Copenhagen Airport Expansion Begins

Copenhagen Airport has begun work on two major projects which form part of its DKK 20 billion expansion plans announced in December: a new Pier E for aircraft and a doubling in size of the transit area in Terminal 2.

Copenhagen Airport is investing DKK 850 million (approx. 114 million Euros) to build the first phase of pier E, which will offer more aircraft stands and serve new routes, and DKK 390 million (approx. 52 million Euros) to double the size of the passenger area after the central security checkpoint.

More than 1,000 construction workers and technicians will be busy at the airport on these building projects.

Copenhagen Airport’s CEO Thomas Woldbye and Danish Minister for Employment Troels Lund Poulsen launched the two major projects at a special event at the airport on Tuesday.

More Room to Roam, More Power, More Shopping

“The first thing our passengers will notice is the investment of DKK 390 million in creating more space for the journey through the busy area after the security checkpoint,” says Thomas Woldbye.

The area between Pier A and Pier B will increase by 4,000 m2, doubling its current size. A brand-new building will be built in front of the existing one and the two will then be joined together.

Copenhagen Airport passenger area expansion by the numbers:

• 60% of all passengers pass through the area between Pier A and Pier B, making it the airport’s busiest point after the security checkpoint.
• Cost DKK 390 million.
• Will use 1,600 m3 of concrete and 1,100 tons of steel, and building a 1,800 m2 new facade.

“We’re making the corridors wider so there’s more space for passengers making their way to their flights,” says Woldbye. “We’ll also be adding a new play area, additional seats and more power sockets for recharging devices. Seven out of 10 passengers say that good options for shopping and eating are essential for a good travel experience — and we’re listening to them, which means we’re also building 28 new shops and food & beverage outlets. We’re already well into the process of identifying the right selection so that there’s something for every taste and budget.”

Work on this passenger area expansion is slated for completion around summer 2018.

30 New Gates

“The construction of a brand-new Pier E is one of the biggest construction projects of recent times. When the pier is complete, it will be able to accommodate 10 gates for large aircraft and 20 for smaller aircraft on the European routes — a huge project costing around DKK 3 billion,” says Woldbye. “Today, we’ve started work on the first phase of the project, which alone will cost DKK 850 million. This phase will give us the first 22,000 m2 and seven gates for aircraft.”

Pier E – first phase by the numbers

• The first phase of Pier E will add 22,000 m2 to the airport with seven gates and 800 seats.
• A widebody contact gate will be built for large aircraft.
• There will also be six bus gates, two of which will be flexible such that they can be used as a single gate for large aircraft.
• Passengers will be able to board buses under cover all year round. Passengers will board large aircraft via covered staircases.
• Alongside Pier E we will build a modern office building occupying 4,000 m2 over four levels.
• The construction work will be complete in 2019.

More Growth

These two projects are only the beginning of a larger plan of expansion at Copenhagen airport.

The “Expanding CPH” plan includes provisions for future airport capacity of 40 million passengers a year, and accommodation of more aircraft and new routes.

Subsequent expansion of the pier is already being planned.

Keeping Travel Smooth Under Construction

The airport’s management has committed to ensuring that travel remains pleasant at CPH during ongoing construction.

Pier E is being built in an area of the airport where neither passengers nor aircraft are affected, but the airport says, “the expansion of the busy passenger area between Pier A and Pier B will not go unnoticed.” The airport has put plans in place to minimise the disruption.

“We’ll put up effective construction screens to shield our passengers and staff from noise and other nuisance,” says Woldbye. “We’ll also establish overhead windows and try to confine the noisiest work to night-time. Around December this year, the construction activity will move into the current area. This will happen when the new 4,000 m2 building is ready to be joined with the existing one.”

Woldbye adds, “Unfortunately, we can’t build something this big in the middle of the airport without passengers being aware of it to some extent, but I can guarantee that we’ll do everything we can to minimise the inconvenience — and I can promise that the new area will be worth waiting for. The aim is to be ready for opening in summer 2018.”

More Room for Baggage

Last year, the airport also detailed plans to expand its baggage claim area as part of ongoing construction. The baggage area expansion is due for completion in 2018.

“In recent years, we have seen quite significant growth in passenger numbers; in the first seven months of this year alone, the growth rate was in fact 10.7%. Although far more passengers today travel only with carry-on baggage, the overall volume of checked baggage has also grown somewhat. We have therefore started planning for an expansion of the baggage reclaim area,” said Copenhagen Airport COO Kristian Durhuus during the announcement of these construction plans in August of last year.