Brussels Airport is nearing the end of its five-year Stargate program. Funded with €24,8 million from the European Green Deal, the project serves as a testbed for new mobility, energy, and technology solutions in air transport. Since its launch in 2021, the airport has acted as a laboratory, collaborating with 22 partners – including major airlines and several other European airports – to test innovations aimed at improving operations.
One of the most visible innovations is the introduction of a fully autonomous, electric shuttle. The first of its kind in Belgium, it operates on the airside and was initially tested with airport staff from late 2024 to early 2025. Currently, the shuttle, equipped with cameras and sensors, is in a second testing phase, operating between the terminal and an employee parking area. This project is part of a broader electrification initiative that also includes the installation of smart charging stations for rental cars. These utilize dynamic energy management software developed by Engie Laborelec. Furthermore, the BREEZE program plans to install 328 charging points for electric ground handling equipment by 2027.
The airport is also exploring new ways to utilize locally generated energy. At the beginning of 2025, around 100 households in four surrounding communities were offered locally generated electricity from the airport's solar panels for one year. This trial phase, which runs until February 2026, aims to assess the feasibility and scalability of such community energy projects. Furthermore, the airport is focusing on promoting a shift in passenger transport: A multimodal travel planner evaluates transport options based on various criteria and assists passengers and staff in planning their journeys. In addition, a new bicycle rental system with 48 bicycles – almost half of them electric – was introduced in the summer of 2025 for the airport's approximately 30.000 employees at five stations.
The fifth and final year of the project, in 2026, includes further technological trials, such as testing an autonomous cargo transport vehicle and a mobile fuel blending plant. The program is accompanied by monitoring of various performance indicators. Similar Stargate initiatives are running in parallel at partner airports in Europe: Athens Airport is testing the electrification of airside areas, Toulouse-Blagnac is working on an airport mobility plan, and Budapest Airport has introduced a new navigation app to improve the safety of airside vehicles. The Stargate consortium, which includes Brussels Airlines, TUI, DHL Aviation, and Skytanking, is funded by the EU's Horizon 2020 program.
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