Copenhagen Airport

Current Status

Copenhagen Airport is the largest airport in Scandinavia and the primary hub for SAS Scandinavian Airlines and Norwegian Air Shuttle. The airport operates at full capacity with no restrictions on commercial service. CPH is included in this monitoring profile due to its exposure to two emerging aviation security phenomena: the coordinated European drone sightings wave that affected multiple Nordic and Baltic countries in 2024-2025, and periodic GPS interference emanating from the Baltic region.

Danish aviation authorities and military have implemented enhanced monitoring and security measures in response to both threats. Copenhagen's geographic position at the entrance to the Baltic Sea places it at the intersection of Baltic GPS interference patterns and Northern European drone activity.

Key Risks

• European drone sightings wave. In late 2024 and into 2025, coordinated drone sightings were reported across multiple European countries, including Denmark. The sightings exhibited patterns suggesting systematic intelligence-gathering or testing of response capabilities. Copenhagen was among the airports where drone activity was detected, though no significant operational disruptions resulted.
• Baltic GPS interference. GPS jamming and spoofing from the Kaliningrad region and northwestern Russia has affected aviation across the Baltic states, Finland, Sweden, and eastern Denmark. While CPH is not in the primary interference zone, flights operating to and from the airport on Baltic routes encounter GPS anomalies. Finnair notably diverted flights from Tartu, Estonia due to GPS jamming, illustrating the regional scope of the problem.
• Nordic critical infrastructure targeting. Denmark and other Nordic countries have reported increased incidents of surveillance and probing of critical infrastructure, including energy facilities, telecommunications, and transportation hubs. Aviation infrastructure falls within this broader pattern of heightened security attention in the region.
• Oresund Bridge proximity. Copenhagen Airport's location adjacent to the Oresund Bridge — a critical cross-border link between Denmark and Sweden — places it within a zone of concentrated infrastructure that requires coordinated security. Drone activity near either facility has implications for the other.

Recent Events

Airlines Operating

SAS Scandinavian Airlines uses CPH as its primary hub, providing extensive European and intercontinental connectivity. Norwegian Air Shuttle operates a significant base. Other major operators include Ryanair, easyJet, Lufthansa, British Airways, KLM, and numerous full-service and low-cost carriers. Over 80 airlines serve Copenhagen with routes to more than 160 destinations.

No carriers have suspended CPH service due to the drone or GPS issues. The threats remain at a monitoring level rather than an operational restriction level. Airlines operating Baltic routes maintain awareness of GPS interference and have procedures for GNSS-degraded operations.

Approach & Navigation

Copenhagen operates three runways with full ILS capability, including CAT III autoland for low-visibility conditions. GPS interference at CPH itself is infrequent and typically mild compared to airports further east in the Baltic region. However, crews operating routes to and from the Baltic states, Finland, and eastern Scandinavia should be prepared for potential GNSS degradation enroute.

Danish air navigation service provider Naviair monitors GPS interference across Danish airspace and issues NOTAMs when anomalies are detected. The airport's proximity to Malmo Airport (MMX) across the Oresund strait means coordinated approach procedures are standard.

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