Hub 3.0 - Frequently asked questions

There are currently 21 yellow posters displayed in public areas at various locations across the four municipalities of Kortenberg, Machelen, Steenokkerzeel and Zaventem. 

EIA stands for Environmental Impact Assessment. It is a report that studies the interaction between a project and its environment. The EIA examines the project’s environmental impacts and may set out recommendations. An EIA is always prepared by independent research agencies. The experts who prepare an EIA are accredited by the Flemish government.

Historical contamination has been identified on car park P4. Two types of contaminants are involved: Chromium VI and trichloroethylene. A soil sanitation procedure is currently ongoing. 

Within the Hub 3.0 project, water management at car park P4, where the historical groundwater contamination is located, is an important point of attention. The planned additional infiltration will be beneficial to soil sanitation, as it can help mobilise some of the contamination from the upper soil layers. This will allow for more effective sanitation.  

The study area for the research domaine ‘Mobility’ includes the project site as well as adjacent roads and intersections within the wider vicinity. It was defined based on the likely impacts of the HUB 3.0 development. The study area includes the landside area of the airport site, the connections from the A201 to the E40 Brussels Ring/A201 traffic complex, and a section of the E40 itself. The impact was assessed in the EIA. 

Furthermore, during the realisation of HUB 3.0, particular focus will be placed on ‘Less Nuisance’ measures to maintain airport accessibility. The contractor will prepare a ‘Less Nuisance Plan’. Among other things, this plan aims to ensure accessibility during the construction phase and minimise the impact on traffic.  

Close collaboration will also take place with De Werkvennootschap, which coordinates and implements the infrastructure projects in the area.  

The Hub 3.0 work site is free from PFAS contamination. Therefore, the works on Hub 3.0 will have no impact on PFAS contamination.

Passenger numbers are projected to reach 32 million per year by 2032, in line with market growth. No modifications to the airside infrastructure are required to accommodate this. We can handle this number of passengers with the existing airside infrastructure. We will not need to make any adjustments to the runways or taxiways, so no extensions or expansions are planned. 

 This is also described in our operating licence.  

There are no plans to install a fountain in the park. Infiltration facilities will be installed in the park. The aim is to allow the water to infiltrate into the ground as much as possible, rather than remain standing. As a result, the project will not include a fountain. Moreover, reflective surfaces are avoided at an airport due to the risk of glare hazards for pilots.  

Yes, the green boulevard will feature footpaths on both sides. A two-way cycling path will be built on one side of the boulevard. 

It’s true that there are several hotels near the airport but there is only one hotel next to the terminal. There is increasing demand for hotel accommodation close to the terminal, for example for passengers with early or cancelled flights, airport staff, or visitors to our Skyhall event hall.  

The hotel operator has not yet been determined and will be selected at a later stage.

Construction is expected to take around five years, and the size of the project will result in a significant number of temporary jobs during the construction period. Furthermore, the project will generate over 300 permanent jobs at the airport, e.g. to run and maintain the hotel. 

While the terminal will not have an indoor garden, Hub 3.0 is designed to incorporate significant greenery, with planting beds in both public areas and the open spaces of the intermodal hub. Both the hotel and the office building will be built around an atrium, with a courtyard garden in each. 

Solar panels form an essential part of the project’s sustainability measures, supplying the required locally produced green energy. Solar panels will be installed on the roofs of the hotel, office building, and terminal. Extensive research was carried out in coordination with air traffic controller skeyes to determine the optimal inclination and positioning of the solar panels, in order to prevent glare for pilots. 

Within Hub 3.0, spaces are heated without fossil fuels, using heat pumps and a BTES field (Borehole Thermal Energy Storage). 

Brussels Airport Company aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030. This implies that the airport operator aims to eliminate CO2 emissions from its own activities. We have a strategy and investment plan in place to phase out the use of natural gas. At present, two large gas-fired plants are still in operation, supplying heat to the terminal and offices on one hand, and to the cargo buildings on the other. 
 
The first major project to be undertaken is the replacement of our existing central heating plant.  It will be replaced with a completely new heat pump installation. 
 
For the installation in the cargo area, a technical study is currently underway to determine the most suitable approach. 

Yes. Experts have designed the canopy (the ‘cloud’) making sure it offers adequate protection from the rain. 

The existing terminal will continue to be used alongside the planned expansion. During the works, the current terminal will also remain fully operational. Small enhancements to the existing terminals can be implemented as required, and the catering and retail facilities will develop over time, but these changes do not fall within the scope of this project. 

