The Connecting Europe by Air side event, co-organised with Brussels Airport Company, will gather policy makers and aviation industry stakeholders to discuss the role of aviation in ensuring the connectivity and sustainability of the European transport system.
We invite you to follow insightful panel discussions where experts will delve into how aviation can help ensure the connectivity and multimodality of the EU transport network. The role of collaboration, research, and financing as a catalyst for the aviation sector’s decarbonisation will also be discussed. A special focus will be on airports, highlighting their important role in Europe’s transport network.
Join us for an exciting event with more than 350 participants from the aviation sector and industry, the energy and mobility sectors, academics, politicians, and media. In addition, you can explore some of the innovative EU funded aviation projects at our on-site exhibition.
The event is organised in collaboration with SESAR Deployment Manager.
The event will take place on 3 April from 8:30-13:30 at Brussels Airport’s iconic Skyhall, located at the departures level.
Programme:
| Time | Session Title |
| 08:30 – 09:10 | Welcome coffee & side exhibition |
| 09:10 – 09:15 |
Opening
|
| 09:15 – 09:30 |
Keynote speeches
|
| 09:30 – 10:00 |
Hot seat debate: Navigating European aviation's present and future
Moderator: Victoria Moores, Europe & Africa Bureau Chief, Air Transport World |
| 10:00 – 10:45 |
Panel debate: The role of aviation in EU transport network connectivity
Moderator: Herald Ruijters, Deputy Director-General, DG MOVE, European Commission |
| 10:45 – 11:15 | Coffee break |
| 11:15 – 11:30 |
Elevator pitch: Skyward shift: Essentials for transforming aviation by 2050
|
| 11:30 – 12:15 |
Panel debate: Flight to sustainability: Catalysing aviation decarbonisation with collaboration, research, and financing
Moderator: Maria De Las Flores Diaz Pulido – Head of Aviation Policy Unit, DG MOVE, European Commission |
| 12:15 – 12:25 |
Closing
|
| 12:25 – 13:30 | Networking lunch & side exhibition |
Exhibition:
Explore innovative aviation projects at the on-site exhibition. The exhibition will remain open throughout the event.
See the list of the exhibition partners below.
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Brussels Airport is a key European hub, welcoming 22.2 million passengers and handling 701,000 tonnes of cargo in 2023. While enhancing global connectivity with 220 direct destinations, the airport is actively fostering a carbon-free future. |
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Stargate is an EU Green Deal project researching and demonstrating innovative solutions that aim at decarbonising the aviation sector. The project also fosters cooperation with local surroundings to improve the living quality and the stimulation of the modal shift. |
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hOListic & Green Airports (OLGA) is a Horizon 2020 project that aims to reduce the environmental impact of the aviation sector. It develops innovative and sustainable solutions to reduce CO2 emissions, optimise energy efficiency, preserve biodiversity, and improve air quality and waste management, while involving the entire aviation value chain. |
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The TULIPS project is innovating on technologies and concepts to accelerate the transition towards net zero airport operations by 2030. The deployment of these technologies will help airports to ensure the role of sustainable and multimodal links in Europe’s transport system under the EU Green Deal. |
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The ALIGHT project paves the way for the sustainable airport of the future with focus on sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) and smart energy. |
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Brussels Airlines showcases the biggest levers in reducing its carbon emissions, ranging from fleet renewal to the use of Sustainable Aviation Fuel to support the ambitious SBTi certified reduction target. |
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DHL has committed to a 30% SAF blend by 2030 to reduce aviation related emissions. Our ambitious GHG reduction goals are in line with requirements of the Science-based Targets initiative and we have committed on additional expenditures of up to €7 billion into sustainable fuels and clean technologies by 2030. |
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TUI Airline will showcase the many initiatives the airline takes for more sustainable aviation, mainly on fleet renewal and adjustments of operational procedures. |
    Stand coordinated by ACI Europe  |
European airports leading the way in decarbonising air transport: Showcasing projects supported by the Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility (AFIF). |
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Discover how ATM modernisation in Europe is brought to life through SESAR, improving your flight experience while reducing environmental impact. |
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The Renewable and Low-Carbon Fuels (RLCF) Industrial Alliance tackles the lack of availability and affordability of renewable and low-carbon fuels for aviation. |
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Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation: Preparing Europe for hydrogen and electric flights. |
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Safran Aero Boosters designs, develops and produces modules, equipment and test cells for aircraft and space engines. Fine particles have a growing impact on health and environment. Depollution Mobile Station (DEMOST) project develops a mobile solution to filter a high air flow with a 80% to 100% filtering efficiency, depolluting large areas with high level of fine particles where people are exposed, including areas like airports, motorways interchanges and tunnels. |
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The TaxiBot, currently being the only aircraft sustainable taxiing certified solution available today, will bring a TUI B737 aircraft from the gate to the departing runway or to/from the aircraft maintenance hangar with no main engines running enabling significant emissions and fuel consumption reduction. |