The Danish Government has praised the DKK 255m (US$45m) investment in 5,100 sq m of additional space at Copenhagen Airport’s Pier C, which has provided facilities for sustaining the current growth in intercontinental traffic to and from Denmark.

 

The Danish airport operator claims, that passengers from China, Russia, the United States and other non-EU member states who arrive at Copenhagen Airport’s Pier C, will now have more space and will receive better service – especially during security checks and passport control.

 

“The first impression of Denmark is very important,” said Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Copenhagen Airports A/S.

 

“We have therefore added an additional 1,900 sq m with an extra track for security screening and more passport control booths in Pier C. This has increased capacity by almost 50% and will reduce waiting time.”

 

GROWTH RATE EXCEEDS 10%

All passengers to and from non-EU and non-Schengen countries must go through Pier C. In addition to the extra space for security screening and passport control, a number of new lounges, staircase towers and an additional arrivals floor of 2,200sq m have been built.

 

CPH airport says that with a growth rate of more than 10% in the number of intercontinental passengers in the first nine months of 2012, it had become necessary to expand Pier C in order to sustain growth and support the airport’s World Class Hub strategy.

 

[Left: Danish Minister for Trade and Investment, Pia Olsen Dyhr]

 

This is a strategy that, according to the Danish Minister for Trade and Investment, Pia Olsen Dyhr, is consistent with the Danish Government’s ambitions of generating growth and jobs: “Copenhagen Airport’s role as a northern European transport hub is important to growth and employment in Denmark,” she said.

 

ATTRACTIVE FOR AIRLINES

“An attractive airport with good connections is the gateway to growth. Both exports and incoming investment depend on customers and investors having good transport connections to Denmark. I therefore hope that the expansion of Pier C will lead to more airlines choosing to operate to and from Copenhagen.”

 

[Right: Thomas Woldbye, CEO of Copenhagen Airports A/S]

 

Woldbye says that the expansion of Pier C doesn’t stop here.”We have expanded Pier C in such a way that it will be relatively uncomplicated to add an additional 3-4 gates and aircraft stands when the need arises.”

 

A number of airlines will soon expand their services at Pier C: Emirates will deploy larger aircraft (Boeing B777-300ERs) seating 428 passengers from February 2013; SAS will open a new service to San Francisco in March; Singapore Airlines will move from three to five weekly frequencies; Air Canada will use larger aircraft (Airbus A330s) on its service to Toronto in the summer of 2013 and Royal Air Maroc will launch a service to Casablanca on 31 March.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Above: Copenhagen Airport’s Pier C]