Københavns Lufthavne A/S : Copenhagen Airport tops twenty million passengers for 2023 so far

Autumn is a favourite time to travel for many people who either want to extend their summer by taking a trip to sunnier and warmer climes or visit one of the big cities on the Copenhagen Airport destinations map. A total of 2,533,764 travellers passed through Copenhagen Airport in September, the first month of autumn.

"We experience a huge urge to extend the summer season by travelling, not only to southern Europe or a European big city, but also by jetting across the Atlantic to visit the United States," says Chief Commercial Officer Peter Krogsgaard of Copenhagen Airports A/S.

The routes between Copenhagen and one of the North American destinations in the United States or Canada had 124,000 passengers in September, up eleven per cent compared to the same period last year. Just under half of them were Americans or Canadians travelling to Denmark.

"The routes to North America are performing well, and the number of seats available is approaching the level of 2019. More routes are set to open next year, including an American Airlines service to Philadelphia, and we expect up to 1.3 million passengers on routes to and from North America," says Krogsgaard.

New York is the favourite
New York is the absolute favourite US destination for travellers from Denmark and southern Sweden, and it is also a popular autumn destination.

Copenhagen Airport has both JFK and Newark on its destinations map. In September, almost 40,000 passengers travelled from Copenhagen to one of the two New York destinations, an increase of fifteen per cent compared to last year.

"Both Delta Airlines and SAS have services to New York, and there is strong demand for flights to the 'city that never sleeps'. It's got everything and is perfect for an autumn trip of exciting adventures," says Krogsgaard.

'Air bridge' to London - and new routes
London is firmly in first place among the Top 10 destinations out of Copenhagen. In September,158,000 passengers travelled to or from the British airports of Heathrow, Gatwick or Stansted.

"The 'air bridge' to London was close to being completely restored with 19 daily departures in September. In September 2019, we had 22 daily departures," explains Krogsgaard.

The airlines will be starting their winter programmes at the end of October, offering scheduled flights to 123 destinations and charter flights to about 25.

Among the new routes in this year's winter programmes are sunny destinations like Agadir in Morocco with SAS, Funchal in Madeira with Norwegian and a skiing holiday to, for example, Sälen or Åre in Sweden with SAS or to Salzburg in Austria with Norwegian. Ryanair is opening routes to Paris-Beauvais Airport and to Warsaw Modlin Airport in Poland, while Wizz Air will begin a service to Georgia's second city, Kutaisi.

850,000 travellers expected during the schools' autumn break
Next week is the start of the autumn break for many people, and more than 850,000 travellers are expected to pass through the airport from Friday 13 October to Sunday 22 October.

The forecasts indicate that Friday the 13th will be the busiest day of the autumn season with some 100,000 travellers - a date and a number surrounded by a lot of superstition.

"We are not superstitious at Copenhagen Airport, but some travellers are. That is why we don't have a Gate 13 at the airport, for example. Many airlines also do not have a row 13 on their aircraft with a view to making superstitious travellers more comfortable on their journey. We will make sure that everyone has a smooth and safe start to their travels," Krogsgaard concludes.

Passengers are recommended to arrive at the airport two hours before departure for flights to Europe and three hours before for long-haul flights to destinations outside Europe.

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