9.10.2008
European low-cost giants welcome CPH SWIFT

Three of the major European low-cost airlines have already expressed their keen support for CPH SWIFT – Copenhagen Airport’s freshly announced plan to provide cheaper air fares for Danish travellers.

Earlier today, Copenhagen Airports A/S presented its plans for a new product, CPH SWIFT. The name covers not only a physical extension to the airport but also a new concept designed to reduce the airlines’ passenger charges by 50% by improving efficiency and cutting costs. This is precisely what a number of efficient airlines have been demanding. The new plans will bring about greater choice of destinations and cheaper fares for Danish travellers.

“easyJet has been operating at CPH for several years. In addition to London and Berlin we have just launched our third route, connecting Copenhagen and Milan. This provides passengers from Denmark and

southern Sweden with low-cost fares to yet another market. easyJet welcomes all initiatives, from any source, that can help reduce costs and improve infrastructure at Copenhagen Airport, and such measures will definitely contribute to encouraging easyJet to invest further in the Danish market”, says Thomas Haagansen, Regional General Manager Northern Europe, easyJet.

Passenger charges to be halved
With CPH SWIFT, Copenhagen Airport will be able to reduce the airlines’ passenger charges by 50%.  This is possible because the airport makes stricter requirements of airlines in CPH SWIFT in terms of efficiency, e.g. that passengers check in themselves either online or using self-service kiosks and in terms of turn-around times. CPH on its part will construct facilities that enable the airlines to meet these requirements.

“Ryanair is Europe's largest supplier of low-fare tickets. Maintaining our low prices is dependent on airports lowering prices and improving efficiency. Ryanair is eager to offer low-fare tickets to passengers in

Denmark and southern Sweden. We hope Copenhagen Airport's new initiative makes this possible”, states Michael Cawley, COO and deputy CEO, Ryanair.

Nordic support
In addition to the two large European low-cost airlines, CPH SWIFT has already been greeted in the Nordic region – by a company
which, like easyJet, is already richly represented at CPH.

“Copenhagen is a very important airport for Norwegian. We support all initiatives that can further improve our efficiency and airport costs”, says Daniel Skjeldam, Chief Commercial Officer of the

Norwegian airline Norwegian.

CPH is planning to start construction of CPH SWIFT in 2009, which means that Danish travellers will be able to enjoy cheap summer holiday fares at the airport from the summer of 2010. The initial capacity will be some six million passengers per year.