Access to the airport for the press

Background
In principle, access to the passenger area (the transit area) is reserved for passengers. In 2005, the Danish authorities introduced stricter requirements for access to the airport for individuals other than passengers, including members of the press and airport employees, and these requirements have an effect on the procedures employed. In other European airports, it is common practice that access to the transit area is rarely granted to the press, and if access is granted, press members are always accompanied by airport staff.

At Copenhagen Airport, we strive to satisfy the wishes of the press with respect to access to the airport in a way that offers flexibility and respects the role of the press as information media for the public, but without compromising on meeting tightened security requirements. However, this entails changes in practice which members of the press must know about.

Effective 1 December 2008, the rules for access were changed: it is no longer possible for members of the press to obtain unaccompanied access unless they have police authorisation and a press ID card. If you do not first obtain police authorisation and a press ID card, you will only be allowed accompanied access.

Unaccompanied access
If you often need access to the airport, access will be granted if you obtain police authorisation based on a so-called “background check”.
Such authorisation is valid for a period of three years, but you must still follow the rules below for access to the airport on each visit.
  View more details on background check, processing time and other practical information here.

Providing information on business and operations
Generally, members of the press can only achieve access to the transit area by providing verifiable information on their business there. The following options are available to members of the press wishing to gain access:

1.  You can state the name of a contact person in the transit area who can confirm the nature of your business and be available for the duration of your visit.
   
2.  As a minimum, you must provide information on the nature of your journalistic business, the area where you will be working and the extent (duration) of your work. CPH wants this information as a result of the current security rules, and we reserve the right to refuse access or to grant only accompanied access if this information is not provided.

In certain cases the police may decide not to grant access to the press to the passenger area, and CPH will comply with such a decision.

Accompanied access
Journalists not authorised by the police and without a press ID card will only be granted accompanied access to the passenger area at Copenhagen Airport. Access can be obtained by contacting the Port Office Access Registration office (Havnekontoret/Adgangsregistrering) in Terminal 2. Waiting times should be expected unless you have a prior agreement with the Communications Department or the person you wish to visit in the passenger area.

According to the new rules, a member of the press may obtain accompanied access a maximum total of 14 times within 12 successive months.

Accompanied access is a regulatory requirement, and the rules prescribe that the person being accompanied must be closely watched for the entire duration of the visit. CPH will endeavour to make the accompaniment as discrete as possible.