WORKSHOP : Challenges of the regional airports regarding the Green Deal

Green Deal: Challenges for regional airports Cases of Charleroi and Liege airports (Wallonia, Belgium)

Regional airports face major challenges in a highly competitive global context of today. Dealing with European issues, they are in direct competition with bigger international airports.

The aviation sector is a first-line actor of green and energy transition. The achievement of important targets, especially, net-zero emissions by 2050, is crucial for the industry. These targets are added to already existing constraints such as relationship with resident neighbourhoods.

The Walloon Society of Airports (SOWAER), the management body of Brussels South Charleroi Airport and Liege Airport, takes concrete actions on climate. Today, SOWAER is part of the European Alliance for Zero-Emission Aviation (AZEA) and follows closely the debates on ReFuelEU Aviation and alternative fuel infrastructure at the European Parliament.

How to implement the European Green Deal and its emission-related provisions? What support can regional airports receive in the fields of energy and the fight against environmental pollution? What is the vision that the European Commission could share with local airports, important vehicle for regional attractiveness?

These questions will be at the heart of the seminar organized jointly by Wallonia Meets EU (WALMEET.EU) and SOWAER at Liege Airport on the 31st of March 2023. This meeting will be an opportunity to meet with representatives of the Commission, the European Parliament and specialized European organizations.