Billund Airport, nestled in the heart of Denmark, is poised for significant growth as it sets its sights on doubling its airfreight volume by 2040.

The hub’s recent years have been marked by a strategic expansion of its freighter network. With notable additions such as Bluebird Nordic, which is now replaced by sister company AirExplore, Maersk, and the  recently launched FarCargo the airport has witnessed a notable uptick in cargo activity. 

This surge in operations not only reflects the airport’s growing prominence but also underscores its pivotal role in facilitating trade and commerce within the region. 

“Due to our flexibility and high level of freighter activity, one of our special products is handling cargo charters. During the pandemic, we established a reputation as the go-to charter airport in Denmark, and that has stuck following the pandemic,” Kaspar Andreas Nissen,  Senior Manager of Air Cargo at Billund Airport stated.

In terms of cargo throughput, Billund Airport handled 76,300 tonnes of cargo in 2023, maintaining consistency with the previous year. For 2024, the hub is anticipating this to continue, with 20 percent growth to 90,000 tonnes. 

This cargo mix encompasses various goods, ranging from machinery parts and textiles to perishable items like foods, ingredients, and fresh fish. Moreover, the airport serves as a vital conduit for e-commerce logistics, catering to the evolving needs of modern supply chains.

While belly capacity remains underutilised, constituting less than one percent of total volumes, Billund Airport is actively pursuing strategies to optimise its cargo capabilities. With a keen focus on increasing the share of flown cargo versus trucked shipments, the airport has made significant strides in this regard. Since September 2023, over 50 percent of total volumes have been flown, signalling a shift towards more efficient and expedited cargo handling processes. 

Partnerships and positioning

Despite the prevailing global landscape, Billund Airport does not foresee any singular threats that would impede its ambitious goal of achieving 160,000 tonnes of cargo by 2040. 

“In the current global economy and political climate landscape, we are not foreseeing any standalone threats that would jeopardise our ambitions of 160,000 tonnes of cargo in 2040. Slowly but steadily, the global economy is improving, and at Billund Airport, we are investing in facilities to cater to future growth, such as expanding our cargo apron,” Nissen said.

“By growing in terms of network and infrastructure/facilities, we are gradually becoming a hub to consider for freighter operations in the Northern part of Europe.” 

The support of key partners like Maersk underscores Billund’s emergence as a formidable European cargo hub. The ongoing development of an ‘Airport City’ initiative underscores Billund’s commitment to fostering a conducive environment for business growth and collaboration.

“Attracting more of our community to be closer to the operations will undoubtedly support the growth ambitions. In 2022, Billund Airport and the biggest pension fund in Denmark, Pension Danmark, announced a partnership to invest billions of Danish Krones in developing the infrastructure of Airport City,” Nissen stated.

“This will provide state-of-the-art warehouses, logistics facilities and office space for many businesses associated with the airport.”