Stargate Expo showcases five years of testing, learning and collaboration
02.10.2026
Almost 1,000 visitors came to Brussels Airport’s Skyhall to discover what five years of Stargate have delivered, and where that work can lead next.
The expo marked an important closing milestone for Stargate. Over five years, 23 European partners and more than 150 people worked across four airports, testing more than 30 projects aimed at making aviation more sustainable. The strong turnout reflected genuine interest in the themes brought forward during the expo and in how aviation can continue to reduce its environmental impact.
On 26 and 27 September 2026, the expo opened to the general public. Monday 28 September was dedicated to guided tours for invited stakeholders, including representatives from the cabinet of the Minister of Mobility and partner companies from across the airport community. The fourth and final day, Tuesday 29 September, brought together consortium partners, Brussels Airport employees and visitors from Connecting Europe Days.
Bringing five years of innovation together
Visitors could discover how airports are working to reduce emissions from ground operations, explore new approaches to Sustainable Aviation Fuel, use resources more efficiently and better understand environmental impact. The expo also highlighted what had been learned from testing these solutions in real airport environments, and what is still needed for wider implementation.
The work was presented through live demonstrations, models and interactive installations. A virtual airport experience complemented the physical displays, allowing visitors to explore more Stargate projects in their operational context.
The practical character of the programme was visible throughout the expo. The mobile SAF blending solution was presented through a scale model, while an autonomous electric cargo tow tractor demonstrated how new technologies can find their way into airport operations.
Other elements focused on environmental impact and circularity. A demonstration developed by VITO showed how ultrafine particles can be measured near the runway and how concentrations change during aircraft take-off. Even the coffee served during the expo connected back to the project, using reusable cups linked to Stargate’s work on coffee grounds and reuse.
Together, the displays and demonstrations showed what five years of testing can deliver: practical experience, a clearer understanding of what works and valuable lessons on what is still needed to move promising solutions further.
A closing milestone, not the end of the story
Stargate has been a European collaboration from the start. Brussels served as the lighthouse airport, with Athens, Budapest and Toulouse as fellow airports testing and developing solutions in their own operational environments.
As the five year programme comes to a close, the partnerships, knowledge, experience and lessons built across the four airports will continue to be shared, developed further and support the next steps.
The expo may have marked the end of one chapter, but the next one has already begun.
Want to explore the projects and key learnings in more detail?
Discover the full range of Stargate projects on our project page, or dive into five years of results and key learnings in the brochure.
