This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks
The action you just performed triggered the security solution
There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked
Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page
Mission Statement: to assist the integration of foreign residents living in Spain
and this is never more accurate than when you establish yourself as a foreign resident in a new country
Being able to quickly familiarise yourself with the culture
and customs can help ease the transition during a challenging time
This is why Euro Weekly News makes it our mission to provide you with a free news resource in English that covers both regional and national Spanish news – anything that we feel you will benefit from knowing as you integrate into your new community and live your best life in Spain
you can forget about translating articles from Spanish into awkward English that probably don’t make much sense
Let us be your convenient and essential guide to all things that will likely affect you as a foreign resident living in Spain
The decision by Ryanair to pull out of Billund Airport has had a significant impact
and the future remains uncertain for the second-largest airport in Denmark
In April, just over 217,000 people passed through Billund Airport
That’s nearly 100,000 fewer passengers than in the same month last year
According to newly released airport traffic figures
The numbers clearly show what many feared when Ryanair closed its base at the airport on April 1
The airline offered 24 different routes from Billund and carried thousands of passengers monthly
Ryanair announced it would close its base in Billund in February due to the new Danish passenger tax
The new rule adds up to 50 kroner to the price of every flight ticket from Denmark
Billund Airport and Ryanair could not agree on a new deal to keep the airline’s base running
cancelling all planned routes from the airport
The last Ryanair flight from Billund took off at the end of March
the airport has seen a significant drop in traffic
The fall in passenger numbers has led to tough decisions at the airport
and 100 seasonal workers typically hired for the busy summer months will not be taken on this year
as Billund Airport is an important employer and travel hub for central Jutland
but the drop in traffic made it necessary,” said airport CEO Jan Hessellund in a press release
When looking at the figures excluding Ryanair passengers
Billund Airport has seen a 4.5% increase in travellers during the first four months of the year
This shows that other airlines are still attracting passengers
Around 130,000 Ryanair passengers disappeared in April alone
confirming the airline’s strong role in Billund’s overall numbers
“It will take time to close the gap completely,” said Jesper Klausholm
Director of Route Development at Billund Airport
“But it also creates new chances for other low-cost airlines to enter the market.”
Despite the loss of Ryanair, Billund Airport has not stood still. British Airways has increased its flights to London, while low-cost airline Wizz Air has added routes to Gdansk in Poland
Air Greenland has also launched new twice-weekly flights to Nuuk
SAS is flying between Billund and Copenhagen four times a day again
These changes bring hope that Billund can slowly recover
Ryanair’s departure is a big change for Danish travellers
the Irish budget airline has helped Danes travel easily and affordably to many European destinations
Its exit means fewer cheap options and fewer direct routes from Jutland
The situation is being watched closely by Danes living abroad
including those on the Costa del Sol and across Spain
who often fly back to Denmark for holidays
Passengers will need to rely on other airlines
and likely face higher ticket prices and fewer choices
The full effect of the new passenger tax is yet to be seen
Ryanair’s fast decision to pull out of Billund shows how sensitive low-cost airlines can be to extra costs
Other Danish airports could also feel the impact if more carriers react the same way
Billund’s leadership remains hopeful
The airport is actively looking for new airline partners and routes to fill the gap left by Ryanair
“but we’re working hard to bring in new options for our passengers.”
travellers and airport staff alike are adjusting to a new reality
and one with a little less buzz at Billund
Subscribe to our Euro Weekly News alerts to get the latest stories into your inbox
Website#i2f5dd04f78a4308becc7576{display:none}
Euro Weekly News is the leading English language newspaper in Spain
by delivering news with a social conscience
we are proud to be the voice for the expat communities who now call Spain home
With around half a million print readers a week and over 1.5 million web views per month
EWN has the biggest readership of any English language newspaper in Spain
The paper prints over 150 news stories a week with many hundreds more on the web – no one else even comes close
Our publication has won numerous awards over the last 25 years including Best Free Newspaper of the Year (Premios AEEPP)
Company of the Year (Costa del Sol Business Awards) and Collaboration with Foreigners honours (Mijas Town Hall)
All of this comes at ZERO cost to our readers
All our print and online content always has been and always will be FREE OF CHARGE
Download our media pack in either English or Spanish
the home of LegoIn the spirit of the song from the Lego movie
families will find plenty to rave about on a trip to the real-life home of Lego in Billund
This article was produced by National Geographic Traveller (UK).From the giant
primary-coloured Lego bricks and yellow figures that pop up along the roads to the hopscotch routes that encircle the town
This tiny hub in central Denmark is where Lego was founded in the 1930s
it bills itself as the Capital of Children and has multiple attractions that stretch the imagination and champion creativity in fun ways
The brand’s original ‘family park’ was conceived in the 1960s as a way to ease the pressure of thousands of fans visiting the Lego models on show at its Billund factory each year
it has transformed into the Legoland theme park and been exported to other areas of the world including the UK
its popularity aided by the recent film franchise and TV offshoots like Ninjago
But a trip to Billund is about more than just the park itself
from a tropical water park to a wild forest adventure playground and a restaurant manned by robots
which slowly rises to 118 feet near the park’s entrance
is a good way to survey the park zones upon arrival
the original outdoor model display area has grown into a ‘miniland’
The biggest park queues are for the most thrilling rollercoasters (Polar X-plorer
X-treme Racers and Flying Eagle) and for the Lego Canoe and Vikings River Splash water rides
Lots of the other park attractions are interactive
The Temple ride cars come with laser guns for families to shoot at targets as they travel through Egyptian tombs; on the Ninjago ride
you shoot at giant snakes and zombie warriors by ninja-chopping over clever sensors in the moving car
The Pirate Splash Battle is huge fun for bystanders who can pick water fights with families on the ride’s lagoon boats
dropping film fans into a magical virtual-reality ride where families jump aboard Emmet’s double-decker sofa invention to fly through worlds
There’s plenty in the park to entertain kids up to around 12 years
with the very youngest catered for at Duplo Land and
A not-to-be-missed complementary attraction to Legoland
Lego House is a kingdom of hands-on creativity
and at its heart is the Tree of Creativity — one of the largest Lego models in the world
towering 50 feet and using more than 6.3 million bricks
it’s all about what you can make: stop-animation Lego films; fish that can be digitised and brought to life in the aquarium; cars that you can race against other visitors; dancing characters that groove together once uploaded
The way Lego has used digital technology to enhance the model-building creativity brings the brand right into the 21st century
Wrist bands provided with your ticket can also be scanned to upload digitised creations for you to revisit once back home
