Copenhagen's Kastrup Airport Is the Primary Aerial Gateway Not Just for Denmark, but the Entire Scandinavian Region. As Luigi
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FEATURE FEATURE COPENHAGEN COPENHAGEN (DDL), which evolved in today’s SAS, helped by architect Vilhelm Lauritzen, went into providing connections to Sweden, 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 Scandinavia 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 Airlines and SAS Copenhagen Airport Statistics has been graced and Norwegian Air Shuttle. It is linked to ICAO Code: EKCH by many classic Copenhagen’s Kastrup 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 Denmark, 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 Norway, Sweden and south of the city centre and ranks first among 12/30 10,072 x 148ft Copenhagen Collection) Finland. 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 Scandinavian Airlines and a major centre (AirTeamImages. seaplane landing stage. dominant carrier Website: www.cph.dk access point is Copenhagen Airport (CPH). It for Thomas Cook Airlines Scandinavia com/Europix) Local airline 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) 36 airports of the world www.airportsworld.com 37 FEATURE FEATURE COPENHAGEN COPENHAGEN Part of the airport’s extensive shopping centre. Germany’s airberlin connects the Danish capital with Berlin/Tegel, Düsseldorf and, seasonally, Palma de Mallorca. Passengers disembark from a Norwegian Boeing 737. 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 Oslo 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 Stockholm 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 Trans Polar 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 Aeroflot 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, Amsterdam, 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 Helsinki, Berlin, Frankfurt and Brussels are eventually complemented by Convair CV-990 areas, food courts and other amenities.