The investment amounts to €500 million and is being financed by Brussels Airport Company as a private entity. The airport tram will be funded and implemented by the Flemish government.  

At present, approximately 100,000 people travel to or from the airport daily using public transport, encompassing passengers, staff, and commuters.  

At present, 40% of journeys to and from the airport (passengers and staff) are made using alternative, sustainable transport, rather than private or rental vehicles. Brussels Airport aims to achieve 50% of travel to and from the airport by alternative transport by 2040. By 2032, an interim target of 45% of journeys using sustainable transport versus 55% by private or hire car has been set. 

The new Intermodal Hub will feature an expanded bicycle parking facility, catering to office and hotel users in addition to travellers. It will be accessible via a bicycle lift from the green boulevard.

A bike rental point is not currently planned as part of this project. We recently introduced Blue Bike, a shared bicycle system, at Brussels Airport for airport staff. 

The new drop-off area will be on the departure level, behind the Sheraton. The new drop-off area will have a dedicated access route, ensuring that drop-off traffic is separated from other traffic flows. From the  drop-off area, passengers can walk straight to the terminal. 
 
So the drop-off area is not directly integrated into the Intermodal Hub. Passengers walking to the terminal from the drop-off area will use the entrances of the current departure hall. In the future, passengers arriving by public transport will do so at the new Intermodal Hub and will exit through the terminal extension.  
Construction of the new drop-off area began this month. It is scheduled to open by early October 2026 at the latest.

There are various options for picking someone up at the airport. There will be a taxi zone close to the terminal, car parks where you can briefly park to pick someone up, and, of course, you can also come to collect passengers by bus, tram, or train. The drop-off area is intended solely for dropping someone off and a brief farewell; waiting for passengers is not permitted. 

The Environmental Impact Assessment includes a detailed review of mobility, concluding that no major adverse effects are anticipated. This is partly due to the separation of drop-off traffic and partly because a key component of Hub 3.0 is the Intermodal Hub. By centralising different modes of transport under one roof and enhancing transport services and experience in the Intermodal Hub, we aim to further encourage passengers and employees to use public transport or bicycles. 

We have a clear modal split target. Currently, around 40% of passengers and employees travel to the airport by public transport or bicycle. Our target is to increase this to 45% by 2032. By 2040, we aim to achieve a 50/50 modal split.  

Some parking spaces will be removed to make way for the new drop-off area, but the number is relatively small. Out of over 17,000 parking spaces for passengers and staff, only 209 will be impacted. In addition, in the future, rental cars will be accommodated in the new P30 parking tower, freeing up space in car parks P1, P2, and P3, as well as in overflow car parks that can be opened to passengers on peak days. 

With the new Intermodal Hub, we aim to further encourage a modal shift by making travel to and from the airport by public transport even easier. Thus, the Intermodal Hub will also contribute to addressing parking needs. The airport will become even more accessible by bus or train, and in a few years, the airport tram will be added. 
The Environmental Impact Assessment shows that the project offers sufficient parking spaces. 

A car park is planned for the hotel. Otherwise, the focus is on the Intermodal Hub, and we aim to encourage as many people as possible to travel to the airport by public transport. No additional car parks are planned.   
Independent of this project, the new Parking 30 facility for rental cars and airport staff is set to open shortly.  

Brussels Airport has long aimed to establish direct high-speed train connections between the airport and HST hubs in neighbouring countries. The Belgian government is also pursuing this objective and has included it in the federal government agreement. Ultimately, the decision rests with the government and the railway companies, but Brussels Airport continues to actively advocate high-speed train connections. 

Brussels Airport Company provides a wide-ranging and flexible mobility budget for employees, designed to incentivise alternatives to car travel.  
Enhancing the transport services and overall experience within the Intermodal Hub will serve as a significant incentive for passengers to opt for public transport. 

Brussels Airport has a strategic mobility plan, developed to meet the mobility needs of passengers, employees, and companies at the airport and its immediate surroundings, with the aim of achieving modal shift objectives. More about the Sustainable Airport Mobility Plan can be found here. 

We too are eagerly anticipating this project, which is expected to be completed by end of 2030. The airport tram will run to and from Brussels. It involves extending the tram line from NATO headquarters to the airport.  You can find more information here. 

Preparatory work for the airport tram on the airport grounds will begin in 2027. De Werkvennootschap began construction of the viaduct for the tramway and the F201 cycle path over the R0 in 2025.