Book well in advance for a meal at Lego House’s Mini Chef restaurant
where food is ordered by building Lego models and is then delivered by two robots called Robert and Roberta
clamber through the treetops and whoosh down slides at this wholesome outdoor adventure park on the southeast outskirts of Billund
There are 360 feet of suspended nets threaded through the forest
connected by small elven-style woodland treetop houses perched 45 feet above ground
The park is founded on the Danish belief in the importance of outdoors play for children
and almost all the structures are big enough for both adults and children to enjoy
Woodland paths connect the park’s many areas
giant Tarzan swings and treetop bouncing nets filled with giant balls
a plant-filled slide structure that includes the tallest slide in Scandinavia — a breath-stealing 65-foot freefall drop (for kids aged seven and over)
But even if your kids aren’t old enough to try it
there’s easily enough here to consume an entire summer’s day
the weather is unreliable and that’s where an attraction like Lalandia comes in handy
Kids gasp when they enter the indoor complex to find a virtual-reality sky with moving clouds
over a plaza lined by cafes and restaurants
housing a first-class water park for all ages
warm up in the steamy hot pool or let the indoor river’s strong current whisk them around on giant inflatable rubber rings
There’s also a brightly coloured fun park with small slides for younger children
while older kids gravitate towards the excellent big ones
Several of them can take two people at a time and one
the Tornado — which has all the stomach-clenching thrills of a rollercoaster in water — has rings that can take a family of four
Children have to be over 110cm to enjoy most of the slides
Rides:The first hour after opening is typically the quietest and visitors tend to start with the attractions immediately inside the park entrance
popular rollercoasters furthest away from the gates
where you’ll have the best chance of short queues
Download the Legoland app for descriptions of rides and live wait times; if you only have one park day and you’re travelling in peak summer
consider paying for Reserve and Ride virtual queuing
Food:Follow the lead of Danish visitors and bring a picnic in an easy-to-carry backpack
The Danish krone is strong at the moment and a family of four will struggle to get a basic lunch in the park for under £50
Where to stay:Legoland has its own holiday village close to the park, with various accommodations including Ninjago-themed cabins and camping. However, the most convenient options are Hotel Legoland and Legoland Castle Hotel, right outside the park entrance, both with unique themed family rooms based on different Lego worlds such as wizarding and pirates.
Of the two, the Castle hotel has slightly bigger rooms with separate sleeping areas, and the wizarding wing is the quietest option. It also has an on-site Knights’ Tavern restaurant with a kids’ playroom and daily visits from a costumed Lego prince and princess, and a huge castle-shaped playground area. Deep troughs of Lego bricks for kids to play with can be found all over both hotels, including in the bedrooms. Hotel Legoland from 1,199 DKK (£138).
Boats stand docked on either side of the canal
covered in snow.","crdt":"Photograph by VisitCopenhagen","dsc":"Discover Copenhagen's world-class museums
cosy bakeries and literary history on a winter visit.","ttl":"Copenhagen canals","rchDsc":{"markup":"Discover Copenhagen's world-class museums
cosy bakeries and literary history on a winter visit."},"rchTtl":{"markup":"Copenhagen canals"}},"sections":["Paid Content"],"headline":"7 ways to embrace winter in Copenhagen","link":"https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/article/paid-content-winter-experiences-copenhagen-denmark"},{"description":"Drive the Faroe Islands’ scenic byways to get lost amid the clouds
the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks are home to some of the tallest trees on the planet
Here’s how best to explore these other-worldly sites from Visalia
with the city of Suwon in the background.","crdt":"Photograph by GoranQ
Getty Images","dsc":"The walls of the Hwaseong Fortress
built in the late 18th century by King Jeongjo
surround the centre of Suwon City.","ttl":"Suwon fortress","rchDsc":{"markup":"The walls of the Hwaseong Fortress
The Local Europe ABVästmannagatan 43113 25 StockholmSweden
Some 217,713 travellers passed through Billund Airport last month
nearly 100,000 fewer than in the same month last year
according to new traffic figures from the airport
This means the month ended with a 31.4 percent drop in passenger numbers
“This level of traffic in April aligns well with our expectations for the coming months and the year overall,” Billund Airport CEO Jan Hessellund said in a press release
Ryanair announced in February that it would close a two-aircraft base at Billund and cancel all of its 24 services from the airport effective from the end of March
blaming Denmark’s new air travel tax for the decision
Billund has since announced deals with a number of airlines introducing new routes
notably a new flight to London Gatwick with airline Norwegian and services to several Spanish destinations
READ ALSO: Denmark’s Billund Airport faces challenge of closing gap after Ryanair departure
“If we compare the figures excluding the traffic that came from Ryanair
the passenger number increased by 4.5 percent during the first four months of the year,” Hessellund said
around 130,000 Ryanair passengers disappeared,” he noted
Billund Airport has previously stated that Ryanair’s exit would result in a passenger loss of about 30 percent
“It will take a long time to close the gap completely. But it also creates an opportunity for other low cost airlines,” Billund Airport’s head of programmes, marketing and communication Jesper Klausholm told news wire Ritzau last month.
“So things are going in the right direction
but it’s obviously never going to be as fast as we want,” Klausholm said
Several new routes have been presented at Billund since Ryanair confirmed its withdrawal
Norwegian and Wizz Air have both announced new routes to take advantage of the open slots
including routes to Malaga and Alicante as well as Gatwick (Norwegian) and Wizz Air flights to Poland
A new service from Billund to Barcelona is set to be offered by airline Vueling
Air Greenland has also opened two weekly flights to Nuuk
while SAS has resumed its domestic service to Copenhagen with four daily departures
Please log in here to leave a comment
The information on this page is intended for journalists
If you click NO you will come back to Mynewsdesk.com
Norwegian is expanding its presence at Billund Airport with the launch of a brand-new year-round route to London Gatwick
This new connection will make it even easier for British travellers to explore Western Denmark
Legoland® Billund is offering free entry for children from the UK flying to Billund with Norwegian
This makes it even more appealing for British families looking for an unforgettable getaway
"Norwegian and Billund Airport have had a strong partnership for many years
and we see great potential for growth in this region
we now have a unique opportunity to strengthen our presence in Billund and Western Denmark
The new route to London Gatwick is just the first step
and we are continuously evaluating opportunities to expand our offerings from Billund," says Sara Neergaard
Director of Communications & Public Affairs at Norwegian Denmark
Billund – More than just an airportBillund is much more than just an airport – it’s a gateway to one of Denmark’s most exciting regions
which attracts families from all over the world
the ultimate experience for LEGO® fans of all ages
visitors can explore Denmark’s beautiful west coast
and a range of cultural and outdoor experiences
"This is fantastic news – not just for Western Denmark but also for the many British travellers visiting us each year
it’s now easier than ever for UK families and business travellers to reach Billund
We value Norwegian’s commitment to strengthening international connectivity to our region."
