Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS)

What Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS) does

GIFAS (Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales) is the French aerospace and space industry trade association, founded in 1908 and headquartered in Paris. It represents more than 500 member companies, ranging from aircraft manufacturers and equipment suppliers to SMEs and startups, and serves as the unified industry voice in policy advocacy, regulatory engagement, and international commercial promotion. Member companies collectively employ more than 220,000 people in French aerospace and space activities. GIFAS's revenue is generated primarily through recurring membership dues, augmented by operations of the Salon du Bourget (Paris Air Show) through its wholly-owned subsidiary SIAE, as well as event, publication, and program-related income.

The association delivers value through a portfolio of programs including StartAir (a startup club launched in April 2022 that reached 106 members by June 2026), the Aero Excellence quality and operational excellence framework (now extending internationally with Spain joining in 2026), CORAC-coordinated civil aeronautics R&D, the GEADS equipmentiers group, the Comité AERO PME for SME support, and a sector mediation function led by Philippe Berna since October 2020. It also maintains five regional French Aerospace Networks (INFAN, MEFAN, NAFAN, OACI-FAN, SEAFAN) to support member international expansion and organizes flagship industry events including the biennial Paris Air Show and the annual Perspectives Spatiales conference with Novaspace. As a federation, GIFAS does not develop proprietary technology products; its competitive position rests on brand heritage, network effects across the membership base, and its role as the official representative body of the French aerospace sector.

Name

Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS)

Legal name

Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales

Website

https://gifas.asso.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1908

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

GIFAS is the French aerospace and space industry trade association, founded in 1908 and representing over 500 member companies spanning manufacturers, suppliers, SMEs, and startups. It generates revenue through membership dues and operates the Paris Air Show via subsidiary SIAE, while providing advocacy, networking, mediation, and international expansion support.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerospace Trade Association Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Technical Committees, Working Groups & Expert Panels (BPADANAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Standards, Norms & Technical Regulatory Bodies (BPADAAAJ), Conformity Assessment, Testing, Inspection & Certification Cooperation (BPADANAD)

Keywords

• Aerospace industry association
• Aerospace trade federation
• Space industry membership
• Aerospace mediation services
• Industry networking events

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Dues: GIFAS generates revenue through membership fees from over 500 member companies operating in the French aerospace and space sector. Members include aircraft manufacturers, equipment suppliers, space companies, and SMEs that meet specific criteria including French legal status and strategic involvement in aerospace activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

GIFAS is the professional trade association of the French aerospace and space industries. It sells membership-based services to more than 500 companies, delivering industry advocacy, networking, market data through its Observatory, sectoral mediation, supply chain quality programs (Aero Excellence), startup support (StartAir), international development (INFAN, MEFAN, NAFAN, OACI-FAN, SEAFAN), and flagship biennial events such as the Salon du Bourget organized through its SIAE subsidiary.

Product overview

GIFAS is a French industry association representing over 500 member companies in the aerospace and space sector, not a product company per se. Its offerings include industry networking programs (StartAir club), quality management reference systems (Aero Excellence), and the organization of major industry events (Salon du Bourget). The association provides industry data through its Observatory, mediation services, and supports international development through various networks.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• GIFAS Membership Subscription-based membership in the official French aerospace and space industry federation, granting access to advocacy, networking, market intelligence, events, mediation services, and international networks. Open to companies with French legal status, two years of operation, an industrial site in France, and aerospace/space as a strategic activity.
• Salon du Bourget (Paris Air Show) Biennial international aerospace and space exhibition organized by SIAE, a wholly-owned GIFAS subsidiary, at Paris-Le Bourget. The flagship event for the French aerospace sector, bringing together global industry stakeholders.
• StartAir Startup club for the French aerospace and space sector, supporting early-stage companies through visibility, ecosystem connections, and partnership opportunities within the GIFAS network. Reached 100 startups by March 2026 and 106 as of June 2026.
• Aero Excellence (Référentiel Aero Excellence) Reference framework for quality and operational excellence across the aerospace and space supply chain, promoting best practices and standardization among member companies and broader industry players.
• Sector Mediation Services Mediation services for the French aerospace and space sector covering client-supplier disputes, credit mediation, and enterprise mediation, organized under the Charter of Commitment on client-supplier relationships.
• International Aerospace Networks (INFAN, MEFAN, NAFAN, OACI-FAN, SEAFAN) Five region-specific international business networks that GIFAS facilitates to support French aerospace member companies in bilateral business development, networking, and market access abroad.

Quantifiable outcome

• The French aerospace sector generates €77.7 billion in revenue with €51.2 billion in exports and employs 220,000+ workers

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, regional and minor.

