Copenhagen Airport introduced an extraordinary security check for all departing passengers on Thursday, October 22, 2026, creating long queues that the airport said could continue through the weekend.
Every passenger passing through Copenhagen Airport must undergo an additional security check, DR reports in a live blog started Thursday evening. The airport has called in extra staff to handle the task, according to the same reporting.
DR also reports that the airport expects the extraordinary checks to continue through the weekend. In its live coverage, DR noted that no corresponding extraordinary security check had been introduced at Billund Airport.
Waiting times above 45 minutes on Thursday evening
According to Ekstra Bladet, waiting times at security passed 45 minutes on Thursday evening. The newspaper cites the airport’s communications director, who said the longer queues were caused by increased requirements for additional security procedures.
As reported by B.T., the airport stated that it had full staffing in place at security. The increased requirements simply demand more work per passenger than before, according to the airport’s explanation in that coverage.
B.T. further reports that the airport expects long queues to occur in periods over the following days. Neither outlet reports a stated end date for the measure beyond the airport’s own expectation that it continues into the weekend.
Why the checks were introduced now
The airport’s stated reason is procedural. Per Ekstra Bladet, the queues began because of increased requirements for additional security procedures that took effect on October 22, 2026.
DR’s live blog includes an update addressing when the checks came into force. Beyond the airport’s own description of increased requirements, no further official explanation has been published by the sources covering the event.
What the extra security checks mean for internationals flying from Copenhagen
Copenhagen Airport, or Københavns Lufthavn, in Kastrup is the main gateway for most internationals living in Denmark, including those traveling on residence permits issued by SIRI. The checks reported by DR apply to all passengers at security, regardless of nationality, destination or passport. They are separate from passport and border control, which is handled by the police.
Because the extra checks sit at the security screening stage, they affect everyone departing, including passengers on Schengen flights who do not normally pass passport control. Ekstra Bladet’s reported waiting time of more than 45 minutes on Thursday evening refers to security, not check-in or baggage drop.
Travel to the airport itself is unaffected by the measure as described in the reporting. The Metro M2 line and regional trains to Københavns Lufthavn station run as normal, and readers unfamiliar with the route can see our guide on how to get from Copenhagen Airport to the city center. For travel across the rest of the capital, our overview of Copenhagen public transport explains the ticket zones.
For internationals who need to be in the country for appointments tied to residence or work permits, the relevant rules on entry, exit and permit validity are set out by the Danish authorities at nyidanmark.dk and in our overview of immigration and labour law in Denmark. What is not yet known from the reporting is how long the extraordinary checks will remain in place, or whether other Danish airports will follow. DR’s reporting states only that Billund has not introduced the same measure.