London – a key route for business and tourismLondon has long been the most popular city-break destination for Danish travellers
but the route is also crucial for business travel in both directions
Western Denmark is home to many large international companies
making a stable and competitive connection between Billund and the UK capital highly valuable
"We are delighted to welcome Norwegian’s new direct year-round service connecting London Gatwick with Billund
This route provides essential connectivity for both business and leisure travellers
further strengthening Gatwick’s extensive European and long-haul network," says Jennifer Newman
Airlines Relations Manager at London Gatwick
and families flying from the UK can take advantage of LEGOLAND® Billund’s special offer of free entry for children
Director of Communications & Public Affairs
T: +45 2222 8577 E: sara.neergaard@norwegian.com
Senior Manager Presse & Public Affairs
T: +45 2923 9210 E: dpr@bll.dk
About NorwegianThe Norwegian group is a leading Nordic aviation company
The company has over 8,200 employees and owns two of the prominent airlines in the Nordics: Norwegian Air Shuttle and Widerøe’s Flyveselskap
aiming to facilitate seamless air travel across the two airline’s networks
the largest Norwegian airline with around 4,700 employees
operates an extensive route network connecting Nordic countries to key European destinations
Norwegian carried 22,6 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 86 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft
Mainly operating the short-runway airports in rural Norway
Widerøe operates several state contract routes (PSO routes) in addition to its own commercial network
the airline had 3.8 million passengers and a fleet of 49 aircraft
including 46 Bombardier Dash 8’s and three Embraer E190-E2's
Widerøe Ground Handling provides ground handling services at 41 Norwegian airports
The Norwegian group has sustainability as a key priority and has committed to significantly reducing carbon emissions from its operations
the most noteworthy is the investment in production and use of fossil-free aviation fuel (SAF)
Norwegian strives to become the sustainable choice for its passengers
actively contributing to the transformation of the aviation industry
The Norwegian group is a leading Nordic aviation company
Norwegian carried over 22,6 million passengers and maintained a fleet of 86 Boeing 737-800 and 737 MAX 8 aircraft
When you choose to create a user account and follow a newsroom your personal data will be used by us and the owner of the newsroom
for you to receive news and updates according to your subscription settings
To learn more about this, please read our Privacy Policy, which applies to our use of your personal data, and our Privacy Policy for Contacts
which applies to the use of your personal data by the owner of the newsroom you follow
Please note that our Terms of Use apply to all use of our services
You can withdraw your consent at any time by unsubscribing or deleting your account
The new name marks the next chapter for the RAS consultancy founder after technology firm Billund Aquaculture's collapse
The Denmark-based consultancy and systems provider originally launched as Billund Aquatech in November 2024 has rebranded as Globaq Solutions
the company announced on Tuesday (April 22) [...]
Sign up for a trial to have access to our articles
Please check your inbox to reset your password securely and easily
and the latest news from around the seafood world straight to your inbox
Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement (updated as of 1/1/21) and Your California Privacy Rights
The material on this site may not be reproduced
except with the prior written permission of Undercurrent News
etc.venues 8 Fenchurch Street - 15 May 2025
Budget carrier Norwegian is expanding at Billund Airport in Western Denmark after Ryanair decided to close its base at the airport
I accept the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy
Norwegian is to introduce a new route from Billund to London Gatwick Airport from 30 June
as well as adding more flights to Alicante and Malaga in Spain
The airline’s Billund-Gatwick route will operate up to six times per week during the summer
while the twice-weekly Alicante summer service will become a year-round route and flights to Malaga will increase from weekly to three times per week next winter
we now have a unique opportunity to strengthen our presence in Billund and Western Denmark,” said Sara Neergaard
director of communications and public affairs at Norwegian Denmark
“The new route to London Gatwick is just the first step
and we are continuously evaluating opportunities to expand our offerings from Billund."
added: “This route provides essential connectivity for both business and leisure travellers
further strengthening Gatwick’s extensive European and long-haul network.”
