Abstract <p>The article examines the role of government relations (GR) communications in the system of integrated marketing communications of high-tech enterprises in the aviation industry. The special importance of GR interaction in conditions of high regulatory dependence, strategic importance of aviation, and increasing complexity of the institutional environment is substantiated. The authors’ interpretation of GR communications as an institutional and expert-oriented communication mechanism integrated into the strategic management of the enterprise is proposed. The key subjects and tools of GR-communications are identified, and the main risks and areas of their management are systematized. Based on an expert-analytical approach, the authors have developed a maturity scale of GR communications that which makes it possible to assess the level of their institutionalization and strategic integration. The results obtained expand the theoretical understanding of GR communications as a strategic resource of aviation enterprises, have practical significance for the formation of communication strategies, and can be used in the development of communication strategies of aviation enterprises and in further scientific research in the field of marketing and public administration.</p>