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(DDL), which evolved in today’s SAS, helped by architect Vilhelm Lauritzen, went into providing connections to , Berlin and the airport to become an ideal gateway to service while new Focke-Wulf Condors Vienna. In the summer of 1941 the first access the whole of by quickly were used to launch additional routes. The concrete runway, measuring 4,593ft (1,400m), increasing the number of connecting flights terminal survives to this day, after being was laid, followed by three more and a taxiway it offered all across Europe during the preserved in September 1999 and moved system by the end of the war. 1920s. Between 1932 and 1939, the number to its present location for restoration to its The airport escaped the conflict virtually of movements grew from 6,000 to 50,000 original condition. This freed up space to unscathed, which helped it to quickly annually, with passenger numbers growing enlarge other facilities. develop as one of Europe’s most modern. more than six-fold to 72,000. Most civil air traffic ceased on the outbreak Intercontinental services arrived in 1946 In April 1939 a new terminal, designed of World War Two, with just a few flights when American Overseas and SAS

Copenhagen Airport Statistics has been graced and Norwegian . It is linked to ICAO Code: EKCH by many classic Copenhagen’s Airport is the primary airliners during 140 worldwide destinations and served by IATA Code: CPH its long history. A 60-plus scheduled carriers. On average, aerial gateway not just for , but the entire Location: 55° 37.05’ N, 012° 39.22’ E particularly colourful more than 63,000 passengers use it every Scandinavian region. As Luigi Vallero discovered, Elevation: 17ft (5m) example was Alidair day. Thanks to the Øresund Bridge, which Runway: 04L/22R 11,811 x 148ft Vickers Viscount opened in 2000 connecting Denmark (3,600 x 45m) 812 G-AVJL (c/n this is a status it doesn’t plan to surrender. to Sweden, four million people are now 04R/22L 10,827 x 148ft 389) in 1974. within two hours’ drive of the airport, vastly (AirTeamImages. (3,300 x 45m) candinavia, in many people’s eyes, sits on the island of Amager 5 miles (8km) increasing its catchment area. com/Bob O’Brien is made up of , Sweden and south of the city centre and ranks first among 12/30 10,072 x 148ft Copenhagen Collection) . But they overlook Denmark, the Scandinavian hubs for international (3,070 x 45m) Kastrup Airport, History an intrinsic part of the region traffic, handling 24,067,030 passengers in looking south-east Opened on April 20, 1925, Copenhagen Frequencies: ATIS: 122.75, 122.85 Swhich also provides its main gateway for 2013. Airport was one of the first civil airports in Tower: 118.575, 118.7, along Runway commercial air traffic. The airport is commonly known – and 12/30 with the the world. It was a simple facility with grass 119.35, 121.825 Unsurprisingly A complex transport infrastructure marketed as – CPH, its three letter IATA main terminal runways, a wooden passenger terminal, a Ground: 121.625, 121.725, 121.9 Scandinavian has developed in and around the capital designation, and is the main hub for SAS couple of hangars, a balloon mast, and a Airlines is the area to the left. Approach: 118.45, 119.8, 120.2 Copenhagen and the city’s major international and a major centre (AirTeamImages. seaplane landing stage. dominant carrier Website: www.cph.dk access point is (CPH). It for Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia com/Europix) Local Det Danske Luftfartsselskab at CPH, providing regional, European and long-haul flights. This summer it will serve around 90 destinations. (All photos author unless sated)

Terminal 3, opened in 1998, was refurbished 11 years later to provide a brighter and more spacious welcome to passengers. (Copenhagen Airport)

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Part of the airport’s extensive shopping centre.

Germany’s airberlin connects the Danish capital with Berlin/Tegel, Düsseldorf and, seasonally, .

Passengers disembark from a Norwegian . The budget carrier also provides flights to the US using its recently- delivered 787 Dreamliners.

(Not for airborne use – Navtech Aerad)