As business travel accelerates, Cathay Pacific remains a leader, delivering seamless, end-to-end... KEEP READING
with Virgin Atlantic and Delta Air Lines... KEEP READING
United Airlines is the largest airline in the world by available seat miles, offering flights to more... KEEP READING
We bring brands to life and partner with leading owners of Intellectual Property content to create unforgettable visitor experiences
indoor attractions including brands such as SEA LIFE and Madame Tussauds
Are you a fan of building with LEGO® or simply looking for a unique experience
LEGOLAND® has just what you're looking for when the doors to the world's largest LEGO store at 993.7 square meters open on Saturday
the first 10 guests in line to the new LEGO store will receive a free LEGO Titanic box (#10294) and will also be allowed to experience the store and all its activities as the first
there will be the opportunity to make yourself a LEGO Minifigure in the 'Minifigure Factory' and try your hand at the new 'LEGO Mosaic Maker'
- We will soon open the world's largest LEGO store here in Billund
and that is of course something to celebrate
That is why we are giving away a great gift to the first 10 guests who come and experience our fantastic new store
Regardless of whether you are among the first or visit us later in the season
we are looking forward to showing off the store and giving our guests a magical experience
Lots of creativity in a cluttered environment
park guests can look forward to letting their imaginations and creativity run wild in the new store
it will be possible to build your very own LEGO® F1® car steering wheel to take home
you can experience a real LEGO model builder from LEGOLAND® sharing his best tips
Special for the day is that it is also possible to get a free LEGO DreamZzz teddy bear with the purchase of a LEGO or LEGOLAND product in the store (valid while stocks last)
- The opening day of our new store will be a very special event
where months of excitement and great expectations come together into a higher unity – both for us here at LEGOLAND and for our guests
who I hope will be pleasantly surprised when they experience the result
No matter what time of year you visit the world's largest LEGO store
guests of all ages can challenge their creativity with the store's new activities
guests can build and personalize their very own LEGO Minifigure with unique designs that are only available at LEGOLAND Billund
Guests can also try their hand at the LEGO Mosaic Maker
which can transform their own memorable photos into LEGO mosaics
Important information if you want to be one of the first to experience the world's largest LEGO® store:
To be among the first 10 guests when the world's largest LEGO® store opens
you must have a valid ticket to LEGOLAND® Billund on Saturday
the opportunity for exclusive access to the store and a free LEGO Titanic box is limited to one box / one visit per guest
It is not possible to share your place in the queue with others
and the queue may only be left briefly for essential purposes
This will include access to the toilets in front of the entrance to LEGOLAND
Welcome to Websitename.com. This site uses cookies. Read our policy
Sponsored by Billund Airport2025-04-07T17:57:00+01:00
Widebody cargo aircraft at Billund Airport
How do you hand over e-commerce flows to last-mile delivery within 24 hours from aircraft arrival
Take a look at Billund Airport and see how
Billund Airport delivers an unmatched e-commerce service
is rapidly expanding its passenger and air cargo services
Handling close to 4 million passengers and 90,000 tons of cargo
2024 was truly a remarkable and record-breaking year for the airport
With more than 100 direct passenger destinations and connecting into 12 European hubs
the passenger offering is indeed remarkable considering the size of the city it is located in
Billund Airport also has a big cargo community
The airport is a hub for cargo operations and specializes in pure freighter activities
There are in fact more than 50 freighter operations per week to global destinations
efficient and flexible e-commerce hub in Northern Europe
The airport is well-placed to serve e-commerce airfreight business, which has quickly gained traction in the industry
e-commerce headed for Europe has traditionally been flown into major European airports and from there distributed to North
so too is the risk of congestion at big airports
on European roads and at customs authorities
These import patterns are therefore changing now
E-commerce is starting to fly directly into regional airports
where there’s capacity and flexibility and where airports are closer to the final customers
essentially bringing more value to end-users who are expecting fast and reliable deliveries
Billund Airport seems to be that one regional airport in Northern Europe
Joint task to set up e-commerce services at Billund Airport
Billund Airport is introducing a unique e-commerce service – the way forward has been to develop the service as a joint effort with all stakeholders involved
Bringing in the Danish Customs Authorities at a very early stage has proved to be a key element in securing a smooth and efficient introduction to market
The process of identifying and picking out items selected by customs for inspection and presentation is performed by the airport’s service handler
Efficient handover from Cargo Handling Billund Airport (CHBA) to LSBA in a dedicated first line e-commerce facility provides an outstanding framework to quickly expedite e-commerce flows
working together with several e-commerce players
LSBA offers the services needed to process various flows with different requirements
LSBA acts as the catalyst of e-commerce flows and makes a 24-hour last-mile handover possible
In it for the long and engaging run – Billund Airport aims to be a hub for e-commerce operations
Billund Airport is centrally located in Denmark with short transfer times into Sweden and Germany
Several studies show the same – from Billund Airport most consumers are reached within 90 minutes of last-mile delivery in Denmark
Combining this with first and second-line land opportunities and heavy investments in airport infrastructure and services
Billund Airport is gearing up to become a new hub for e-commerce and freighter operations in Northern Europe
Several Asian and European stations are already served by direct freighter routes and there’s demand for more with big opportunities in import and export flows
Get in touch with Billund Airport to discover more
Maersk cargo operations at Billund Airport
Site powered by Webvision Cloud
By Rebecca Jeffrey2025-01-06T11:47:00+00:00
Maersk Air Cargo has begun operating a new airfreight route between its Billund Airport hub in Denmark and Zhengzhou Xinzheng International Airport in China
The first flight arrived at Zhengzhou from Billund on Friday January 3
Maersk will reportedly use Boeing 767 freighters on the route and will offer six flights scheduled per week
Cargo will primarily comprise e-commerce and electronic products
Air Cargo News has requested confirmation and more details from Maersk
The launch of the route marks the first ever direct air cargo route between Henan province and the Nordic region
In recent years, Maersk Air Cargo has established several airfreight routes in Asia. In March 2023, the airline began scheduled flights to Hangzhou, China from Billund
Then in April 2023, the airline began operating flights between Greenville-Spartanburg in the US and Shenyang Taoxian in China
and flights between Chicago Rockford in the US and Hangzhou
Amerijet began operating Maersk Air Cargo’s three newbuild Boeing B767-300F freighters on a US-China route in 2022
Later flights between Greenville-Spartanburg and Incheon, Korea were also added to the partnership
Maersk Air Cargo’s owned controlled fleet now comprises two 777Fs and 19 Boeing 767Fs
Last year, Maersk took delivery of two new Boeing 777 freighters. These were deployed on the airline’s Billund to Hangzhou route
Emirates and Philippine Airlines are considering expanding their existing cargo partnership to boost airfreight business
Saudia Cargo and China Henan Aviation have signed an MoU that will see the two companies work to develop new cargo services
TAAG Angola Airlines has launched a new freighter route from Luanda in Angola to Nairobi in Kenya in a bid to capitalise on demand for flowers
The indictment, announced by South East Jutland Police in a press release
and transported several kilograms of explosives
including the highly volatile compound TATP – also known as 'Mother of Satan.'
