The Flemish regional government is investing 2.77 billion euros in Brussels Airport. To do so, it is buying the shares of global investor Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) in Brussels Airport Company. OTPP is pulling out of airports as it is drastically ‘greening’ its investment portfolio under pressure from its teacher community (https://www.otpp.com/en-ca/about-us/news-and-insights/2025/ontario-teachers-reaches-agreement-to-sell-stake-in-brussels-airport-to-pmv/ ).

Flanders, with 39 percent of the shares, thus becomes the largest stakeholder in the national airport which is located in the Flemish region. The Flemish government will have to borrow money for this capital injection, though. However, it is counting on the dividends from 2028 onwards to exceed the interest on the loan. This is a ‘smart investment’, according to the government, which will make money. After all, Brussels Airport Company is a profitable company. The Belgian federal government already owns 25 per cent of the shares. So together they own a majority. This majority puts the government back in the cockpit of Brussels Airport Company.