launched flights to the US east coast using launched a further expansion programme in terminal was built and the international A further innovation was introduced in Large duty opened on June 13, 2013, adding 15,070sq Traffic development Douglas DC-4s (and later DC-6s). By 1948, 1969: completed three years later, it entailed facility further expanded. On the other side February 2005 when a dedicated glass- free outlets by ft (1,400m2), 12 new check-in desks, 16 self- Although the recent global economic CPH was handling an average of 150 daily a relocation of services – domestic flights of the airport the cargo area was refreshed covered transfer centre opened – somewhere Heinemann provide service check-in kiosks and a new baggage downturn has affected most of Europe’s movements and around 300,000 passengers were moved to a purpose-built facility in the and more apron space added, increasing the connecting passengers can find information a huge range handling system. Refurbishment of the rest airports, CPH has managed to maintain a year, ranking it the third-busiest airport eastern part of Terminal 1. The international number of aircraft stands to 15. and pick up boarding passes in a relaxed and of products at of T2 is scheduled for completion in 2016. growth. It handled 22,725,517 passengers in Europe. terminal, meanwhile, was supplemented with In 1991 CPH was partly privatised, and friendly atmosphere. competitive prices. CPH Go, opened on October 31, 2010 and in 2010, 23,336,187 in 2011 and broke the To cope with the growth, the terminal a new pier and a separate arrivals hall. in the ensuing decade improvement work (Copenhagen so far the only airlines using it are easyJet 24mppa mark last year, recording a total of Airport) needed almost continuous enlargement, Other upgrades included a new control continued constantly. Passengers totalled Infrastructure and Transavia. It was built to meet LCCs’ 24,067,030. Although Norway’s and passenger numbers having reached 700,000 tower and an 11,811ft (3,600m) main runway, 17 million in 1998 while upgrades included Today CPH has three terminals. T1 handles requirements for quick turnarounds, but Sweden’s airports are rapidly As well as giving CPH a three-runway layout. In 1972 the opening of T3, a new arrivals hall, – and freight and mail 11 tonnes – by 1954. The all domestic flights. T2 and T3 deal with shopping, there are as an integrated part of the existing airport increasing their importance as major same year SAS launched its DC-7 the airport handled more than 180,000 improved baggage handling facilities and Schengen and non-Schengen international refreshment options structures. Passengers have full access to the Scandinavian gateways, CPH handles 60% flights to Los Angeles. movements and eight million-plus passengers. an underground railway station directly flights, and share a common airside including bars, cafes same services and facilities, including easy more intra-Scandinavian traffic than both and To prepare for the impending jet age, CPH’s The next major infrastructure expansion connected to the check-in area. A five-star passenger concourse as well as an arrivals and full service access to public transport and the airport’s remains the busiest Nordic airport. runways were lengthened and upgraded with began in 1980 when the Danish Parliament Hilton Hotel, directly facing the terminal section, which includes customs and baggage restaurants. shops, bars and restaurants. The CPH Go The most popular destination from CPH is new ILS equipment, and a new multi-pier gave the go-ahead to raise airport capacity complex, opened in 2001 and five years later reclaim. The ‘CPH Go’ pier (F) handles (LCCs). departure gates are a six-minute walk away. London, which registered 1,637,520 travellers terminal was introduced in 1956 – a year when to 20-22mppa by 2000. Work started in traveller numbers passed 20mppa. A 984ft (300m) connector building between Plans were in place for a Terminal 4, but have last year. Multiple flights to the UK capital the annual passenger total passed the one 1982 and continued throughout the decade, Rail and motorway connections to Sweden T1 and T2 opened in January 2007, the first since been dropped. However, a programme are available daily. Coming second and third million mark. The honour of being the first with the aim of maximising operational proved pivotal in further boosting the floor equipped with full-length travelators of construction projects targeting terminals, were Oslo, with 1,410,384, and Stockholm jet airliner to visit CPH went to an efficiency and passenger comfort. Modern airport’s success after the opening of the providing direct access to the T1 lounges. baggage handling and aircraft manoeuvring (Arlanda and Bromma airports), with Tupolev Tu-104 in 1957. SAS later introduced Scandinavian design was employed along with Øresund Bridge in 2000. Southern Sweden’s The transit area, redesigned in 2008-9, now areas is continuing. 1,309,198 passengers. Paris, , a fleet of Sud Aviation Caravelles and DC-8s – airy and comfortable surroundings, shopping huge catchment area came within easy reach includes new walkways and seating areas. CPH has 43 airbridge-equipped gates and , Berlin, Frankfurt and Brussels are eventually complemented by Convair CV-990 areas, food courts and other amenities. of CPH – including Malmö, (two- A new central security checkpoint opened 54 remote parking stands. Connecting times next in the rankings. The leading long-haul Coronados – while launching new global Pier B was replaced in 1986 and the transit and-a-half hours by train) and Stockholm in the summer of 2007, and to improve the range from 30 to 45 minutes and the three- destinations are Dubai and Bangkok, routes from the growing Scandinavian hub. hall expanded to include the world’s first true (four hours). Meanwhile journeys to check-in facilities and passenger flow in the runway system allows for a maximum of 83 Thailand,; the latter is very popular with A second terminal, also designed by airport shopping centre: it has since grown Copenhagen city centre now take just 14 northern part of T3 the area was renovated movements an hour. There are virtually no Scandinavians. Traffic split between domestic Lauritzen, opened on May 10, 1960, to provide to be one of the largest, featuring more than minutes thanks to the Metro service which in 2009 to provide more space. curfew hours or slot constraints, something and international is 8% and 92% respectively. more capacity. The airport’s management 120 outlets. Three years later a new domestic opened in October 2007. An extension to the T2 check-in area of a rarity at European hubs. CPH’s domestic market is quite small, given

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that geographically speaking Denmark is more compact than Norway or Sweden. is the busiest domestic destination, accounting for 893,882 travellers last year. In the last three years the airport has successfully attracted Airline and , opening up virtually the whole of the Middle and Far East as well as Africa. The airport’s airline marketing team is constantly looking for new traffic opportunities and won the World Routes marketing award last year in the 20-50 million passenger catagory.

