The ILA Berlin Air Show is one of the world’s leading aerospace and defence events, held at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport beside the runways of Berlin Brandenburg. It draws aviation professionals, airlines, manufacturers and the public alike. For international delegates, the irony of choosing an airport to reach an air show is not lost — and for many, Frankfurt is the practical answer. Here is how to make it work.
ILA Berlin at a Glance
The ILA combines a trade exhibition with a flying display, covering commercial aviation, defence, space and advanced air mobility. It is a biennial event held in even years; the most recent edition ran in June 2026, so the next is expected in 2028 — confirm dates with the organiser as they are published. It typically draws around 100,000 visitors across its trade and public days.
Why Fly into Frankfurt, Not Berlin?
Berlin has its own airport (Berlin Brandenburg (BER)), but Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is Germany's largest and best-connected hub, serving well over 250 destinations worldwide with the broadest choice of intercontinental, long-haul routes and the new, modern Terminal 3. For visitors arriving from North America, Asia, the Middle East, Africa or Latin America, the most direct, frequent or best-value flight often lands at FRA rather than Berlin Brandenburg (BER). Aerospace professionals appreciate that the largest aviation hub naturally offers the deepest network, which is exactly what FRA provides. Arriving at Frankfurt and continuing overland can be simpler and faster than hunting for a connecting flight — especially with luggage, samples or a group in tow.
As the main hub of Lufthansa and Star Alliance, Frankfurt also concentrates the widest range of premium long-haul services, and it has something the smaller airports cannot match: two railway stations built into the airport itself. That makes onward travel — whether by our chauffeur or by ICE — seamless from the moment you clear arrivals, with no separate journey to a city-centre station first.
It takes an airport to reach an air show — and for long-haul delegates, the one with the connections is usually Frankfurt.
Frankfurt Airport on Arrival
FRA is large but well organised, and arriving is smoother than it once was. Passport e-gates speed up entry for eligible travellers, and the new Terminal 3 uses modern CT security scanners. Most importantly for an onward journey, you are met the moment you step into the public arrivals hall: rather than searching for a taxi rank or a train platform after a long flight, your FrankfurtRide chauffeur is already waiting with a name board, ready to take your luggage and lead you to the car. It turns the most stressful part of any trip into the easiest.
Frankfurt Airport to Berlin: Your Options
Berlin lies about 545 km from Frankfurt Airport. There are three realistic ways to cover the distance, and the right one depends on your luggage, your group size and how much you value door-to-door comfort:
- Private chauffeur transfer: door-to-door from the FRA arrivals hall to your hotel or the venue, with no changes — roughly 5 hours 15 minutes by road.
- ICE train: direct from the airport's long-distance station to Berlin Hauptbahnhof in about 4 hours, then onward locally by S-Bahn or taxi.
- Connecting flight: short in the air, but once you add a second check-in, security and the trip from Berlin Brandenburg (BER) into the city, the door-to-door time often matches the train.
Full route detail and live pricing are on our Frankfurt Airport to Berlin transfer page.
Your Chauffeur Transfer with FrankfurtRide
For a group, a family, or anyone landing after a long-haul flight, a private transfer turns the 545 km into one quiet, productive ride. Your driver tracks the inbound flight, waits in the arrivals hall with a name board, loads the luggage and drives straight through — no rank queue, no platform changes with a suitcase. The price is fixed before you travel, from €872 in our standard car, with no meter and no surge whatever the autobahn does — a single clean figure for your expense report.
You also choose the right vehicle for the trip: a Business Class Mercedes suits solo executives, a First Class S-Class adds extra comfort and discretion for VIP guests, and a Business Van keeps a team of up to seven together with their equipment. Flight tracking, a name-board meet, child seats on request and 24/7 availability all come as standard, so an early arrival or a delayed flight is handled without a word from you.
Chauffeur or ICE: Which Should You Choose?
Both are good; they simply suit different travellers. The ICE wins on speed and price for a solo visitor travelling light to a destination near Berlin Hauptbahnhof — it is frequent, comfortable and you can work on board. The chauffeur wins the moment that changes: a group splitting one fixed fare, heavy or fragile exhibition materials, an arrival at an awkward hour, or a venue and hotel away from the station all tip the balance toward a private car. For most business and group travel to Berlin, the door-to-door simplicity is worth it; for a quick, light solo trip, the train is hard to beat.
Getting to the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport
The ILA takes place at the Berlin ExpoCenter Airport, adjacent to Berlin Brandenburg in the city’s south-east, well outside the centre. A chauffeur can take you directly to the gates; if you arrive by ICE at Berlin Hauptbahnhof, allow time to cross the city to the venue. Factor in this local distance when choosing a hotel and planning each day.
Who This Route Suits
Flying into Frankfurt and continuing to Berlin makes the most sense when:
- You are an aerospace delegate whose most direct routing lands at FRA.
- You are attending trade days packed with meetings and want a calm arrival.
- You are bringing a team or equipment that travels best in one vehicle.
- You are a senior delegate who prefers a discreet First Class chauffeur.
Where to Stay and Booking Tips
Aerospace weeks fill Berlin hotels, so book early, and remember the venue sits on the city edge — factor in local transfer time from central hotels. A pre-booked FRA transfer guarantees a driver after a long flight, and a Business Van keeps a delegation and its kit together for the cross-country leg.
Planning Your Return
The same logic applies on the way home. Rather than rushing for a connecting flight out of Berlin Brandenburg (BER) after a long event, a pre-booked chauffeur can collect you in Berlin and bring you back to Frankfurt Airport in good time for your long-haul departure — with the price fixed and your flight tracked. Build the return leg into your booking so both journeys are settled before you even fly in.
Our Recommendation
If your route to the ILA runs through a long-haul flight, compare Frankfurt as your arrival airport and continue to Berlin with a fixed-price chauffeur. See all our routes and pricing, browse the wider fair calendar in our trade fair transportation guide, or book your transfer below.
