On April 20, Københavns Lufthavn (Copenhagen Airport) officially marks 100 years since its inaugural flight in 1925. Once a grassy field with a small wooden terminal known as “Træslottet” (“the wooden castle”), the airport has transformed into a major international hub serving nearly 30 million passengers annually and employing over 17,000 people across 800 companies.
From its humble beginnings—with only four seats on a route to Berlin—the airport now offers 315 direct connections worldwide in its summer schedule. It’s a growth story that reflects not only the globalization of travel, but also Denmark’s rising role in international mobility.
“Not many companies reach 100 years. We’re entering our centenary on a solid foundation of sound finances, exciting expansion plans, and ambitious climate targets,” said Christian Poulsen, CEO of Copenhagen Airport.
A journey from luxury to everyday travel
In the early decades, flying was a luxury reserved for the wealthy and brave. Flights operated only during the summer, and without modern navigation or enclosed cabins, both pilots and passengers were exposed to the elements. But the postwar decades saw rapid technological and social change.
By the 1970s and 80s, air travel began shifting from elite experience to a more accessible mode of transportation. Larger aircraft, deregulated routes, and falling ticket prices made flying the new norm for holidays and business.
“What started as something exclusive is now more like buses in the sky,” said Helene Dyrhauge, associate professor in climate and transport policy at Roskilde University.
Green ambitions face harsh realities
The centennial comes at a time when aviation is increasingly under pressure for its climate impact. According to a recent analysis by the Arbejderbevægelsens Erhvervsråd (Economic Council of the Labour Movement), each Dane contributes an average of half a ton of CO₂ annually from air travel alone.
Copenhagen Airport expects passenger numbers to reach 32 million in 2025, with an 8% increase in revenue. But this upward trajectory poses a stark contrast with Denmark’s climate goals.
“It’s clearly a business success—but a very poor one for the climate,” Dyrhauge said. “There’s a major contradiction between the ambitions of the climate law and the airport’s expansion plans.”
In December 2024, Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen announced plans for the state to acquire a majority stake in the airport for DKK 32 billion (approx. €4.3 billion), giving the government greater influence over its direction. However, reducing emissions while maintaining employment and economic growth will be a balancing act.
Expansion plans and sustainable aviation hopes
Despite spatial constraints, the airport is moving forward with ambitious redevelopment. Terminal 3 is currently undergoing a major upgrade, while additional passport control facilities, new security scanners, and retail spaces are planned. Daily flight activity now averages 658 flights, a 19% increase from 2022.
Looking ahead, the airport industry is pinning hopes on greener solutions like sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and electric planes—though deadlines for green flight corridors by 2025 have already been missed.
“There are challenges ahead, but the industry is optimistic. Technological solutions exist, and more are coming,” said Poulsen.
A celebration clouded by climate conscience
As Copenhagen Airport looks back on a century of development—from sheep fields to high-tech terminals—it does so in a world more aware than ever of environmental costs.
“We don’t want to limit our mobility—especially not on vacation,” said Dyrhauge. “But the reality is, our desire to fly comes at a significant climate cost.”
Copenhagen Airport’s 100th anniversary is both a milestone and a mirror: a testament to progress, but also a prompt to rethink the future of aviation in a warming world.
