Copenhagen Airport (CPH), officially known as Copenhagen Airport, Kastrup, stands as one of Europe’s oldest international airports, with a rich history dating back to the early 20th century. Founded on April 20, 1925, the airport recently celebrated its centennial anniversary, marking 100 years of connecting Denmark and Scandinavia to the world.
The airport began with humble origins – a simple wooden house, a grass runway, and a single route to Berlin that took approximately seven hours with two stops along the way. This modest beginning evolved rapidly as aviation technology advanced and international travel became more accessible.
By the early 1930s, Copenhagen Airport had already gained considerable recognition in Denmark, handling nearly 10,000 flights annually, which necessitated the construction of its first terminal building in 1932. Shortly thereafter, a hardwearing surface was added to the runway to accommodate larger aircraft.
The mid-1950s marked a significant turning point for the airport as it became an integral part of Denmark’s tourism industry. Copenhagen Airport began winning awards and serving over one million passengers, doubling its capacity in just four years. During this period, a second terminal and a new control tower were constructed to handle the increasing passenger traffic.
The airport continued to expand over the following decades, with a third terminal added in 1998. Significant modern milestones include the opening of the Øresund Bridge on July 1, 2000, which connected Denmark and Sweden by motorway and train, further enhancing the airport’s accessibility. In 2001, the five-star Hilton hotel opened on the airport grounds with 382 rooms, adding luxury accommodations for travelers.
In October 2007, another major development occurred with the opening of the metro station, connecting the airport to the Copenhagen Metro system and further improving access to the city center. The following year saw the introduction of a new control tower as part of a major renovation of the air traffic control system.
By 2006, for the first time in its history, Copenhagen Airport exceeded 20 million passengers. In 2015, the airport made history again when Emirates began operating its Airbus A380 service for its Copenhagen route, making CPH the first airport in Scandinavia to regularly host the world’s largest passenger aircraft.
CPH Statistics and Quick Facts
Copenhagen Airport’s impressive growth over the decades has established it as one of the most important aviation hubs in Northern Europe. Here are some key statistics and facts about the airport:
- Served close to 30 million passengers in 2024, with March 2025 showing a 0.46% increase compared to the same month in 2024
- Located on the island of Amager, just 8 kilometers (5 miles) south of Copenhagen city center
- Covers an area of 11.8 square kilometers (4.6 square miles)
- Positioned 24 kilometers (15 miles) west of Malmö city center in Sweden, connected via the Øresund Bridge
- Ranks as the largest airport in the Nordic countries
- Fourth-busiest airport in Northern Europe
- Busiest airport for international travel in Scandinavia
- One of the oldest international airports in Europe
- Features 108 jet bridges and remote parking stands
- Has a maximum operational capability of 83 operations per hour
- Unlike other Scandinavian airports, most of CPH’s passengers (over 83%) are international travelers
The airport serves as a crucial link between Northern Europe and the rest of the world, with a significant portion of its traffic being international. In 2023, CPH was officially recognized as the largest airport in the Nordic countries, maintaining this prestigious position into 2024.
Copenhagen Airport has demonstrated resilience following the global pandemic, steadily rebuilding its passenger numbers. In December 2024, the airport welcomed 2.2 million passengers, marking its best December ever with an 11% year-on-year increase.
Comprehensive Terminal Facilities
Copenhagen Airport operates with two main terminals for check-in (Terminals 2 and 3), which share a common airside passenger concourse and arrivals section. The arrivals section, housing customs and baggage claim, is physically located in Terminal 3. Passengers reach the airside area through a common security checkpoint situated between Terminals 2 and 3.
The common airside passenger concourse is divided into six piers, designated as A, B, C, D, E, and F. Piers A and B serve flights within the Schengen Area only, while Pier C primarily handles flights outside the Schengen zone. Pier D mostly serves flights within the Schengen Area. The newest section, formerly known as CPH Go and now called Pier F, is dedicated to low-cost carriers and opened in October 2010. Airlines operating from Pier F include EasyJet, Transavia, and Ryanair.
