The project used an ecosystem approach to the existing regional airports to uncover synergies and efficiency gains across the entire ecosystem. To gain a comprehensive understanding of each regional airport’s strengths and weaknesses, in-depth interviews were held with all stakeholders (cargo operators, Brussels Airport, etc.). A thorough analysis of the macroeconomic context in which regional airports operate was carried out, and a separate strategy was developed for each airport, specifically leveraging the unique strengths of each one within the Flemish airport ecosystem. The progressive insights from this research were formulated by Ortelius into policy recommendations aimed at bridging the gap between the aviation industry and policy.

Sustainability was also integrated into this airport vision, focusing on how Flemish airports can maximize their contribution to the climate transition and use this as a strategic positioning tool. We calculated the potential renewable energy that could be generated in “unused” airport spaces, estimated the capacity of smart grid parking areas to serve as battery functions within the energy system, and explored the opportunity of airports as energy communities. Additionally, we examined potential strategic partnerships for airports, such as with the Antwerp chemical cluster for sustainable aviation fuels, and considered the roles of hydrogen and biofuels.