• Salon International de l'Aéronautique et de l'Espace (SIAE)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSIAE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of GIFAS that organizes the Salon du Bourget (Paris Air Show), the world's premier aerospace exhibition held biennially. This is the flagship event for the French aerospace industry and a major revenue and visibility generator for the sector.
• Conseil pour la Recherche Aéronautique Civile (CORAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCORAC is the French Council for Civil Aeronautics Research, a collaborative platform bringing together industry and government for R&D coordination in civil aviation. GIFAS co-organizes events such as Perspectives Spatiales with CORAC partners.
• Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerASD represents the European aerospace, security, and defence industries. GIFAS is a member and active participant in this European association, contributing to policy positions and advocacy at the EU level.
• INFAN (Indian French Aerospace Network)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational network facilitated by GIFAS to support French aerospace companies in the Indian market, providing networking opportunities and market intelligence for bilateral business development.
• MEFAN (Middle East French Aerospace Network)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational network facilitated by GIFAS to support French aerospace companies in the Middle East region, providing networking and business development support.
• NAFAN (North America French Aerospace Network)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational network facilitated by GIFAS to support French aerospace companies in North America, providing market access and networking opportunities.
• OACI-FAN (Civil Aviation French Aerospace Network)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational network focused on civil aviation, facilitated by GIFAS to support French aerospace companies in international civil aviation markets.
• SEAFAN (Southeast Asia French Aerospace Network)regionalGTM or Marketing PartnerInternational network facilitated by GIFAS to support French aerospace companies in Southeast Asian markets, providing networking and market entry support.
• Aero Excellence (Référentiel Aero Excellence)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAero Excellence is a quality and operational excellence reference framework developed for the aerospace and space industry supply chain. GIFAS promotes and supports this initiative internationally, with Spain joining the initiative as of 2026.
• TechnofoundersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnology transfer and startup accelerator mentioned in the context of supporting ION-X, a startup in the GIFAS StartAir program. Part of the deep-tech startup ecosystem supporting innovation in the space sector.
• CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrance's national scientific research organization. Mentioned in context of ION-X, a startup developing propulsion systems for small satellites, which was built on decades of research from CNRS and C2N laboratories.
• NovaspacemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer with GIFAS of the annual Perspectives Spatiales conference, the 14th edition of which was held in March 2026, bringing together institutional, industrial, and academic actors of the space sector.
• C2N (Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch laboratory providing foundational technology for ION-X startup's ionic liquid propulsion systems. Part of the academic-industrial collaboration ecosystem supporting space innovation.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ADS Group: The UK trade body for aerospace, defence, security and space industries. Was formed from the merger of SBAC and others and provides a near-identical federation, advocacy, and events offering to GIFAS.
• Aerospace Industries Association of Canada (AIAC): Canada's national aerospace industry federation, representing manufacturers such as Bombardier, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and Canadian supply-chain SMEs. Operates with a similar federation model and policy advocacy mandate.
• Bundesverband der Deutschen Luft- und Raumfahrtindustrie (BDLI): The German aerospace industry federation, representing Airbus Germany, MTU, Premium AEROTEC and German space/space-industry suppliers. Closely parallel to GIFAS in structure and member-services scope.
• Aerospace Industries Association (AIA): The US national aerospace industry trade association, representing major US primes and suppliers. It is the most direct geographic counterpart to GIFAS in terms of federation model, advocacy role, and large-member coordination.
• Associazione Italiana Industrie per l'Aerospazio, la Difesa e la Sicurezza (AIAD): Italy's national aerospace, defence and security industry association. Provides the closest analogue to GIFAS at a smaller scale, with similar advocacy, working-group, and supply-chain support functions.

Broad incumbents

• Aerospace, Security and Defence Industries Association of Europe (ASD): The pan-European aerospace, security and defence federation based in Brussels, of which GIFAS is itself a member. Operates one level above GIFAS (EU-wide policy) rather than within a single national industry.

Regional players

• Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) — Aerospace Council: CII's aerospace and defence industry council, the larger Indian industry-side counterpart interacting with GIFAS through bilateral networks such as INFAN for trade-facilitation and market access.
• Japan Aircraft Industries Association (JAIA): Japan's national aerospace industry association, representing Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Kawasaki, IHI and Tier-2 suppliers. Structurally equivalent to GIFAS but operating in a distinct geography.
• Society of Indian Aerospace Technologies and Industries (SIATI): An Indian aerospace industry body that interacts with GIFAS via the INFAN (Indian French Aerospace Network). Represents the Indian counterpart ecosystem that GIFAS helps its members access.
• Korea Aerospace Industries Association (KAIA): South Korea's national aerospace industry federation, representing Korean Aerospace Industries (KAI), Hanwha and related suppliers. Mirrors GIFAS's federation role within a different national market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/gifas
• Xx.com/gifasofficiel

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Groupement des Industries Françaises Aéronautiques et Spatiales (GIFAS)