When

What

11:00

Meetup with ARC in the Brussel Citycenter

ARC Office, Rue Montoyer 21, 1000 Bruxelles, Belgium

Link to location

ARC is pleased to share that the Airport Cities Developers Network (ACDN) will present on the topic of; "Airport Cities: Much more than just some buildings around a terminal," on September 23, 2026 from 11:00 to 12:30 at our offices in Brussels!
The presentation will be followed by a networking session for all participants.

15:00

ACDN Member’s Meeting

BAC - Compass offices at 14.45h

Link to the location

16:30

Official starting the ACDF 2026

Attendees will arrive, meeting point at Brussels Airport.

Short but warm First Welcome from the organisators
Peter de Leeuw and Johanna Sonnenburg

Meeting Point: Sheraton hotel – Gullivers brasserie

Link to the location

17:15

Exclusive Airport city discovery tour

A behind-the-scenes visit showcasing Brussels Airport’s future Airport City developments, Mobility Hub ambitions, strategic landside projects and development opportunities that are normally not accessible to external visitors.

Meeting point: Sheraton hotel 17:00

Link to the location

19:15
Open End

Get-Together: Meetup at Sheraton and short walk from there

Asian themed buffet!

Meeting point: Sheraton hotel 19:15

Link to the location

Shuttle bus back to Novotel after the Gettogether

When

What

9:00

Welcome from ACDF Organisation team and Host

ACDF Management Team: Johanna Sonnenburg and Peter de Leeuw
Bussels Airport, Geert Aerts, Member of the Management team

Meeting point: BAC – Compass offices at 8.45h

Link to the location

9:30

Welcome words from the organisers

Peter de Leeuw and Johanna Sonnenburg

Who is Who? Attendees’ short introductions.

Mentimeter Warm-Up, Organisational issues. 

10:30

Session 1:

Airport Cities: Access, Connectivity & Multimodal Hubs

This session looks at how airports function as intermodal nodes and how rail, road, bus, tram, walking, cycling and emerging mobility systems strengthen airport locations on the landside. The focus is on connectivity as a core factor in regional integration, accessibility and the attractiveness of Airport City investments.

Three group discussions, one introduced by Brussels Airport team and cherry picked attendees. 

Group 1: Brussels Airport’s Mobility Hub 

Futuring the Brussels Airport Mobility Hub project and the transformation of one of Europe’s most connected airport locations

Introduced by Elke Bossaert from Brussels Airport

• Exploring Brussels Airport’s planned Mobility Hub project within its Airport City: how the physical and operational coupling of different mobility modes can create added value, improve landside connectivity and accessibility in Brussels Airport City

Group 2: Mobility hub strategies for Airport Cities

• Looking at multimodal hubs from a systemic perspective: how airports can act as mobility drivers for the wider region, connect different modes, enable new partnerships and inspire future-proof business models through best practices and strategic concepts

Group 3: Business models for integrated mobility

Introduction by Andréia Ramos Pinheiro, Corporación America Airports

• Examining how mobility-related business models can create value across rail, road, bus, tram, walking, cycling and emerging mobility systems — and how these models can strengthen airport cities as accessible, attractive and investment-ready locations

Audience writing thoughts on notes during the presentations and rating the topics regarding their individual relevance and importance, and the general relevance and importance in the industry.
Q&A Sessions for each presentation

11:00

Break out groups discussing the topics.

GOAL: Presentation of the outcome, documentation of the different aspects the group members brought in.

11:45

Presentations

12:30

Foto Session

Italian themed lunch!

13:30

Session 2:

Business Models & Value Creation in Airport Cities

This session focuses on the commercial potentials and successful business models for airport city development and addresses the function mix across the asset classes in the landside area.  

Three group discussions, one introduced by Brussels Airport team, and two by cherry picked attendees. 

Group 1: Brussels Airport’s Business Models 

How Brussels Airport is building a future Airport City ecosystem through offices, hospitality, mobility services, events, aviations activities and strategic partnerships.