Airlines Part of the departures area in Terminal 3 The airport’s main tenant, SAS, uses its varied with its many SAS self-service check-in kiosks. types on domestic, European and long-haul services. Other local carriers flying out of offers several advantages. Eighteen months Small domestic CPH are Air , with its distinctive of analysis work has shown us that, with carrier Alsie tomato-red , on services to this approach, we can avoid building excess Express provides ; , using ATR-72s capacity. Secondly it allows us to keep the connections from its to Sønderborg; , connecting airport’s compact layout, which is important. base at Sønderborg to Vágar in the with A319s and Thirdly a phased expansion allows us to Airport using a pair Avro RJs; and Danish Air Transport offering adjust our process to match the increase of ATR 72-500s – ATR-42/72 links to Bornholm, Norrköping, in traffic and lets us make use of the latest including OY-CLY Sønderborg and Oslo/Rygge. Locally-based technology. We will begin expanding Pier (c/n 799), wearing Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia provides C later in 2014. This pier is used for non- the carrier’s all- seasonal charters to holiday destinations in Schengen and intercontinental traffic.” black paint scheme. the , the Mediterranean, The phased expansion plans are: (Wikimedia and Phuket in Thailand. n Pier B to be extended, adding more gates Commons/ Norwegian has developed a strong presence and stands for medium-size aircraft used Alsingeren) at CPH and now its red-and-white Boeing 737s on regional and European flights. and 787s offer comprehensive connections n Pier C to be extended to provide more around Europe and to Los Angeles and New space for large long-haul aircraft. Airbus A330-223 York/JFK (both using 787s). UK-based LCC n The terminal layout will be modified and OY-GRN (c/n 230) easyJet and its Swiss arm provide budget expanded to provide better segregation makes its way to services to key European capitals including of arriving and departing passengers. the runway prior to departure to Berlin (Schönefeld), Edinburgh, Geneva, n Providing additional business opportunities Kangerlussuaq. Lisbon, London (Gatwick and Stansted), around the airport, including a new hotel. Paris/Charles de Gaulle and Rome/Fiumicino. n Facilities to handle very large aircraft, The ‘friendly fight’ to be the leading continued efforts to improve its facilities and Atlantic Meanwhile airBaltic connects with its including a new pier (E) and runway Airways Airbus Scandinavian airport goes on, with Oslo and route network. hub; provides multiple daily flights to upgrades, will be added when airlines A319-111 OY-RCH Stockholm both eager to claim the this Helsinki; has frequent 757 services decide to introduce such aircraft on routes (c/n 2186) taxies to position. But with plans established for the to Reykjavik, competing with LCC WOW air to CPH. its gate after arriving next 25 years, the Danish hub is well placed Acknowledgements on the same route; NextJet flies to Karlstad, n Construction of a dedicated station for from Vágar, Faroe to maintain its status as the premier The author would like to thank Majid Khan, Linkoping, and Örebro; and Widerøe provides high-speed trains connecting to Oslo and Islands. international gateway to the Nordic countries, Business Development Manager, CPH, for commuter links to , Haugesund, . thanks to its geographical position and to his help in preparing this article. , Molde and Sandefjord. n The arrivals area will be altered to make European airlines connect right across the room for more large baggage carousels Airlines continent while intercontinental links include and to let in more natural light. to Toronto/Pearson; Delta Air n The shopping centre will be enlarged to Airlines Lines to New York/JFK; EgyptAir to Cairo; accommodate more retailers and provide CSA Emirates Airline to Dubai; to Tehran; a better passenger experience. Aeroflot Danish Air Transport Pakistan International Airlines to Beirut (summer); airBaltic Airlines An SAS Boeing Pakistan International Airlines to Islamabad 737 being de-iced airberlin easyJet and Lahore; Qatar Airways to Doha; Royal Air – the airport has an EgyptAir Maroc to Casablanca; to excellent reputation Air Canada Emirates Airline Qatar Airways Singapore; and International for dealing with cold weather. to Bangkok/Suvarnabhumi and a seasonal service to Phuket. Air Finnair SAS (Copenhagen Air Greenland SATA Airport) Latest developments Air One Icelandair Singapore Airlines The airport’s management presented Iran Air Swiss International its detailed vision for the expansion of Air Lines Copenhagen Airport on January 29: to enable Alsie Express KLM TAP it to handle up to 40mppa, almost twice the Atlantic Airways LOT Polish Airlines Thai Airways International current number. However, unlike many of its Clear signage Thomas Cook Airlines and brightly-lit European competitors, CPH does not intend BH Airlines Transavia check-in halls to build a new terminal. On the contrary, the bmi regional Malmö Aviation TUIfly nordic plan is to increase the capacity of the existing are vital for a The airport boasts the first European airport branch of a Marc By Marc terminal complex in a phased process. The smooth passenger Jacobs fashion shop, offering accessories such as shoes, bags, sunglasses, NextJet experience. airport’s CEO Thomas Woldbye said: “In watches, jewellery and perfume. The urban designer brand is popular in Air Niki Widerøe (Copenhagen my opinion, building new terminals is not Denmark, where there are more outlets than in any other European country. Corendon Norwegian WOW air Airport) an optimal solution. A phased expansion (Marc By Marc Jacobs)

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