Billund Airport On Course for a Record Year: Stats to Know

LEGO’s home airport, Billund Airport in Midtjylland, is on track to achieve a new record year as passenger numbers continue to rise. Denmark’s second-largest airport served 3.14 million passengers from January to the end of September. The airport’s fee-paid VIP lounge, King Amlet, has also attracted more visitors, setting new records. Additionally, Sun Air has recently launched a direct route to Düsseldorf.

Last September, Billund Airport welcomed over 400,000 passengers for the first time ever. The airport has surpassed that milestone this year, with 408,660 passengers passing through the terminal. This represents passenger growth of 1.2 percent compared to September last year and sets the course for a new record year at Billund.

Jan Hessellund, CEO Director of Billund Airport, reflects on the airport’s current performance compared to last year. Despite the challenges brought by the pandemic, Billund Airport has managed to maintain and even surpass its previous activity level. This is particularly noteworthy, considering Wizz Air has significantly reduced its operations to several Balkan destinations. That this decrease in activity is not reflected in the passenger numbers indicates that the travel demand is still strong.

While the airport is missing around 10% of its usual business travelers and a significant number of passengers due to Wizz Air’s scaled-back presence, there is reason for optimism. Sun-Air has recently introduced a direct route to Düsseldorf, offering four weekly departures starting November 6th. This development raises expectations for continued growth. Despite the uncertainties, Billund Airport is poised to achieve a historic record year, with indications pointing towards further growth.

Guest record in the lounge

Usually, guest records in restaurants and shops are set in July, during the peak summer season. On the other hand, daily records can often be set on the Saturday leading up to the autumn holidays. However, at King Amlet, the paid VIP lounge at Billund Airport, the hustle and bustle generally follow business travel trends. In September, there were over 21,000 guests in Billund’s King Amlet lounge.

“We are almost back at the same level for business travelers as we were in 2019. We can feel that, among other things, in the activity in the lounge, where we have set a new guest record. The lounge is for everyone, but it is mainly business travelers who use it. However, it is great to see that more holiday travelers are also visiting our lounge,” says Jan Hessellund.

Air Freight Surge Fosters Growth at Billund Airport

During September, 7,075 tonnes of air freight were transported through the freight center in Billund, indicating a significant growth of 12.5 percent. The increase in air freight can be attributed to various factors. They include the rise in visits by larger charter planes and the expansion of Maersk Air Cargo’s operations to China, now operating six times a week instead of five.

“In the last month, we have on several occasions welcomed chartered cargo planes, which lift large quantities. But Maersk Air Cargo is also getting its cargo hub nicely built up, as you can see from the volumes. They are increasing with an extra weekly departure,” concludes Jan Hessellund.

See the monthly figures for Billund in September 2023 here:

Monthly Report for September 2023

Monthly Report for January-September 2023