More than half of all departing passengers from Danish airports now fly internationally, yet security rules are changing so unevenly across borders that even frequent travelers risk showing up with the wrong liquids or ID.
In 2025, Danish public airports logged a record 18.8 million departing passengers, according to Danmarks Statistik. Of those, 10.1 million flew on international routes. That puts the cross-border share at 53.6 percent, up from 49.3 percent in 2019. International traffic has grown almost twice as fast as domestic since before the pandemic.
For expats and anyone routing through Copenhagen, Billund, or Aalborg, that structural shift matters. It means more travelers are navigating multiple security regimes in a single trip. And those regimes are diverging fast.
What changed and when
From February 1, 2026, travelers arriving at US security checkpoints without a Real ID-compliant license or passport face a $45 fee for TSA Confirm.ID identity verification, according to a Federal Register rule summarized by Ethos. The fee covers a 10-day travel window and turns an ID mistake into a material cost.
According to travel security guidance published in 2026, the US also formally ended the long-standing mandatory shoe removal requirement after deploying advanced scanners. In January 2026, Heathrow removed the 100 milliliter liquid limit for hand luggage after CT scanners went live across its security lanes. According to NotJustTravel’s 2026 guide on UK airport security, passengers at select UK airports with CT scanners can carry liquid containers up to two liters and leave laptops in their bags.
Danish airports are not among those that have lifted the EU liquid rules. Copenhagen Airport introduced new 3D scanner lanes in 2025, and according to CPH’s press release, those lanes allow electronics to remain in hand luggage and passengers to keep watches, shoes, and belts on. CT technology is being rolled out lane by lane rather than airport-wide, meaning security staff adapt rules as equipment arrives.
Three airports, three sets of rules
An expat flying Copenhagen to Heathrow to New York may encounter three different practical systems in one trip. Liquids may stay in the bag in one terminal, must be in 100 milliliter bottles in another, and may be allowed up to two liters at a third.
Confusion is especially acute for English-speaking internationals. They follow UK or US travel news and may assume the same relaxations apply at Danish airports. They do not. According to travel explainers published in 2026, biometric ID processes are expanding at US airports, and travelers retain the right to opt out and use physical documents instead.
As of spring 2026, TSA had expanded touchless ID to 65 airports, according to a 2026 travel commentary citing Federal Register guidance. The opt-out option is rarely advertised, and staff sometimes imply that biometric verification is required.
Record traffic magnifies the impact
Copenhagen Airport alone handled 16.2 million departing passengers in 2025, according to CPH’s official traffic release. Total traffic through the capital reached 32.4 million, surpassing the previous record of 30.3 million set in 2018.
Across all Danish public airports, total passengers reached 37.8 million in 2025, according to Danmarks Statistik. Higher volumes increase pressure on security checkpoints and magnify the impact of any confusion about new rules.
Privacy advocates warn that travelers may not fully understand how facial recognition data is stored or shared as biometric systems expand. Critics argue that the $45 Confirm.ID fee places a disproportionate burden on infrequent travelers less familiar with Real ID requirements.
What to do before you fly
Check the official website of each airport you will use. Rules differ between airports and even between lanes. Confirm whether CT scanner lanes are in operation and whether the 100 milliliter limit still applies.
Travelers heading to or through the US must verify they hold a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or valid passport. Otherwise they risk the $45 Confirm.ID fee, plus extra screening time. Even where mobile ID is offered, passengers can opt out of facial recognition and use physical documents.
The safest liquid strategy for departing Denmark is still to pack 100 milliliter containers in a clear bag. Only omit this step if the specific airport and lane explicitly confirms that CT scanners permit larger volumes. Duty-free liquids bought mid-journey may be re-screened at the next airport, even if the departing hub has relaxed its liquid rules.
According to CPH’s 2026 press release, a new security screening area consisting exclusively of 3D scanners is expected to be ready at Copenhagen Airport by summer 2026. Passengers using those lanes will be able to keep electronics in bags and avoid removing shoes, watches, and belts. Check the airport website before departure to confirm which lanes and rules apply to your terminal.
