1st Half and 2nd Quarter deliver high incremental growth; plus another new route at Aarhus

“It’s hard to point at any one key success area, we’ve had so many in such a short period of time”, commented Aarhus Airport’s Head of Airline Relations – David Surley.  “I would like to say the Nordic region has been our star market, but then Munich, Prague and Gdansk have opened new horizons at a time when demand coming from Germany and central Europe is very strong, also our UK flights have been busy and multiple new Mediterranean routes have brought us new holidaying Danish travellers in their thousands; customers now thrilled at just a short drive to join direct flights to great destinations”.

In June, Aarhus Airport reported further significant growth of +33.5% total passengers and therein very high international traffic development of +78% compared with the same period in 2017.  The third consecutive month of international customer growth in the vicinity of +80% and also a positive trend on domestic demands, at +3% in the 2nd Quarter.  The fast expansion in customer numbers drawn to international flights represents a complete turnaround in traffic share at the airport, which serves Scandinavia’s fifth largest metropolitan area.  In H1 2017 international scheduled passengers accounted for 48% of customers and 52% domestic.  However, by the half way point of 2018, Aarhus now sees 58% international and 42% domestic travellers.  The Airport handled an average of 12-13,000 additional customers per month in the 2nd Quarter with average international growth at +78%.    

“It’s a turnaround period in many senses”, said Surley, “our typical traveller is now flying direct, internationally, rather than having to take a connecting flight via Copenhagen, but point-to-point demand on our domestic shuttle is also up, SAS attracting more Copenhagen customers while travellers from Norway and Sweden now enjoy more fast and frequent direct flights.  Plus we have gained service from both Nordic and European hubs – about 75 new one-stop markets – so improved connectivity for the international traveller as well as great direct destinations”.

Aarhus’ 7th new service of 2018 took-off in June, with SAS flying twice-weekly to Split.  The first scheduled service to the Dalmatian coast and only direct route to Croatia from mainland Denmark.  SAS increased capacity on the service prior to flights commencing, using Airbus A321 aircraft on Fridays and A320/A319 on Sundays.  SAS also increased frequency and capacity to Malaga and Palma Mallorca during June, while new services to Nice in France are enlarged to CRJ-1000 aircraft from July.

Charter passengers were +12% in June, in contrast to the general Danish trend of reduced demand.  “Not here”, said Surley, “our charter flights have been very busy too, as well as scheduled services, which is wonderful to see”

Moreover, the Airport evidences the heightened growth as a reflective trend, where the city of Aarhus itself continues to climb steeply in international popularity.  VisitAarhus and VisitDenmark have reported high tourism growth to the city and region, where Aarhus has topped the Scandinavian tourism growth table for over five years with a +65% increase in visitor stays.  Hotel group Radisson recently announced that Aarhus will welcome a new Radisson RED hotel from 2019 – its 8th location worldwide and the first in Scandinavia for the new upscale full-service millenial brand.  One example of a tide of new hotel and tourism infrastructure; hotel groups Comwell and Scandic are building large new Aarhus properties, along with upscale Danish brands and property operators for Hilton and Marriott brands rumoured to be among those accelerating plans for new 200+ room developments.  

“Warm weather is even bringing people our way”, noted the Airport’s Marketing & Communications, “as Scandinavia has been enjoying unusually high temperatures since April, the beaches of Aarhus and neighbouring resort towns have been packed with sun-worshippers, many of whom are unsually travelling north and enjoying sunny summertime fun.  Aarhus has fine powdery sand beaches, popular and busy marinas, waterfront hotels, bars and eateries galore.  One of the world's largest harbourfront lidos just opened - it's free for everyone with seawater pools, diving and saunas - right downtown, while 2018 sees us host the Olympic-qualifier World Sailing Championships and the Volvo Ocean Race was here in June.  It’s rather Miami-like in atmoshphere this summer – every bit as cosmopolitan and über-cool; young, trendy, sun-kissed with a slight Nordic twist (and breeze).  Very pleasant, very welcoming, smiling, happy people and very Aarhus!”