Copenhagen Airport prides itself on providing exceptional facilities and services for travelers:
- Extensive shopping options including duty-free stores and luxury boutiques
- A variety of dining venues ranging from quick service to fine dining restaurants
- Five executive lounges offering business-class services
- The Hilton Meetings on the fourth floor of Terminal 3, featuring a boardroom, conference room, and nine separate meeting rooms
- Free wireless internet access throughout the terminals
- Self-service internet/computing kiosks in the Transit Hall
- Special facilities for families including a family area with seating for adults and a play area for children in Terminal 2, plus a “Kids Airport” in Terminal 3
- Comprehensive accessibility features for passengers with disabilities, including automatic doors, wheelchair ramps, accessible toilets, and a passenger escort service
- Shower facilities, saunas, and even a tanning booth for weary travelers
- Medical services and baby changing facilities
- Prayer room for religious observance
- Left luggage facilities in Terminals 1 and 2, plus a left luggage facility between Terminals 2 and 3
- Baggage lockers and an on-site petrol station
The airport’s design aims to create a calm, stress-free environment for travelers, with well-planned spaces and efficient passenger flow. The Hilton Copenhagen Airport, located within easy reach of the terminals, received the prestigious “Best New Business Hotel” award in 2001, offering luxurious accommodations for business travelers and tourists alike.
Major Airlines and Destinations
Copenhagen Airport serves as a vital hub for several major airlines and offers an extensive network of destinations across Europe and beyond.
Primary Hub Airlines
The airport is the main hub for:
- Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) – accounting for approximately one-third of total traffic
- Norwegian Air Shuttle
- Sunclass Airlines
Other Major Operators
Additionally, Copenhagen Airport is a focal point for numerous other carriers, serving around 60 scheduled airlines with operations to:
- 175 destinations across 163 countries
- 293 routes (as of summer 2024)
- A total of 795 airports in 139 countries through connecting flights
The airport handles both domestic and international traffic, with SAS responsible for about 80% of all transfer passenger traffic. Most passengers (83.5%) travel to/from other European airports, while 10.4% are intercontinental passengers and only 6.1% travel to/from other Danish airports.
Copenhagen Airport has seen significant growth in airline operations in 2024-2025, with SAS planning to launch at least 15 new routes during 2025 while also increasing frequencies on existing routes. In June 2024, the airport welcomed American Airlines, which opened a daily service to Philadelphia, while SAS expanded its route network to the United States with daily flights between Copenhagen and Atlanta.
Asian routes have also shown strong growth, with more than 376,000 passengers traveling on direct routes between Copenhagen and Asia in the first half of 2024, representing a 35% increase. On January 1, 2025, Emirates reinstated its Airbus A380 service to Copenhagen after a five-year hiatus following the pandemic.
The airport’s strong connectivity and strategic location make it an attractive option for airlines looking to expand their networks in Northern Europe, with new routes continually being added to enhance connections to global destinations.
Ground Transportation Options
Copenhagen Airport boasts excellent transportation links to the city center, other parts of Denmark, and neighboring Sweden, making it a truly integrated regional transportation hub.
