3.11.2009
Low-cost airlines on the increase at CPH

Low-cost airlines are expanding and conquering market shares at Copenhagen Airport (CPH). In September, nearly 10,000 more passengers used low-cost airlines when flying to and from the airport compared to the same month last year.

Last month, 287,000 passengers flew a low-cost airline to or from Copenhagen Airport, resulting in September becoming the best month so far for the airport’s low-cost traffic. With an increase in passenger numbers by nearly 10,000 compared to September last year, the low-cost airlines at CPH have even managed to break the general trend in the industry where most airlines are experiencing a reduction in passenger numbers as a result of the economic downturn.

Remarkable market share growth
Low-cost airlines’ share of the overall passenger numbers at the airport was 16% in September – the highest ever. This year, two new low-cost airlines have set up bases at CPH – Norwegian with seven aircraft and transavia.com with three aircraft – and have established a large number of new routes for both leisure and business travellers.

Most recently, Norwegian announced that in spring next year it will open four new routes from Copenhagen to Malta, Zagreb, Dubrovnik and Sardinia respectively. At the same time, other low-cost airlines are also expanding their businesses at CPH. Easyjet, for instance, started flying to London Gatwick this year and will open new routes to Manchester and Geneva in November and December respectively. In addition, starting next month EasyJet will increase its number of frequencies to Berlin, while low-cost airline Air Berlin increased its number of frequencies to Düsseldorf earlier this year.

Apart from offering Danish and Swedish travellers more options, the increased number of low-cost connections strengthens Copenhagen and the Øresund region as a destination for foreign tourists and business people.

“As a result of the low-cost airlines’ expansion at CPH, we have more than filled the gap that emerged in the market following Sterling’s bankruptcy at the end of October last year. The airlines’ growing market share is even more noteworthy considering the fact that many Sterling routes were taken over by Cimber Sterling, which is not categorised as a low-cost airline and therefore not included in these airlines’ statistics of passenger shares”, says Carsten Nørland, VP Aviation, Copenhagen Airports.

Largest airport in the Nordic region – also in the low-cost segment
From spring next year, CPH can add another low-cost airline to its customer portfolio when Germanwings starts flying between Copenhagen and Cologne. Thus, all the major northern European low-cost airlines using principal airports will be represented at Copenhagen Airport from 2010.

”The positive trend in the low-cost segment confirms and strengthens our position as the largest and most important airport in the Nordic region – also when it comes to low-cost traffic. We continue to see new route opportunities in the segment, and we are convinced that the low-cost traffic will experience a strong growth also in the future”, says Carsten Nørland.