The incident, which unfolded on April 20th last year
began at 4 am when an ATM was blown up on Åstvej in Billund
where he handed over one kilogram of explosives
prompting authorities to evacuate the airport for nine hours as a precautionary measure
Talking to DR
an explosives expert and safety manager at the Department of Chemistry at Aarhus University
affirmed that it was necessary to evacuate Billund Airport
there are no indications that the case is linked to terrorism
The accused, who has been in custody since the day after the incident
claims to be a refugee from Russia and has denied any connection to Russian authorities
The indictment does not include charges related to terrorism
a detail confirmed by his defense attorney
"There is nothing in the indictment about terrorism
he could still face several years in prison," Jensen told DR
He also revealed that his client has admitted to some of the charges but refrained from specifying which ones
Danish authorities have stated that the indictment document will be made publicly available after March 7th
the case is set to move forward in the Danish judicial system
where the accused could face a lengthy prison sentence if convicted
Pure Salmon Technology states in a press release
Pure Salmon Technology writes that this will strengthen their offerings in RAS technology and open new growth opportunities
Pure Salmon Technology writes that the recently acquired intellectual property rights from Billund Aquaculture Denmark are in line with the company's goal to meet the increasing demand for scalable RAS systems
The company has already hired several employees from Billund in recent years and writes that they plan further hires
the company has secured technical documentation for the entire Billund installation base
making it possible to offer service and support to all of Billund's former customers
- We are pleased to include these technologies and assets from Billund Denmark in Pure Salmon Technology
This acquisition strengthens our technological capabilities and our position in the market
The exclusive rights to purchase Billund Aquaculture Australia and Chile also contribute to strengthening the company's commitment to expanding our global presence in the Australian and South American markets
Editor Magazine & Web: Gareth Moore
Chief Editor: Pål Mugaas Jensen
Publisher Oceanspace Media AS:Gustav Erik Blaalid
AquacultureFounder of bankrupt Billund Aquaculture launches new company"We firmly believe Billund Aquaculture's bankruptcy was unrelated to the quality of its products or services," the new founder told IntraFish
Depending on where you get your information
When you’re selecting an airport to choose as your European air cargo hub
we’ve opted for Billund Airport in Denmark
It’s where our own controlled flight operations now run from Hangzhou (China) to Billund seven times a week
The new facility is a fully-equipped 4000m² import and 13,000m² export facility
as well as housing separate areas for cold storage
scanning and unit load device (ULD) handling
When choosing a place to base your air cargo operations
the first factor to consider is the location
it’s a gateway to the European market
to form a network to the rest of the continent
the easier it is to reach a wider pool of consumers
Billund Airport provides this strategic location for onward connectivity.
Take the road south 176 miles and you’re into Hamburg and Central Europe
the Nordics and the remainder of Northern Europe
Or head 477 miles west across the North Sea and into the UK
the cargo from our Hangzhou-Billund flights can be delivered to Heathrow within just 33 hours of touchdown
it’s only 165 miles away from Maersk’s global headquarters in Copenhagen
This proximity provides a lot of advantages in terms of infrastructure and resources
Billund is undoubtedly a great lynchpin in our integrator strategy
the size of Billund Airport is the real value-add and differentiator of the Maersk European Air Cargo Hub
According to Statista
the European airports that handle the most cargo are Frankfurt
Amsterdam and Istanbul – four of which are centrally located
Each of these sites handles upwards of 1.5 million tons of cargo per year
More cargo means more congestion. And gridlock is hugely frustrating considering the key competitive advantage of air freight is speed. Take this report from The Loadstar
As air cargo volumes surged in response to the Red Sea Crisis
inbound movement into Dubai was suspended due to “clear cargo buildups”
The mode of transport that was chosen to avoid disruption became the disruption
thanks to our partnership with Billund Airport and the wonderful handling crew there
which wouldn’t be possible at other European airports
where it may take a number of days for cargo to get processed and cleared at larger airports
it takes us only a matter of hours at Billund
That’s a huge difference – one that enables us to maximise the speed advantage of air
And it’s not just us who think this. It’s happening throughout the wider industry and in other markets. According to Aviation Week
a “growing cohort of major cargo players” are adopting smaller airports to “avoid intense congestion at major hubs”
The demands on supply chains today are complex
That means there’s no one-size fits-all logistics solution
The best way forward is through an integrated
The Maersk European Air Cargo Hub in Billund is a crucial part of our integrator strategy
it’s the right size and with the partnership we have with Billund Airport and its ground handling crew
we can optimise speed and connectivity for our customers
By submitting this form, I agree to receive logistics related news and marketing updates from A. P. Moller-Maersk and its affiliated companies via e-mail. I understand that I can opt out of such Maersk communications at any time. To see how we process your personal data, please see our Privacy Notification
Your FREE registration gives you access to all our content: news and feature articles
As a paying subscriber this would cost £150 per year – but we are extending an offer to register FREE for full access
Register now for £150 FREE
I would like to be sent emails from Fish Farmer Magazine
I understand that my personal information will not be shared with any third parties
and will only be used to provide me with useful targeted articles as indicated
I'm also aware that I can un-subscribe at any point either from each email notification or on My Account screen
You are not permitted to copy, republish, reproduce any text, photos, graphics, sounds from this website without written permission from editor@fishfarmermagazine.com
IPSO is an independent body which deals with complaints from the public about the editorial content of newspapers and magazines
AND 2 AIRCRAFT FOR SUMMER 2025 AS RYANAIR SWITCHES CAPACITY TO COMPETING EU COUNTRIES WITH NO HARMFUL AVIATION TAXES
31 Jan) announced that it will close its 2 aircraft Billund base (a loss of $200m investment) and cut all routes to/from Aalborg from the end of March
in response to the Govt’s short-sighted decision to introduce an aviation tax of up to DKK 50 per departing passenger from Jan 2025
coupled with Billund’s failure to agree a competitive long-term agreement
Denmark is one of the few EU countries that has yet to recover its pre-Covid traffic at just 95% of 2019 levels
This harmful aviation tax will further damage Denmark’s connectivity
tourism jobs and economy by making Denmark (particularly regional airports) hopelessly uncompetitive compared to competing EU countries like Sweden
and Hungary who are abolishing their aviation taxes to promote connectivity
Denmark has bizarrely introduced an aviation tax
which has resulted in the loss of over 1.7m seats
Ryanair’s Billund based pilots and cabin crew have been notified of this base closure
and they are being offered similar positions at other bases within the Ryanair Group network
“We are very disappointed to announce the closure of our 2 aircraft Billund base and our operations at Aalborg from the end of March
but we have been left with no other choice following the Danish Govt’s short-sighted decision to introduce a harmful aviation tax from Jan 2025
Ryanair is the only major airline growing in Europe
and cost is the main factor when deciding where to allocate aircraft and growth
this harmful aviation tax makes Denmark (especially regional Denmark) hopelessly uncompetitive compared to other EU countries
who are abolishing aviation taxes to stimulate traffic recovery and growth
and growth will suffer irreparable damage – particularly in regional airports where they are reliant on efficient
low-cost air travel – as this capacity (1.7m seats
and 2 aircraft) is reallocated to lower cost airports elsewhere in the extensive Ryanair Group.”
