Anne Julia (ATB) on Concrete Implementation of Stargate of Innovations

Could you give us a brief overview of your background, your interests, and your experience at Aéroport de Toulouse Blagnac, including any relevant experience in other organisations?

I joined the airport more than 20 years ago to work initially on noise issues and relations with local residents affected by aircraft noise. Thanks to my multidisciplinary background and interest in life sciences, I had already held a position linked to environmental challenges. At the time, I advised companies on how to address what were then emerging environmental issues. When I arrived at the airport, I knew little about noise, but I already had a fairly clear understanding of the environmental challenges that would grow increasingly important for airports—and which were, at that point, not yet fully taken into account.

On a more personal note, I remain endlessly in awe of the beauty of nature—plants and wildlife—and aware of its fragility. I recently started drawing what I find in my garden. I love music and continue to sing in various ensembles.

How do you and Aéroport de Toulouse Blagnac (ATB) work with the Stargate consortium?

Within the consortium, we regularly share progress on actions with colleagues from the other fellow airports, under the guidance of the consultancy TO70, which supports the project alongside Brussels Airport. We have led several actions on the themes defined within the project. As the project evolved, we shared progress and sometimes redirected certain actions.

For example, regarding decarbonisation of airport‑based vehicles, we assessed different pathways (electrification, hydrogen fuel cells), taking market maturity and economic factors into account. This led us to include HVO as a decarbonised fuel for certain specialised vehicles.

The fact that we are airports of different sizes, located in different countries with varied climates and energy contexts, helps challenge solutions that may not be deployable in the short term due to regulatory, market‑related or economic constraints.

Our main objectives relate to actions contributing to the decarbonisation of all vehicles operating on our airport platform—whether ours or those of our partners. We now have a clear strategy and actions underway to achieve this goal.

A second major topic is the development of an energy roadmap combining decarbonisation, renewable energy and energy independence, supported by research conducted by a PhD student whose work has been integrated into the digital twin.

What does it mean to be an airport within the consortium?

For us, being part of the consortium is a first experience within a large‑scale European project—an enriching opportunity. It allows us to strengthen and accelerate our net‑zero roadmap and better understand the levers available to an airport. It also involves learning from projects we were unable to carry out ourselves.

Which Stargate projects is ATB participating in?

We take part in several projects, notably the significant work on decarbonising vehicles and airside electrification, which will enable APU‑off operations, without forgetting a study conducted within STARGATE that led us to implement, with a partner, a rapid electric charging station at the airport entrance. It can serve employees, passengers, professionals and local residents—a model that challenges the idea of multiplying charging points in long‑stay car parks.

The Sustainable Airport Mobility Plan, the use of mobility‑management tools, creation of a mobility dashboard with Sopra Steria, selection of a multimodal journey‑planner tool for our website, our role in SAF deployment, and the overarching energy vision are also part of our work.

How can we encourage better acceptance of a more sustainable mobility plan within an airport, especially considering other revenue streams?

A more sustainable mobility plan responds to societal expectations, helps attract future employees, and aligns with younger generations who are moving away from car‑centric habits. Low‑cost passengers increasingly consider the full cost of travel, including access to the airport. Offering modal, decarbonised alternatives is therefore essential.

This approach is well perceived by mobility authorities and strengthens the airport’s position when advocating for inclusion within public transport or soft‑mobility plans.

What strategies are needed to foster more sustainable mobility to, from, and around an airport ?

One key success factor is participating in mobility‑governance bodies to explain the specific needs of an airport—a long‑term effort requiring sustained involvement.

What are the next steps for adapting airports as intermodal hubs?

First and foremost, we must recognise that an airport is already a multimodal hub, with one particularity: aircraft, which are not perceived as public transport! In the various stakeholder groups I’ve taken part in, authorities often focus solely on roads and rail, overlooking air and maritime transport in their mobility‑hub models. Looking ahead, how much room will we give to intermediate vehicles or autonomous vehicles, whether driving or flying?

Is there an upcoming project or initiative at ATB that you are particularly looking forward to?

I am eager to see the results of our PhD study: can Toulouse Airport become a 100% renewable‑energy‑powered and 100% energy‑autonomous airport in the future? We will have the answer in a few months.