Buses, trains and trams connect the airport to different regions. The airport tram will come from Brussels along a route that is now less accessible by public transport. Operating on dedicated tracks, the airport tram will improve connectivity and will replace the current STIB bus line 62 between Schuman and the airport.  
 
Providing a comprehensive range of transport options to all regions is essential to offer a feasible alternative to private car use. 

Recognising this challenge, the airport is taking steps to expand public transport availability during both early morning and late evening hours. This is necessary not only for passengers on early flights but also for airport staff working early or late shifts. 
We continue to engage with transport companies to encourage increased public transport services to the airport during the early morning peak. By sharing data and collaborating closely, we are confident that we will be able to better tailor services in the future.  

The Diabolo infrastructure is financed through a public-private partnership at the federal level. The airport itself has no role in this, but it is also in favour of abolishing the Diabolo surcharge. The project will have no impact on the existing surcharge.  

The A201 is a short, direct link from the R0 to the airport that manages traffic relatively smoothly. The capacity of the A201 will remain sufficient in the future, given the modal shift targets. An additional access road is not consistent with our sustainable mobility goals. Together with the various partners, we are looking at capacity optimisations and clear signage to further improve traffic flow. 

The new A201xR0 interchange (SPI.R0) will improve traffic flows and safety on the R0 and thus also on access roads such as the A201. Modifications to the roundabout at the N262 will also help ensure smoother traffic flow.   

Remote parking for passengers is available at discount car parks in the cargo area, where a direct bus service to the terminal is provided. We are examining ways to improve information for passengers and staff regarding the use of park-and-ride facilities and other car parks that provide convenient public transport connections to the airport, including those at train stations with direct services. Through regular consultations with various stakeholders, we are exploring remote parking options in combination with the Ringtrambus link and the future airport tram.  

Traffic for the drop-off area will use the existing exit to Parking 1 and then divert onto a new road specifically constructed for the drop-off zone. 

(NOTE: In architecture, ‘artworks’ refers to large structures such as bridges or tunnels). 

The Intermodal Hub will offer parking across its various levels, while the ground floor will be dedicated to buses. We are building a bridge that will provide direct access to the car park within the Intermodal Hub. A new exit near Car Park 1 is also being built, representing a significant construction project. The North-South Viaduct will also be modified locally to connect with the new Intermodal Hub. This structure ensures that only public transport buses cross at ground level with the tram in the Intermodal Hub. Car traffic will use the new structure to access both the existing and new car parks.

The proposal to have an exit from the E40 that would provide a direct link to the airport via Kortenberg-Zaventem was part of our earlier Strategic Vision 2040 and its master plan. Our strategy was revised after the COVID-19 pandemic, and this proposal is no longer part of the plans. A future-proof and smooth connection to the E40 remains important to ensure the airport's accessibility for passengers and employees.

The airport will remain fully accessible throughout the construction period. We conduct thorough studies to manage all traffic and passenger flows while keeping the airport fully operational. Necessary measures, including the construction of a temporary bus station, taxi re-routing, and modifications to the train station, are planned to ensure full accessibility of all transport modes at the airport. 

The preparatory works that are starting now have been authorised under a separate permit application. These are the works for the temporary bus station and the new drop-off area. The preparatory works planned for 2026 are included in Hub 3.0’s permit application, which will also cover demolition works. These works will commence only once the permit has been granted. 

In order to minimise traffic congestion, the contractor will direct construction traffic along the main road network, avoiding smaller roads. We ensure this by including it in the specifications, which summarise all the requirements the contractor must meet in order to be selected.  This will also cover all other construction site measures and requirements. While the Environmental Impact Assessment indicates that no additional traffic nuisance is anticipated during the construction phase, the contractor will be obliged to develop a Less Nuisance Plan for the site, outlining the timing of multiple transports and how they will be managed, such as scheduling them outside peak hours. In this way, we will have a clear understanding of periods when additional traffic is expected and will be able to monitor and implement adjustments as needed. 

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The contractor will be required to comply with legal requirements as well as specific regulations set by Brussels Airport Company, which are detailed in a set of specifications outlining all obligations the contractor must meet. This will impose the necessary measures, including those ensuring the site is safely secured. 
The construction site is located in the heart of the airport, directly in front of the terminal, and is therefore not near local residents. For the protection of passengers and staff, the construction site will be securely fenced off at all times. Appropriate inspections will be conducted to verify compliance.