05.08.2008
Copenhagen Airport’s VIP manager celebrates 50th anniversary
This time, Jørgen Mangor was not the one rolling out the red carpet: today, the red carpet was rolled out for him. CPH’s VIP manager, Mangor was fêted on 1 August for his 50 years of working for the airport.
During his half-century career at the airport, Jørgen Mangor has served in more than 20 different capacities. It all started back in 1958, when 17-year-old Mangor was hired as a trainee at the airport. This was back when traffic was handled through the Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal, so it was no coincidence that the anniversary reception was held in that same building.
CPH’s CEO Brian Petersen gave a speech in which he looked back on the past 50 years, but also looked forward 50 years:
“Today, we are here to celebrate Jørgen Mangor's 50 years with us, but we are also celebrating the evolution of Copenhagen Airport. If we look back at 1958, there were 300 employees; today we have 1900. Back then, the airport served about 1.4 million passengers per year and 5000 passengers on the busiest day of the year. Today we have more than 21 million passengers a year and 79,000 passengers on a busy summer day. However, there are also areas where things have gone downhill. In 1958, we had 133 acres of farm land and harvested 1200 tonnes of grain per year. So we've had to say goodbye to commercial revenue from that source,” he said with a smile.
Congratulations from the royal couple
If, on the other hand, Petersen said, we look 50 years into the future, what kind of airport will we have?
“If we continue to grow at the same pace as we have done over the past 50 years, Copenhagen Airport will be serving 340 million passengers in 2058, and fuel that is CO2-neutral will have made airline tickets even cheaper than they are today. Of course, it is difficult to predict things, especially the future. But that tells us something about how long 50 years actually is,” said Petersen. In conclusion, he thanked Mangor for his long and devoted service, also conveying congratulations from the royal couple, whom Mangor knows through his job as Copenhagen Airport’s VIP manager.
At least 20 different positions
Mangor also took the floor and talked about his long career at the airport. As VIP manager, he has welcomed several US presidents, but especially Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe of Denmark and the rest of the royal family have always enjoyed Mangor's special attention.
“I handled my first VIP job when I was young and worked as an airport officer. This led to good relations with embassies all over the world, as well as the Danish royal court and the police. Some of the biggest events at the airport I was involved in were visits to Denmark by Bill Clinton, George Bush and Nelson Mandela. During my 50-year career at the airport, I have held at least 20 different positions. The airport has always been a major part of my life as well as my hobby,” said Mangor. He also added that he fully agreed with the mission of making Copenhagen Airport the world’s best airport once again.
The airport’s oldest fire engine, which dates from 1969, was symbolically parked out on the forecourt of the Vilhelm Lauritzen Terminal for the occasion of Mangor’s anniversary – alongside a younger model from 2008.
Caption: The gift presented to Jørgen Mangor was a work of art which had decorated the airport’s Royal Room for many years: a watercolour painting by Her Royal Highness Queen Margrethe.