diff --git a/airflow/__init__.py b/airflow/__init__.py
index fed233f01460a..f15f2107fa16b 100644
--- a/airflow/__init__.py
+++ b/airflow/__init__.py
@@ -58,10 +58,20 @@
 # very easily cause import cycles in the conf init/validate code (since downstream code from
 # those functions likely import settings).
 # configuration is therefore initted early here, simply by importing it.
+
+from packaging.version import Version
+
 from airflow import configuration, settings
 
+
+def get_airflow_version() -> Version:
+    """Return packaging Version object representing the base version."""
+    return Version(Version(__version__).base_version)
+
+
 __all__ = [
     "__version__",
+    "get_airflow_version",
     "DAG",
     "Asset",
     "XComArg",