Today, HRH Crown Prince Frederik inaugurated the new Finger E at Copenhagen Airport – the largest expansion of the airport since Terminal 3 in 1998. The new building connects passengers between terminal and gate, enabling the airport to offer new long-haul routes and, in time, handle its growing passenger numbers.

The coming months’ holiday traffic from Copenhagen Airport will flow more smoothly after today’s official opening of the 24,000 m² Finger E, the largest completed expansion since Terminal 3. The new concourse manages both departing and arriving passengers with an intuitive flow to and from Terminal 3.

The building was designed by Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and Zeso Architects in collaboration with Cowi – the same team that recently won the competition for the new Terminal 3 expansion, scheduled for completion in 2028.

“The goal has been to make Finger E a natural extension of CPH with clear references to the rest of the airport and the same high quality. It is designed to optimise the journey and make departure and arrival a good experience, where passengers consistently feel calm and in control,” says Simon Natanael Svensson, partner at Vilhelm Lauritzen Architects and design lead on the project.

Floating walkways and a carefully considered flow system

Finger E is spread across four floors. The ground floor houses the departure area, and on the second floor the arrival zone splits into three floating walkways for different passenger groups. This interaction between arriving and departing travellers creates spatial dynamism across both levels.

The design takes inspiration from 1960’s Terminal 2, a complex airport building where balconies, floating bridges and generous daylight give a sense of lightness. Simple concrete columns and cores ensure a flexible layout, while lightweight balconies on the second floor create efficient through-connections. The balcony undersides are clad in warm timber, and combined with light-toned marble terrazzo flooring, they balance daylight and build on the airport’s existing materiality.

“We have worked with a humble and subtle architecture where everything is integrated so the building appears simple, clean and Nordic. Functionally, it supports the passenger journey with intuitive cues – such as stone flooring that signals movement, in contrast to carpeted waiting areas that suggest calm and absorb sound,” says Simon Natanael Svensson.

Capacity for long-haul growth

Fully developed, Finger E will include eight gates, 15 bus gates, passport and border control, and a transfer area. The project is being delivered in three phases, with Phase 1 inaugurated today. Phases 2 and 3 will further expand capacity for intercontinental routes.