July became the busiest month ever for Copenhagen Airport. More than three million passengers passed through the terminals, and the previous passenger record for a single day at the airport was broken on no less than six occasions. Although the appetite for travel is growing, there were nine per cent fewer arrivals and departures on the busiest travel day of the year than on the busiest day in 2019.
Passengers are very keen on a sunny getaway to Spain or the Greek islands. July became the month with the highest number of passengers in the 99-year history of Copenhagen Airport. 3.189 million passengers in total travelled through the airport, which was 13 per cent more than in the same month last year.
In the summer of 2019, 109,000 passengers passed through Copenhagen Airport on a single day, but this previous single-day record has now been broken. On no less than six occasions in July, more than 109,000 passengers passed through the terminals, and on Monday, 22 July, the number exceeded 115,000, making it the busiest travel day in the airport’s history.
“We are pleased to see that the appetite for travel remains strong for travellers from Denmark and southern Sweden who fly out from Copenhagen Airport to see the world, but we are also welcoming many foreign guests wishing to experience everything that Copenhagen and Denmark have to offer,” says Peter Krogsgaard, Chief Commercial Officer of Copenhagen Airports A/S.
Spain remains the favourite destination
As usual, Spain is the most popular destination for a sun break, with Mallorca, Malaga and Barcelona being the preferred routes. More than 270,000 passengers travelled to and from Spain in July. When it comes to charter destinations, Greece is the clear favourite, with the Greek islands of Crete and Rhodes being the destinations of choice among the summer’s charter tourists.
Italy, France and Turkey were also among the most popular sun holiday destinations this July, while London once again tops the list of popular city destinations.
Among long-haul routes, the flights to the USA, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar are passenger favourites, and these routes saw an increase in the number of passengers in July of between 27 and 34 per cent compared with the same period of last year.
Fewer arrivals and departures despite passenger record
Despite the rising number of passengers, there were fewer departures and arrivals at Copenhagen Airport compared with 2019, the year before the pandemic put aviation on hold.
On the busiest travel day on 22 July, there were 722 departures and arrivals at Copenhagen Airport, which is nine per cent fewer than on the busiest travel day in 2019, when there were 791 aircraft operations. The reason is more modern aircraft types, which are bigger and more fuel-efficient.
“Today, it requires fewer aircraft than previously to transport that many passengers to and from Denmark. The development has been facilitated by the airlines having access to modern and more fuel-efficient aircraft with greater seating capacity. Furthermore, the airlines have improved their load factors, which is very positive,” says Peter Krogsgaard.
The summer is generally a busy period for Copenhagen Airport, and nine million passengers are expected to pass through the terminals during June, July and August.
Facts about aircraft types at Copenhagen Airport
On the European routes, there was a substantial fall between 2019 and 2024 in the use of the 156-seat Airbus 319 aircraft type to the benefit of the Airbus 320, which carries 180 passengers.
On the overseas routes, the four-engine and 247-seat Airbus 340 has been fully phased out. In 2024, the most frequently used aircraft types are the 300-seat Airbus 330 and 350 and the 256-seat Boeing Dreamliner (B787). These are all twin-engined and more fuel-efficient aircraft.
.jpg){kind=tracking}