today (1st August) celebrated the first flight from Prague to Paphos
while on Monday (3rd August) it will launch a twice weekly service to Kosice
both as part of its extended Summer 2020 schedule
Ryanair has launched a seat sale with fares from 729 Kc for travel to Kosice and from 759 Kc to Paphos
which must be booked by Wednesday (5th August)
The closure of Ryanair’s base and loss of 24 services at Billund means the airport stands to lose up to 1.1 million passengers who would have flown from the location this year
That means staff at the airport have their work cut out to make up as much of the shortfall as possible
according to Billund Airport’s head of programmes
marketing and communication Jesper Klausholm
“We are working as hard as we can to close the gap left by Ryanair as much as possible,” Klausholm told news wire Ritzau
“We expected Ryanair to provide 1.1 million passengers for us this year
That is obviously not going to happen now,” he said
Ryanair announced in February that it would close a two-aircraft base at Billund and cancel all of its 24 services from the airport effective from the end of March
The air travel tax is being phased in gradually over the next five years and means an initial additional cost of up to 50 kroner on ticket prices for all departures from Denmark
Billund has since announced deals with a number of airlines introducing new routes, notably a new flight to London Gatwick with airline Norwegian and services to several Spanish destinations
But it will take time to fully make up for the loss of both choice for customers and passengers for the airport
READ ALSO: LISTED The new flights from Denmark this spring and summer
“That is a lot of passengers and a lot of routes that we have to work to bring back,” he said
“It will take a long time to close the gap completely
But it also creates an opportunity for other low cost airlines,” he said
Billund is currently in talks with “exciting” airlines that will “make a difference” in the near future
Some nine new routes have already been presented at Billund since Ryanair confirmed its withdrawal
“We expect to bring in 200,000 guests with our new routes and next year is already looking better,” he said
Ryanair is Europe’s largest airline in terms of passenger numbers and the third largest at Denmark’s largest airport
AquaculturePure Salmon snaps up Billund Aquaculture Denmark assetsThe company has also secured exclusive rights to purchase Billund Australia and Billund Chile
guests will be invited aboard an adventurous new addition to Pirate Land
they can look forward to a real pirate playground of 900 square meters
where wheelchair users and those with walking difficulties can also play
- It has been important for us to create an inclusive playground where all children can join in
The new pirate playground will be a fantastic addition to Piratland and will guarantee lots of fun and play
The pirate playground's biggest attraction is the 21.5-meter-long pirate ship with an 11.5-meter-high mast
the ship is designed with accessibility in mind
so it will also be possible to board in a wheelchair
The inspiration for the pirate ship was found among ships that LEGO® has launched over the last 15-20 years
and especially the well-known LEGO box "The Brick Bounty"
guests will have the opportunity to greet the park's newest resident - namely the bloodthirsty pirate
The captain will be part of the park's many opportunities for a "Meet'N Greet" with a real LEGO® character and will be ready for photo sessions and high-fives from the park's opening in April
the playground will feature a pirate island called “King Crab Island,” where the littlest pirates can climb
There will also be plenty of cool obstacles for the slightly older ones and building areas that invite guests of all ages to get creative with the LEGO brick
Guests can also look forward to experiencing a brand new Aarhus area in Miniland and a brand new LEGO store where you can build yourself as a LEGO minifigure
Norwegian is to offer flights between Billund and London Gatwick airports as well as several new departures to Spain from Billund
The announcement from Norwegian comes with rival airline Ryanair set to close 24 services out of Billund at the end of this month
Ryanair last month announced the closure of its two-aircraft base at Billund and end of all its services from the airport
we now have a unique opportunity to build our presence at Billund Airport and in West Denmark,” Norwegian’s head of communications and public affairs Sara Neergaard said to news wire Ritzau on Thursday
“The new route to London Gatwick is the first step and we are continually looking for ways to broaden our services from Billund further,” she added
Norwegian is to offer flights from Billund to popular Spanish holiday destinations Alicante and Malaga from this summer
The London Gatwick route will consist of six weekly flights during the summer season (three each way)
Ryanair currently (until the end of March) offers two flights daily to Stansted
and has increased capacity in the summer season in past years
READ ALSO: 'Devastating blow': How Ryanair’s Billund exit will affect foreigners in Denmark
Gatwick is located approximately 80 kilometres to the southwest of Stansted as the crow flies
Travelling between the two requires a car or rail journey either through or around London
the two London airports are significantly different arrival points depending on your onward destination in the UK
Billund Airport’s CEO Jan Hessellund welcomed the interest in Billund from other airlines
“It means a lot that Norwegian is now significantly strengthening its presence with us – not just for the people of West Denmark
but also for the many foreign travellers coming the other way,” he told Ritzau
In addition to Thursday’s announcement by Norwegian
Spanish airline Vueling recently said it would open a route from Billund to Barcelona in response to Ryanair’s base closure
Low-cost airline Ryanair is set to slam the brakes on its Billund Airport (BLL) base come April 2025
citing Denmark’s new air travel tax and skyrocketing airport costs as the reasons for this drastic decision
While Ryanair plans to keep flying from Billund
the closure of the base means no more Ryanair crew will be stationed at the airport
leaving the local community grounded in worry
This move mirrors Ryanair’s turbulent relations with other European hubs
with recent clashes over airport fees in Rome and Bordeaux adding fuel to the fire
Although Ryanair has yet to officially confirm the shutdown
whispers from Danish aviation insiders and anonymous sources point to the newly imposed tax – a hefty addition of around 30 DKK (around €3) per short-haul ticket – as the primary trigger
This isn’t Ryanair’s first detour from Billund either
The airline previously pulled out in 2015 following a spat with unions
marking the second time Billund has been left high and dry by the budget carrier
Get more news in English from Denmark
Get more news from around Spain
Read more news in English from around Europe
Danish RAS specialist Billund Aquaculture has submitted a petition for bankruptcy as the board says there is no other option for the company
Billund aquaculture – a specialist supplier of RAS technology to the aquaculture sector – has announced that it has filed a petition for bankruptcy following a struggle to source capital to keep the company afloat
The Covid pandemic significantly impacted the company’s financial situation and
even following changes to the operational practices of the company
the board announced that they faced no other viable options at this stage due to continued challenges
there have been too many challenges from previous operations
which made it difficult to find sufficient capital for further operation,” said Kristoffer Lund
the board has concluded that there is no basis for further operation
Efforts will now be made to find the best possible solutions for all our employees
© 2025 Country & Town House.All rights reserved
There is not too much going on in the Danish town of Billund if you aren’t fanatical about LEGO
More than 60 percent of the population of 6,600 people is employed by the toy manufacturer and many of the rest by the tourism sector that caters to those lured by the promise of a brick-themed escape
and aside from LEGO House (the purpose of our visit) and LEGOLAND (which we also checked out
in for a penny) there’s a limited amount to see and do
Rebecca Cox and her nine-year-old son Jack went to find out
(Scroll to the bottom for Jack’s review.)