Introduced by Katrien Gysen (Head of Commercial Real Estate) from Brussels Airport

• Exploring successful business models at Brussels Airport in the context of its new masterplanning approach: how different commercial activities, landside uses, services, infrastructure and development strategies contribute to value creation within the Airport City and the wider airport ecosystem

Group 2: From Internal Assets to Business Models

Introduction by Peter de Leeuw, chairman ACDN

• Discussing how airport cities can turn existing services, knowledge, infrastructure, data, resources and operational capabilities into business models - creating new income streams from assets that are already available within the airport ecosystem

Group 3: Partnering for Value - Business Models in Airport City Ecosystems

Introduction by Stefan Rausch - Vienna Airport

• Exploring successful business models that emerge through partnerships within and around airport cities: how airports, developers, municipalities, investors, service providers and infrastructure partners can jointly create value, share opportunities and build attractive, resilient business ecosystems to the best value for the Airport City development

Audience writing thoughts on notes during the presentations and rating the topics regarding their individual relevance and importance, and the general relevance and importance in the industry. Q&A Sessions for each presentation

14:15

Break out groups discussing the topics.
GOAL: Presentation of the outcome, documentation of the different aspects the group members brought in.

15:00

Presentations

15:45

Break

16:00

Presentation Airport City Developer’s Network

The Board of the Airport City Developer’s Network (ACDN) presents the Purpose, the Features and the Roadmap for the upcoming year. Q&A:

Which advantages do we expect from our network? What are the possibilities to actively take part? 

17:00

Mentimeter round and Wrap up. 

17:15

Business Pitches:

Droneport: Impact of AI and Robotics on Real Estate development

Brucloud: ‘The open data sharing platform that makes tha Air Cargo less cloudy’ (BRUcloud | Home) presented by Joke Op den Acker

18:00

Break 

19:00

Dinner, Networking hosted by Brussels Airport at Mövenpick Hotel – Brasserie Horizon

Italian themed 3-course dinner!

Shuttle bus to and from the event.

Meeting point: Sheraton hotel 18:50

Link to the location

When

What

8:30

Shuttle available from Sheraton and NOVOTEL

8:45

Welcome at Ahlex Training Center

Link to the location

Mentimeter survey – differences to yesterday?

9:15

Business pitch:

Drones and their role at airports

09:45

Session 3:

Urban Integration & Innovation in Airport Cities

The final session addresses how airport city development extends beyond the terminal environment into the wider metropolitan context. Topics include long-term masterplanning, the transition from airside to landside, and to broader regional development, and the spatial, economic and urban effects of Airport City development. Which role does Airport City Developments have from this perspective?

Three group discussions, one introduced by Brussels Airport team, and two by cherry picked attendees. 

Group 1: Masterplanning Brussels Airport City

• From Airport Campus to Airport City: Brussels Airport’s long-term vision for regional economic development.
• Introduced by Konstantijn Huys (Airport Planner)  from Brussels Airport.
• Discussing long-term masterplanning for Brussels Airport City, with a focus on how airport development can move beyond the airside-landside interface and shape future urban, economic and spatial development.

Group 2: Airport City as an attractive workplace

Introduction by Hubert Fontanel - Airports de Paris

• Exploring how the Airport City can position itself as an attractive workplace and destination for talent - including urban design, public realm quality, amenities, identity and the qualities that make it a vibrant “place to be.”

Group 3: Landside plus - From Airport City to Regional Value

Introduction by Kumi Kuyama - Narita Airport

• Exploring the Airport City beyond the terminal and immediate landside area: how airport-related development can extend into the wider regional context, create synergies with surrounding municipalities and stakeholders, and generate win-win outcomes in spatial, economic and urban terms.

Audience writing thoughts on notes during the presentations and rating the topics regarding their individual relevance and importance, and the general relevance and importance in the industry. Q&A Sessions for each presentation

10:30

Break out groups discussing the topics.

GOAL: Presentation of the outcome, documentation of the different aspects the group members brought in.

11:15

Pause

11:30

Presentations

12:15

Wrap up & Outlook

13:00

Lunch, Networking

Belgian themed lunch with typical local ingredients
(yes, also chocolate 😊)

14:00

End of Forum