Brussels Airport - General, Pressroom

Brussels Airport focuses further on drone innovation and plans investment in DronePort

DronePort is located at the former air force base of Sint-Truiden, and is an initiative of the Limburg Investment Company LRM, the city of Sint-Truiden, POM Limburg and JK Invest. The development of the site began in 2013, and DronePort wants to stimulate research and innovation by creating an eco-system for the drone and Advanced Air Mobility sector. This eco-system includes both a regional airport and various services including a campus, a drone test site and an incubator that forms a growth platform for companies wanting to develop this new market further.

Brussels Airport has the ambition to play a leading role in the development and application of innovative solutions based on the use of drones. In 2021, Brussels Airport therefore became shareholder of SkeyDrone, a pioneer in the area of drone services and drone management systems. With a contemplated capital injection in DronePort, Brussels Airport would become co-shareholder of DronePort as well.

"By acquiring an interest of 30% in DronePort, we will have the opportunity to adopt a unique position in this emerging industry,” says Arnaud Feist, CEO of Brussels Airport Company. “We are increasingly investing in the development of innovative technologies and work on various drone projects in the area of airport security and operational efficiency, amongst others. With this participation in DronePort, Brussels Airport wishes to strengthen the development of solutions and services based on drone technology.”

This contemplated capital increase will make it possible for DronePort to further focus on the development of their infrastructure and eco-system and to accelerate this. The partnership of shareholders makes it possible to accelerate the co-creation and to promote the drone community and its developments in Belgium and farther afield. The partners have the collective ambition to expand DronePort to a drone airport with international allure.

“DronePort was founded several years ago, already focusing on the emerging drone industry and was far ahead of its time thanks to the unique test facilities, incubation operation and infrastructure. The entry of Brussels Airport Company will be the start of a new chapter for DronePort, the next step in the life cycle of the company. Brussels Airport is a strong strategic partner with sound aviation knowledge, a clear ambition and an international network that can help DronePort upscale to a reference in the drone sector at European level”, says Tom Vanham, General Director of LRM.

The transaction must still be finalized and approved by the relevant competition authorities and respective governing bodies and is expected to be completed by mid 2023.

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About Brussels Airport

Brussels Airport is one of the most important airports in Europe. In 2024, Brussels Airport welcomed 23.6 million passengers and transported 733,000 tonnes of cargo through the airport. Brussels Airport caters for the specific needs of business travellers and holidaymakers alike, on both intra-European and long haul flights. In 2025, the airport offers direct connections between Belgium and 210 destinations worldwide, with flights operated by 80 airlines.   

The airport also offers a leading cargo platform, specialised in the transport of pharmaceutical products, perishable goods, e-commerce and live animals. Brussels Airport is the most important pharmaceutical hub in Europe with the largest area of temperature-controlled warehouses.  

With its SHIFT 2027 strategy, launched in 2022, Brussels Airport Company intends to strengthen its position as a major European hub, accelerate its ambitious sustainability goals, e.g. through the European Green Deal project Stargate, and continue to diversify its activities by focusing on innovation and cooperation.

Brussels Airport is the second most important economic engine in Belgium, good for 64,000 direct and indirect jobs and is owned and operated by Brussels Airport Company. The shareholders are a consortium of private investors (75%) and the Belgian State (25%).Follow Brussels Airport on Twitter, Linkedin, Instagram, TikTok and Facebook.  

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www.brusselsairport.be