Copenhagen Airport in Denmark has unveiled its plans for expanding Terminal 3 (T3) and incorporating an overhead walkway linking the metro rail station with the terminal’s security area.
T3 handles more than 20 million passengers annually and has struggled with space in recent years during peak periods. As a result, the airport is planning to replace the terminal’s worn granite floor, create a new exit from baggage reclaim, construct a 160,000ft² extension, and create an overhead walkway from the metro station to the security area.
Christian Poulsen, technical director, Copenhagen Airport, said, “T3 is the first and last impression that most passengers get of Copenhagen Airport – so it needs to be a good impression. In recent years, the airport has grown by a million passengers a year, so now we need more space. Consequently, we’re now starting up the first two of four big building projects.
“More and more people are checking in from home and traveling only with hand luggage. They need to be able to go directly from the metro station to the security check without having to go down onto the busy floor of T3. The same applies for those who need to go to Terminal 2 (T2). We’re therefore planning a shortcut in the form of an overhead walkway at first-floor height from the metro all the way through T3. Our calculations show that more than two million passengers will use the shortcut.”
Work is already underway on replacing the cracked granite floor and creating a new exit from baggage reclaim with completion scheduled for summer 2017. Construction work on the T3 extension project will then get underway in the autumn of 2017 with completion scheduled for summer 2018. All three projects will need to be completed before work can finally begin on the overhead walkway, currently planned for autumn 2018.
“In order to create more space for everyone, we’re moving the exit from baggage reclaim so that arriving passengers are closer to taxis and buses. This will also give more space for people welcoming friends and family who are returning from a trip. At the same time, it will provide a clearer division between those who are arriving and those who are about to travel,” added Poulsen.