In recent years, the adhesive technology has been widely used in the production of high-strength joins and precise positioning of various materials, such as metals, glass and composite materials. The adhesive technology has become a promising assembly process in the aerospace field due to its versatility, low creep and high damage tolerance. However, the reliability and predictability of adhesive bonding still require further development due to the complex operating conditions involved. Therefore, this article reviews and discusses the latest advances in aerospace adhesive technology, such as methods for improving bonding performance, bonding techniques (including joints structure and failure modes) and self-healing adhesive layers. Additionally, the current research results are summarised, and possible development trends and research directions in the field of adhesive bonding are prospected.