07.10.2008 CPH SWIFT: More cheap fares from Copenhagen Airport

Earlier today, Copenhagen Airports A/S presented CPH SWIFT, a new product providing Danish travellers with cheap fares to more destinations while giving airlines new opportunities for growth in a market where the industry is under pressure from developments in the global economy and by passengers paying greater attention to price and efficiency.

Passenger Charges reduced by 50%
CPH SWIFT has been in the pipeline of Copenhagen Airports A/S for some time. It consists of a new extension of the airport specially designed for enhanced efficiency and thereby giving airlines an opportunity to reduce their costs. Thanks to the efficiency improvements, the passenger charges airlines pay to the airport will be reduced by 50%.
 
"Efficiency and focus on price are the current trends in the aviation industry, and we all have to accept that. SWIFT is a means of halving the Passenger Charges, and that will attract new airlines and provide an incentive for opening new routes - also for airlines already established at the airport. This will provide new opportunities for growth for the airlines during these difficult times and more cheap fares to choose from for the passengers," says Brian Petersen, CEO of Copenhagen Airports A/S.

Efficient and inexpensive
Reducing Passenger Charges by 50% is possible, because airlines wanting to fly SWIFT will have to meet a number of efficiency requirements. The airlines must have a 30-minute turnaround, i.e. the time needed to empty, prepare and send aircraft back in the air. For passengers, SWIFT means more self-service. Most of the passengers will have to check in via the Internet, a mobile phone or at self-service kiosks in the airport.

"The facilities at CPH SWIFT are designed to meet the requirements of the airlines and to make them as efficient and cheap as possible. That is the key to generating new growth. During the past eight years, low-cost traffic has done nothing but grow, indicating that more and more passengers prefer to travel in a cheap and simple way. CPH SWIFT represents an investment in greater efficiency and more cheap fares," says Brian Petersen.

An integral part of the airport
CPH SWIFT will be an extension of the existing terminal facilities at Copenhagen Airport. A new pier will be built that will use six existing stands that already comply with the requirements for efficient and speedy turnaround. Right from the outset, CPH SWIFT will have a capacity of about six million passengers annually, but the area where the new pier will be located already has an additional five stands, so it will be a relatively simple exercise to double the capacity if the need arises. The new building is designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects, the company that also designed much of the existing terminals.

The benefits to passengers from CPH SWIFT are obvious. The new building will become an integral part of the airport, giving passengers access to the existing facilities and providing easy access to and from the new facilities.

"CPH SWIFT is much more than a building. It will provide travellers with a new experience at the airport. With the direct connection to trains and metro services and access to the rest of the airport facilities, CPH SWIFT provides a whole new product to passengers preferring simple no-frills travel and a lower price instead of one with many options and a high level of service," says Brian Petersen.

At the same time, CPH SWIFT will be an integral part of the existing airport and passengers will use the central security checkpoint and the existing modern baggage sorting system, helping to keep construction costs at around DKK 200 million.

An important and competitive airport
According to Brian Petersen, CPH SWIFT spells good news not just for the airlines and passengers, but also for Danish society as a whole.

"It is essential for Denmark that we have an important and competitive airport. We already have a very efficient airport, our charges are in the lower third of charges in Europe, and we have the second-highest passenger satisfaction rating. CPH SWIFT is a new progressive initiative and an integral part of a development plan ensuring that we will continue to have a world class airport creating value to passengers, airlines, the business community and all other parts of society," says Brian Petersen.

Construction of CPH SWIFT is expected to commence in early 2009 and passengers are expected to fly no frills and low fare starting in the summer of 2010.

For further information, please contact:

Søren Hedegaard Nielsen, Head of Media Relations in Copenhagen Airports A/S, tel. +45 32 31 28 00.

 About Copenhagen Airports A/S
Copenhagen Airports A/S (CPH) is listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange and owns and operates airports in Copenhagen and Roskilde. Copenhagen Airport is one of the largest workplaces in Denmark with 22,000 people and roughly 2,000 employees with CPH. Copenhagen Airports makes infrastructure, buildings and service facilities available to the many companies operating their businesses at the airport.

About CPH SWIFT
CPH SWIFT is a new product ensuring more cheap fares to an increased number of destinations. It is a new way of doing things. CPH SWIFT is designed with a view to efficiency meaning that CPH can reduce passenger charges by 50% if the airlines meet a number of efficiency targets. CPH SWIFT is available for all efficient airlines.

http://www.cph.dk/CPH/UK/B2B/Airlines/News/Route+News/2008/cph+swift.htm