating in ILA Berlin from 10 to 14 June, reinforcing its long-standing engagement with Europe’s leading aerospace event. The airline has consistently featured its A380 at the exhibition since 2010, highlighting continuity in its presence at the Berlin showcase. Germany has remained one of Emirates’ most significant markets for close to four decades, with operations dating back to 1987 and ongoing connections across major cities.
The airline currently operates daily flights to Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf, strengthening its network across the country. It has also reaffirmed plans to launch scheduled daily services to Berlin and Stuttgart, which would expand access to 50 destinations via a single stop. The new routes are positioned to support increased passenger flow, stimulate high-value tourism and contribute to job creation across related sectors, while deepening aviation links between Germany and global markets.