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European Airports: Creating runway for a more prosperous and sustainable future

 · 3 min read

The investment: In 2001 we invested in Bristol Airport and now own five major airports across Europe

Airports play a central role in our society and our economy. They connect family and friends around the world, quickly transport goods and services, create thousands of local jobs, and contribute to regional economic development.

But when it comes to the airports we agree there’s a lot more runway to make it more profitable and sustainable.

With mounting scale and complexity, we could have cut costs across our five European airports – Birmingham, Bristol, Brussels, Copenhagen and London City. Instead, we took a long-term view and invested strategically.

We created Ontario Airports Investments Limited (OAIL) to oversee our entire airport portfolio. We hired a team of aviation experts - not financial investors - to run the company. Through OAIL, we not only shared aviation and operational best practices, we developed long-term relationships with key stakeholders including airlines, governments and regulatory bodies.

We also invested strategically in green initiatives, including electrifying vehicle fleets, incentivizing aircraft with lower emissions, installing solar panels to supply power, and more.   

During the pandemic, our airports have donated space for vaccination centres, developed vaccination testing facilities and served as a base for transporting vaccines all around the world.

Some see an airport. We see a base for profitable and sustainable air travel.

How we’re investing to make a mark

Through our investment and partnership over the past twenty years we have:

  • Invested over $4 billion and delivered an average return of 12.5 per cent annually
  • Employed 60,000 people and contributed $18 billion to local economies every year
  • Committed to reach zero greenhouse gas emissions across our airports by 2050 or sooner
  • Achieved carbon neutrality in three airports, and will become carbon neutral in the remaining two by 2021 and 2033
  • Supported the development of sustainable aviation fuel, electro-fuel, electric aircraft and other sustainable technologies
     
“Brussels Airport greatly values the constructive relationship we have with OTPP, and the perspective they bring as a genuinely long-term investor.”

Arnaud Feist, CEO
Brussels Airport