Belgium’s Brussels Airport Drives Revolutionary Sustainability with Strategic License Awards and Groundbreaking Electrification for the Future of Air Travel

Brussels Airport in Belgium is transforming aviation with strategic ground handling licenses and a strong focus on sustainability and electrification for future operations.

Brussels Airport relies on external service providers for essential ground handling services, such as baggage handling and catering transport. With the expiration of licenses across five ground handling categories set for October 2025, the airport began a selection process in early 2024 to award new contracts. As a result, Brussels Airport Company has successfully granted new licenses for all restricted categories, valid for seven years. Sustainability played a significant role in the selection criteria, with a focus on electrification. This move is part of the airport’s larger initiative to electrify all ground operations, supported by funding from the European Commission’s BREEZE program.

The airport’s selection process, initiated in February 2024, targets five categories of ground handling services, where only a limited number of operators are eligible to apply. A first license was awarded in December 2024 to Gate Gourmet Belgium NV in the “catering transport” category. However, since no other candidates met the requirements, a second selection process is currently underway to award an additional license in this category.

On March 27, Brussels Airport Company announced its decisions for the remaining four categories, selecting the following service providers who will hold licenses from October 2025 until October 2032:

• Baggage handling: Aviapartner Belgium NV and Alyzia SAS
• Ramp handling for passenger aircraft: Aviapartner Belgium NV and Alyzia SAS
• Ramp handling for full-freighter aircraft: Aviapartner Cargo NV, dnata NV, and Menzies Aviation Holding Limited
• Freight and mail transport: Aviapartner Cargo NV, Alyzia SAS, and dnata NV
• Catering transport: Gate Gourmet Belgium NV (announcement made December 17, 2024) – second selection process ongoing

The evaluation of proposals was based on several objective criteria that comply with existing regulations to ensure safe, efficient, and high-quality ground services for airlines. In addition, sustainability was a key factor, with an emphasis on the electrification of ground vehicles. The selection process incorporated specific criteria focused on this, aligned with Brussels Airport’s new environmental permit, which mandates that by 2030, 80% of airside vehicles be electrified or replaced by zero-emission alternatives.

Brussels Airport Company plays a crucial role in facilitating the electrification of ground operations. While service providers contribute to this shift, the airport itself supports the transition. Currently, nearly 50% of the 600 airside vehicles—primarily operated by external partners—are electric. To accelerate this transition, Brussels Airport has secured €7.2 million in funding from the European Commission under the BREEZE program (Brussels Airport Electrification for Zero Emissions). By December 2027, the program aims to install over 300 charging stations in a decentralized manner to enhance energy efficiency and reduce unnecessary movement of heavy vehicles. The initiative also includes supplying electricity to stationary aircraft.

To support the increasing energy demands, the airport will upgrade its electrical grid with new high-voltage cabins and expand its on-site electricity production, including adding more solar panels, with a total capacity of 5 MWp.