Record numbers at Copenhagen airport: – We need to solve this now

Copenhagen Airport (CPH) broke records this summer. Photo: Tuva Sørum

One million more passengers landed at Copenhagen airport this summer, and there’s never been more passengers in the air. The development is concerning local politicians. 

One million more passengers landed at Copenhagen airport this summer, and there’s never been more passengers in the air. The development is concerning local politicians. 

– Were going in the wrong direction, says local youth politician Mark Nathansen.

Mark Nathanson
Mark Nathanson. Photo: Tuva Sørum.

Amidst talks of protecting Copenhagen city from the effects of climate change, Kastrup Airport in Copenhagen (CPH) stated in a press release that nine million people traveled to the airport this summer, an increase of one million since last year.

This development reflects international trends of increasing air traffic, according to the international air transport association.  

– This is horrible for the climate crisis that we’re facing, says Nathansen. He was newly appointed climate and environmental spokesperson from Radikal Ungdom (radical youth-party) in Denmark. 

Nathansen says that he does not want to shame anyone for flying. 

– Sometimes that’s the only option. And other times, when it is simply cheaper, we can’t blame people from traveling by plane. 

The entrance hall of Copenhagen airport, with high ceilings and many people
Copenhagen airport has had a busy summer. Photo: Einar Nygaard.

According to the EEAs Transport and environment report from 2020, price is among the main factors influencing transportation choices.

Nathanson argues that this problem cannot be solved locally, and calls for international cooperation. 

– We must look to transport by train instead of planes, but we cannot solve international transport from Denmark alone, we have to cooperate throughout the European countries and the EU, Nathansen argues.

This article is written for an international audience, and could be published on Euronews, which is a
multilingual news network. The article focuses on a subject that reach several boarders, and therefore fit the news company that covers several of the European countries at once.