Sustainable Airport Mobility Plan (SAMP)
The Sustainable Airport Mobility Plan (SAMP) is Brussels Airport’s strategy to make travel to, from, and around the airport more sustainable and efficient. It focuses on improving mobility for passengers, employees, and businesses, while reducing environmental impact. Key principles of the SAMP include integration, participation, and ongoing evaluation.
How the SAMP works
The SAMP follows a ten-step cycle across four stages. While ideally sequential, steps were sometimes adapted or combined to match the policies of different airport partners. The process is designed to be flexible, with regular progress checks and updates.
Part of the Stargate Project
The SAMP is part of Stargate, an EU Green Deal project led by Brussels Airport. It brings together partners to show that sustainable airport mobility is both necessary and achievable.
Brussels Airport aims to offer everyone comfortable, reliable, smart, and sustainable transport options to and from the airport. The SAMP (Sustainable Airport Mobility Plan) supports this ambition, with a focus on four key objectives:
- Improved accessibility: Smoother transport to, from, and within the airport – for passengers, employees, and visitors. Freight transport is also being organised more efficiently, ensuring accessibility at all times.
- Enhanced safety & security: Safer roads and transport options in and around the airport.
- Climate action: Actively contributing to European climate goals by reducing emissions, air pollution, and noise.
- Better travel experience: A more pleasant experience for both travellers and employees.
With this plan, Brussels Airport aims to reduce its ecological footprint, improve air quality, and create a better experience for passengers. At the same time, it contributes to broader sustainability goals.
In the first year, the building blocks of the SAMP were defined:
- Baseline measurement: A snapshot of the current mobility and accessibility situation, including key challenges.
- Future scenarios: Projections of how mobility needs will evolve.
- Objectives: What the SAMP aims to achieve.
Evaluation indicators: How progress will be measured
These elements were developed with input from both internal and external stakeholders, through workshops and consultations. From the start, the process focused on collaboration and building broad support. This early cooperation created a solid foundation for future partnerships around mobility, transport, and logistics.
The SAMP considers four main groups:
- Passengers
- Commuters (airport staff and community)
- Visitors
- Logistics stakeholders at the airport
Taking these groups into consideration, a set of specific actions was selected and proposed for adoption by the broader airport community.
To track progress, the SAMP uses clear Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), aligned with three core ambitions of Brussels Airport:
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Hub Connectivity: This measures how well the airport connects to major Belgian cities using sustainable transport (public transport, etc.). The goal is to increase and diversify these options, including exploring high-speed rail.
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Lower CO₂ emissions: The SAMP monitors the reduction in CO₂ emissions from both airport operations and the transport of passengers and goods. The focus is on reducing emissions and promoting more sustainable transport choices.
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Modal shift in transport choices:
- By 2027: 40% sustainable transport / 60% car
- By 2032: 45% sustainable transport / 55% car
- By 2040 (long-term vision): 50% sustainable transport / 50% car
Sustainable Transportation Initiatives 2023/24
Brussels Airport continues to invest in sustainable mobility. In 2023 and 2024, several projects were launched to make the airport more accessible, environmentally friendly, and convenient for both travellers and staff.
To make cycling to Brussels Airport more attractive, a new bicycle bridge was built in 2023. It connects the cycle highways FR20, F214, and F217 directly with the cargo area.
In addition, three bicycle counters were installed on strategic access roads, in collaboration with the Province of Flemish Brabant. The data collected serves as the foundation for a forward-looking strategy to further encourage cycling to and from the airport.
Brussels Airport also appointed a dedicated Bicycle Manager to promote cycling among airport staff and the wider community.
Travellers who opt for train or bus now enjoy extra comfort. An interactive mobility wall was installed in the baggage hall, displaying real-time travel information for all public transport arrivals and departures.
A central ticket point was also set up, allowing passengers to easily purchase tickets for all transport options to and from the airport.
In collaboration with Interparking, additional charging stations for electric vehicles were installed in the passenger car parks. This allows Brussels Airport to meet the growing demand for EV charging.
Since 2023, airport staff can use the carpool app M Pact, available via brusselsairport.carpool.be.
Car sharing is actively promoted through awareness campaigns, with special attention given to employees working early or late shifts. For them, shared mobility offers a convenient alternative to public transport and a way to reduce CO₂ emissions.