Next week, Burlington International Airport unveils something Vermont travelers have been waiting many years for: Project NexT, a net-zero energy terminal that’s redefining what sustainable aviation can look like. And we got to capture it from a perspective most people will never see—4,000 feet above the Green Mountains, thanks to BETA Technologies.

Project NexT: Leahy BTV Gets an Upgrade

The Patrick Leahy Burlington International Airport (BTV) has been planning this transformation since it first appeared in the Airport’s Master Plan almost ten years ago. 

But this isn’t just a bigger terminal—it’s Vermont leading the way in sustainable aviation infrastructure.

The transformation includes:

• 25,000 square feet of new space with four new aircraft gates and passenger boarding bridges
• A third-floor observation deck with indoor event facilities and outdoor patio overlooking the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain
• The concourse repositioned 150+ feet from Taxiway Alpha for improved airfield safety
• Expanded capacity designed for current and future passenger volumes

The sustainability breakthrough: Project NexT achieves net-zero energy through geothermal and solar power, producing as much energy as it consumes. The design incorporates smart sensors, AI-driven systems for monitoring energy and water usage, recycled building materials, and closed-loop water systems—embracing circular economy principles from the ground up.

For an airport that serves over 1.5 million passengers annually, this is Burlington’s statement: sustainable growth is possible.

The Challenge: Grounded by the Government Shutdown

At Hagan Marketing, we’ve been working on the campaign launch for Project NexT, including a video to celebrate the opening and showcase Vermont’s sustainable aviation leadership to travelers nationwide. Aerial footage was essential. We wanted sweeping shots that capture the terminal’s integration with Vermont’s landscape, the solar arrays, the relationship between the building and the mountains. It’s the kind of footage that tells the story of place and innovation together.

But here’s the problem: you need FAA approval to fly drones near an airfield. And when the federal government shutdown hit, the FAA wasn’t processing approvals.

Project NexT opening day was approaching and we needed the footage. And we were stuck on the ground.

The Solution: When Vermont’s Aviation Innovators Step Up

Then Ara’s phone rang. It was someone from BETA Technologies—the Burlington-based electric aviation company revolutionizing flight with their electric vertical aircraft.

“Can you get down here right now? We’ll take you up in the helicopter. The one with the camera attached.”

Within the hour, Ara was strapped into a helicopter equipped with professional-grade aerial camera equipment, lifting off over Burlington. The mission: capture footage of Vermont’s most sustainable airport terminal. And as a bonus, an aerial tour of the region, including the snow covered trees in the Green Mountains and Lake Champlain gleaming to the west. 

This wasn’t just about getting great footage (though the shots are stunning). It’s about what happens when Vermont’s innovation community collaborates.

Here’s BETA Technologies—building the future of electric aviation—immediately offering to help capture the story of BTV’s sustainable terminal. Two Vermont organizations pushing aviation forward, working together without hesitation. That’s the Vermont business community in action. No bureaucracy, no red tape. Just “we can help, get over here.”

Marketing Lessons from Above

Build community relationships. This only happened because of existing connections within Vermont’s aviation and business community. When you need help fast, those relationships are everything.

Stay resourceful and flexible. The plan was drones. The reality was helicopters. The result was even better footage than we originally envisioned, captured in collaboration with another Vermont innovator. Sometimes you have to pivot, and if you’re lucky, the results will be even better than you originally planned.

Tell stories that matter. Project NexT isn’t just a terminal expansion—it’s Vermont leading the nation in sustainable airport design. That story deserves to be told from every angle, including 4,000 feet above Burlington.

Vermont’s Gateway to the Future Opens Next Week

When Leahy Burlington International Airport officially opens Project NexT, travelers will experience a terminal that produces as much energy as it consumes, incorporates cutting-edge smart technology, and offers views of Vermont’s natural beauty. It’s been years in the planning. And it positions Burlington as a leader in sustainable aviation.

We’re proud to have helped tell that story—from ground level to 4,000 feet above, capturing Vermont’s innovation in sustainable aviation from every perspective.

Sometimes marketing really does take you to new heights. Especially when you’re documenting the future of flight in Vermont.

And this won’t be our last flight. We’re excited about future collaborations with BETA Technologies to capture compelling aerial footage for tourism clients and other brands whose stories are best told from above.

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Hagan Marketing works with iconic brands and organizations. Strategic marketing that goes the extra mile—or the extra 4,000 feet. Let’s talk.

Learn More:

• Leahy Burlington International Airport – Project NexT
• BETA Technologies – Electric Aviation Innovation