The airport today 2000+

Train and motorway connections A new motorway and railway connection between Copenhagen Airport and Sweden opened on 1 July 2000. The many passengers from Sweden and Denmark now come to the airport by car, bus or train.

It takes four hours to go from Stockholm to Copenhagen Airport by train; it takes two and a half hours from Gothenburg in Sweden and from Aarhus in Denmark; it takes 20 minutes from the centre of Malmo and only 12 minutes from the heart of Copenhagen. The distance from the train platform to the check-in counters is less than 100 metres, and it only takes a couple of minutes to go to the security check and the large airside transfer area, where passengers may stroll freely among 50 shops, 15 restaurants and bars, business class lounges, conference facilities, a hotel area, a sauna and much, much more. 

Five star airport hotel A new large five-star Hilton Hotel with 382 rooms opened in the spring of 2001 as well, and that same year, a new large area for non-Schengen travellers was added to Pier C.

One of the world’s largest duty-free shops

The shopping centre at the airport is constantly being modernised, with its shops and restaurants renovated or replaced by new ones. The airport’s big tax-free shop is currently among the world’s largest and features a vast and varied selection of perfumes and cosmetics.

One transfer centre for all passengers

In February 2005, the airport opened a completely new Transfer Centre, where transit passengers can go for information no matter which airline they are flying with: all the handling companies are represented. The Transfer Centre is a 1000-square-metre glass-covered atrium with counters and service staff along one side and a café, trees and Internet link-up facilities along the other. Although the Centre is located in the heart of Terminal 3, skylights ensure a light and friendly atmosphere. Travellers can rest or enjoy a liquid refreshment while they wait for their number to be called: the Centre uses a queuing system like those you may have seen at post offices or pharmacies.

More people driving to the airport An increasing number of people are taking their cars to the airport, and the number of locally departing passengers has risen in recent years, two trends that mean an upsurge in the use of the airport’s parking facilities. To fulfil the need for more parking spaces, the airport added two large carparks directly east of Terminal 3: the P10 and P12 parking garages.

A little farther away from the terminal area and east of the Cirklen shopping area, there is a whole new low-price parking lot called P15, to which another low-price lot will be added in 2007. These less expensive parking facilities are served by free shuttle busses.

Indoor connection between domestic and international terminals

A new connecting pier between Terminal 1 (domestic) and Terminal 2 was opened in January 2007. The first floor of the new 300-metre-long pier has moving sidewalks in both directions and direct access to the lounges in Terminal 1. The moving sidewalks make it quicker and easier to move between the domestic and international terminals.

Central security checkpoint A new central security checkpoint opened in the summer of 2007. By establishing a central security checkpoint rather than two in separate terminals, the airport increased its capacity and flexibility, which has translated into better service for passengers.

Metro service to Copenhagen Airport in just 14 minutes In October 2007, a new Metro service to Copenhagen Airport was opened. Copenhagen Airports A/S built a Metro station integrated into the terminal complex so that passengers can walk from the Metro station to the terminals without having to go outdoors. The trip from the airport to the Copenhagen city centre takes 14 minutes.

More space and better check-in facilities in Terminal 3 Prior to the summer traffic in 2009, Copenhagen Airport renovated the northern tip of Terminal 3 in order to obtain a better passenger flow and improve check-in facilities in the terminal for the benefit of passengers and airlines.

Close to 36,000 people per day pass through the northern end of Terminal 3 on their way between the terminal and the Metro station, train station, car parks or the Hilton hotel. In particular, the Metro’s great success, with three million passengers having taken it to the airport just during its first year, has made this terminal area a traffic hub.

Refurbishment and capacity expansion of Pier C After one year of refurbishing the reconditioned Pier C was put into use in August 2008. In response to the requirements to separate arriving and departing passengers between Denmark and non-EU countries Copenhagen Airport added a new floor to Pier C which is now used for arriving EU-passengers.

 Besides making sure that Copenhagen Airport complies with the rules on separating passengers, the airport also used the refurbishment to expand the lounge areas in Pier C. The refurbishment has also led to better utilisation of the aircraft stands.

Refurbishment of the transit area

In 2008 and 2009, the airport invested a triple-digit amount in millions of Danish kroner in expanding and redesigning the transit area to include new walkways and seating areas, restaurants and shops. The purpose was to create more space and better facilities.

Expansion of the baggage reclaim area Prior to the busy summer season in 2008, Copenhagen Airport expanded the baggage reclaim area aimed at boosting passenger satisfaction. The baggage reclaim area was increased by approximately 1,300 square metres, and two new baggage belts – socalled race tracks – were installed. The expansion also featured a new baggage unloading area directly behind the two new race tracks.

CPH Go On 31 October 2010, Copenhagen Airports opened CPH Go, a dedicated low-cost facility built as an integrated part of the existing airport, which means that passengers travelling to and from CPH Go will have access to the same services and facilities as all other airline passengers, including easy access to public transport and a wide range of shops, bars and restaurants.

easyJet was the first airline to move all its traffic to CPH Go. CPH Go was designed and planned in collaboration with the low-cost carriers and meets the special operational requirements of these airlines. The new facility is modern and different in its architecture and design, but with clear architectural and design references to the rest of the airport.