Let’s get the disappointment out the way first and then draw a line under it. The LEGO House is
it is constructed from 21 ‘blocks’ that resemble LEGO bricks
We’ll come to what’s inside shortly
but on the outside and free for all to enjoy is a multi-level platform play area
completely LEGO-themed and the best vantage point to see across the town from (though views of LEGOLAND and the LEGO offices beyond aren’t exactly breathtaking)
It’s a great place to spend an hour or so on a dry day
or once they’re all inside and you have the outside spaces to yourselves
the lack of LEGO infrastructure is quickly forgiven
as you’ll find three floors of the most impressive LEGO sculptures imaginable
‘The Tree of Creativity’ is at the centre of the lobby level and stretches up through a winding staircase leading to the top floor
At 15.68 metres high it is one of the biggest LEGO models in the world
painstakingly created over what must have been hours and weeks of LEGO employees’ time
where the first interactive element can be found: a photobooth that transforms your selfie into a LEGO portrait that flashes up for a temporary spot on the gallery walls
This is one of many interactive features that can be found on the journey through the themed galleries
from making a monster to be part of a digital dance-off
to creating a vehicle to race against your fellow mini builders
I should state at this point that I am not
but a mere chaperone to my nine-year-old son
(You’ll hear from him later.) And so
while Jack enjoyed all of the activities on offer
it took something extra engaging to pique my interest
This can be found at the stop-go animation studio
where you can direct and create your own LEGO movie
which can be downloaded for home viewing (and entry into the various film festivals
This station required a little extra input from the LEGO staffers
whose patience and enthusiasm for assisting mini builders was unwavering across the board
where there are special edition LEGO kits and the option to design and build your own unique LEGO figure
There are two dining locations inside LEGO House, including the Mini Chef restaurant where diners must build their order out of LEGO before submitting it and waiting for it to be cooked and delivered to the table by robots: a pretty cool gimmick
during our school holidays visit this was completely booked up (a similar story for the famous LEGO driving licence experience at LEGOLAND
yet another reminder that being a stickler for organisation has its upsides) so we made do with the simpler grab-and-go Brickachino Cafe
serving up a nice variety of light meals and hot and cold drinks
which were tasty and no more expensive than anything else in Denmark (slightly pricier than London)
including WOW Park and a large indoor water park
Much more engaging and rewarding for young ones than a day at a theme park or one of the usual museum suspects
LEGO House offers something truly innovative and fun for fans of the classic brick brand
It might not be Denmark’s most appealing destination for adults
but it’s a really special place when seen through the eyes of young ones
I like LEGO House because there are a lot of fun games and activities to do
You have a band on your wrist and you can scan the code to play games and do challenges
The best statue is the huge tree that goes right up to the top of the building
Making your own movie out of LEGO is definitely the best bit
I made one about Halloween where there were two people and two skeletons
The only bad bit of the day was that my wristband fell off (it was partly mum’s fault)
there was a bit of barging from other kids (and dads) at the car racing because we all wanted a turn
I think my cousin Zach would love LEGO House the most
but any people who enjoy building LEGO should go too
LEGOLAND was an absolutely amazing time and I got the confidence to go on all the scariest rides including going upside down (which my mum hated)
Luckily the best ride was our first ride so we went on it two times and also there was a shooting game called Temple that was good
Billund is quite a quiet place (but not LEGOLAND and LEGO House) plus there was a supermarket right next to our hotel with jelly sweets and peanut puffs
have fun and go on the things you want to and don’t do anything that you’re too scared of
Definitely try the giant hot dogs at the airport
Find out more about visiting LEGO House at legohouse.com
Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value"
Subscribe to Country & Town House in print or the app to make sure you get the very best of property
Country & Town House is an introducer appointed representative of Wealthify Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority
Country & Town House acts as an introducer appointed representative for the purpose of promoting Wealthify products and introducing customers to Wealthify
Ryanair is set to close its base at Billund Airport from April, Danish aviation media Check-in reported on Friday
The reported decision has been linked to the new Danish air travel tax, which was introduced at the start of the year
The tax means passengers will pay around 30 kroner more for short-distance flights
That appears to have made it less attractive for Ryanair to maintain its base at the Danish airport
READ ALSO: Why it will cost you more to fly from Denmark in 2025
Rising costs associated with using the airport's infrastructure have also been cited as a contributing factor to the decision
Ryanair's withdrawal means Billund could lose two base aircraft and up to 60 jobs, according to reports in Denmark
The two aircraft which currently comprise Ryanair’s base at Billund have around 60 associated staff including pilots
staff have already been asked for their preferences regarding transfers if the base closes
Closure of the Ryanair base at Billund does not mean the airline will no longer operate flights from the airport
but does mean it will not have personnel stationed in Billund for its flights which use the location
Ryanair is yet to officially announce the closure of the base
Check-in states it has received anonymous information which confirms it
The end of the Ryanair Billund base is expected to be effective from March 29th
The budget airline has operated a base at Billund since 2021. It also had a base at the airport prior to 2015, before closing it amid a trade union dispute
Ryanair's wrangle over airport fees and taxes is not just limited to Denmark
Ryanair has also threatened to cut flights in Rome over airport fees and has already pulled out of Bordeaux airport in France over a similar dispute
Ryanair last month announced the closure of its two-aircraft base at Billund Airport
blaming the Danish government’s decision to introduce an air travel tax from 2025
That has led to uncertainty over the future of the 24 routes the low-cost airline currently operates from Billund
The closure of Ryanair’s base takes effect at the end of March
The company has yet to give an update on whether it intends to continue any of its existing routes after that date
Passengers who bought Ryanair tickets from Billund Airport for the summer season, prior to the announcement of the base closure, are now seeing their bookings cancelled, Danish national broadcaster DR reports
DR quotes a passenger who said they had booked a flight from Billund to London Stansted with Ryanair
The passenger said they have now received an email stating the booking is cancelled
There remains doubt as to the extent of the cancellations and whether they will affect all of Ryanair’s bookings from April onwards