Rail Connections
The airport’s railway station is conveniently located underneath Terminal 3, providing seamless access to train services:
- Direct trains to Copenhagen Central Station depart every 10 minutes during the day (every 20 minutes in evening hours and once an hour during the night)
- Journey time to Copenhagen Central Station is approximately 15 minutes
- From Copenhagen Central Station, connections are available to the rest of Denmark via train, S-train, and bus services
Metro Service
The Copenhagen Metro offers another efficient option for reaching the city center:
- The metro runs around the clock
- Stops include Kongens Nytorv, Nørreport, Frederiksberg, and Vanløse
- At Kongens Nytorv, passengers can transfer to metro lines M3 or M4
- Journey time to the city center is approximately 13 minutes
Bus Services
Several bus options connect the airport to Copenhagen and beyond:
- Municipal bus lines serve the airport with regular routes to the city center
- The Greyhound Bus line 999 runs from Malmö to Copenhagen with stops at Terminal 3 and in the city center
- Special airport buses within the airport area depart every 15 minutes, connecting all terminals and parking areas (free of charge)
Taxi Services
Taxis provide door-to-door service:
- Available outside the arrivals area
- Journey time to Copenhagen city center is 30-35 minutes, depending on traffic
- Fares to the city center start at approximately DKK 250-300
Road Access
For those traveling by car:
- The airport is accessible via major motorways
- The Øresund Bridge connects the airport to Malmö and southern Sweden
- Several parking options are available, including short-term, long-term, and economy parking
- The airport also features high-tech parking facilities designed with transparent fronts
Copenhagen Card
For visitors, the Copenhagen Card offers a convenient all-inclusive transportation option:
- Provides unlimited access to public transportation in the entire Capital Region (including to/from Copenhagen Airport)
- Available for 24, 72, or 120 hours
- Includes free admission to more than 80 attractions and museums
- Offers discounts at several restaurants, cafés, and sightseeing activities
- Can be pre-ordered online and activated upon arrival at Copenhagen Airport
The airport’s excellent ground transportation network ensures that travelers can easily reach their destinations in Copenhagen, other parts of Denmark, or even neighboring Sweden, making it a true gateway to the entire Øresund region.
The Future of Copenhagen Airport
Copenhagen Airport has set ambitious plans for future development, with a vision to enhance its position as Northern Europe’s leading aviation hub while addressing the growing demands of air travel.
Expansion Plans
The airport unveiled its vision to expand to accommodate 40 million passengers annually, up from the nearly 30 million it serves today. This comprehensive expansion project includes:
- An 80,000 square meter extension to the terminal area (equivalent to a small super hospital)
- Uniting the existing terminal area between Gates C and B with a future 270-meter-long, 60-meter-wide extension
- Significantly expanding the baggage reclaim area
- Enlarging passport control for passengers departing and arriving at the airport’s C Gates
- Creating more space for travelers, shops, restaurants, and lounges
- The entire terminal area expansion is expected to be completed by 2028
- A major renovation of the airport’s security area, launched in autumn 2024
The investment for this expansion is substantial, with Copenhagen Airport investing approximately DKK 4 billion in the terminal project alone, part of a larger DKK 20 billion investment plan for building “the airport of tomorrow.”
Sustainability Initiatives
As the airport expands, sustainability remains a key focus. The expansion project incorporates several environmentally conscious elements:
- All stakeholders involved in the collaboration have signed a sustainability manifesto
- The airport aims to choose sustainable solutions and materials wherever feasible
- The expansion can be completed within the current footprint of the airport, with no new runways planned
- Noise calculations show that the expansion can be carried out within current noise limits
- The airport is working according to targets set out in its environmental and climate policy, including reducing CO2 emissions and improving energy efficiency
Economic Impact
The expansion is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the region:
- By the time the airport expands to handle 40 million passengers annually, the number of permanent jobs is projected to increase by 9,000, in addition to the existing 17,000 employees
- The construction phase is expected to generate approximately 12,500 jobs
- The enhanced connectivity will strengthen Denmark’s links with the rest of the world, benefiting business and tourism
- Between 2005 and 2015 alone, Copenhagen Airport contributed around DKK 31 billion to Denmark’s GDP
Strategic Partnerships
The airport is fostering strategic partnerships with key stakeholders:
- Collaborating closely with SAS, which plans to launch at least 15 new routes from Copenhagen during 2025
- Working with airlines to enhance connectivity to global destinations
- Developing partnerships focused on innovation and sustainability to accelerate new technologies
Copenhagen Airport’s expansion represents one of Denmark’s largest current construction projects, not only in terms of size but also complexity. The airport is using an innovative “Co-Creation” approach, bringing together architects, engineers, contractors, and suppliers to develop the final project collaboratively.
With these comprehensive development plans, Copenhagen Airport aims to cement its position as one of Europe’s most attractive and efficient airports, ensuring it continues to be a vital gateway connecting Scandinavia to the world for decades to come.
Keyword: TopAirports