Ryanair referred to an earlier press statement in which it only confirmed the closure of the base
the airline has not responded to The Local’s request for information on the matter
READ ALSO: Future of Ryanair flights from Denmark’s Billund Airport in doubt after base closure
Billund Airport’s head of media relations Dan Prangsgaard told DR that there was “not much movement” in dialogue with Ryanair
Senior editor with Danish aviation media Check-in
meanwhile said to the broadcaster that the unusual situation is yet to be clarified
but that it looks ominous for passengers who use Ryanair services from Billund
“There’s something to suggest” Ryanair will close all 24 routes
“Something [else] could happen,” he added in comments to DR
Do you have flights booked with Ryanair from Billund Airport? Has your booking been cancelled or have you otherwise heard from Ryanair? Get in touch with us via email or the comments below
Budget airline Ryanair will no longer fly to or from Danish airport Billund as of April 1st
Blaming the Danish government’s new air travel tax
Ryanair said it will stop operating all of its 24 routes from the Jutland airport
Although Ryanair will still fly from Aarhus Airport
the decision is likely to impact the travel options of many foreign residents in the region
We asked for the thoughts of our readers in Denmark
“We've flown Ryanair a few times in the four years we've lived in Denmark,” wrote Scott Schoenfelder
we need cheap options to continue to explore Europe
our oldest daughter started University this school year in Dublin
So that's at least 25-30 tickets we won't be buying for visits and transport back and forth over the next 3.5 years,” he explained
Even people living in Aarhus – which has its own airport which offers Ryanair flights – said they would miss Billund
Billund was the nearest airport from where Ryanair used to operate to many destinations
and I can't think of any holidays without Ryanair at Billund,” wrote Aritra Sinha
While Ryanair will continue to operate from Aarhus Airport from April
the airport is significantly smaller than Billund and offers fewer departures
Denmark’s second city Aarhus is around 90 minutes’ journey time from Billund
Some readers said the news meant they would be forced to travel across Denmark to use Copenhagen Airport
“I will not be able to travel to my home country from Jutland
resulting in many hours of travel to reach Copenhagen on very bad rail infrastructure,” wrote Ilaria
One of the 24 Ryanair services set to be cancelled at Billund connects the Danish town to Hungarian capital Budapest
“I will have to travel to Copenhagen every time I want to visit my family in Hungary
“My grandma and other older family members will not be able to visit us in Denmark anymore
and they are too old to fly to Copenhagen instead of Billund because of the distance
and because they don’t speak English,” they explained
So when we would like to visit them with our 2.5 year-old son
because this is the only option for us at the moment,” said Alexandra from Randers
“We really hope that some solution will come up in the next few weeks,” she added
the loss of Ryanair flights from Billund to London Stansted and other UK airports was a major setback
family and I don't know what I am going to do
I live in Denmark and am a UK national,” Zoe wrote
The decision “will make travelling to the UK less easy and more expensive
but the Stansted flights were rarely full so it was too good to last for customers,” wrote Max in Billund
“This has made seeing my family in the UK so much harder,” said Sarah
“I have elderly parents and having the easy access of Billund with flights everyday I could go see them whenever possible
This decision to remove Ryanair from Billund is now making me reconsider where I live,” she said
said that the Ryanair pullout means he loses the “most convenient way of getting home” to his native Manchester
People based outside of Denmark also expressed their regrets
“This route is an absolute lifeline for us to see my wife’s family (which we currently do about 4-5 times a year),” wrote Tom Balch
“This decision will dramatically reduce our chances to get together for important family events
It makes us really sad to think we will be effectively cut off from a lot of our family members over something that seems so trivial,” he said
“It will affect me greatly because I have been travelling to Denmark from Malta through Ryanair,” because of the direct and cheap connection
“It will be sad and hard to find fast and cheap flights to Denmark,” Maysh said
I have friends and family in Jutland and made regular trips from Edinburgh to Billund,” wrote Deborah Lockhart from Ayr in Scotland
“I hope another budget airline will fill the gap or a compromise reached between Ryanair and the Danish authorities,” she said
Christian Sørensen – founder of Billund Aquaculture – has announced his goal to establish a new company
Whilst Billund Aquaculture declared bankruptcy earlier this year
largely due to ongoing financial impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic
Sørensen and a team of experts from his previous venture have announced plans to revolutionise RAS technology through a new company
“Our vision is to continue advancing the RAS industry by leveraging our proven experience and expertise to create the most reliable and efficient aquaculture systems globally
We are excited to embark on this new journey with a team that has been at the forefront of RAS innovation for decades
and we are confident that together we will achieve significant growth and success over the next five years,” said Sørensen
Despite being curtailed by financial woes, Billund Aquaculture did indeed make a name for itself within the aquaculture community prior to its bankruptcy, installing over 130 systems across more than 20 countries, even installing a cutting-edge RAS system for the innovative land-based shrimp producer Aquapurna
Sørensen seems keen to build on these achievements and deliver solid results to aquaculture producers across the world
“Billund Aquatech and its partners are ready to redefine the future of RAS technology
The team’s extensive experience ensures that every project will be executed with precision
and a commitment to sustainability,” he concluded
It will no longer be possible to fly with Ryanair to and from Billund
The company confirmed on Friday that it will no longer operate any services from Billund
after announcing a week ago the closure of its two-aircraft base at the Jutland airport
"All routes to and from Billund are cancelled," Ryanair confirmed to Danish national broadcaster DR
Passengers who have bought Ryanair tickets from Billund Airport for travel after March 31st can now expect to receive a cancellation email from the airline
Ryanair last week squarely blamed the Danish government's new air travel tax for its decision to slash its Billund base
as well as to cut services from another Danish airport
The tax means passengers will pay around 30 kroner more for short-distance flights in 2025
Describing the tax as “short-sighted” and "harmful"
Ryanair said on January 31st that the air travel levy would "further damage Denmark’s connectivity
tourism jobs and economy by making Denmark (particularly regional airports) hopelessly uncompetitive.”
It said other EU countries which are abolishing their aviation taxes
The future of the 24 routes currently operated out of Billund by Ryanair had been the subject of increasing doubt over the last week as the company removed booking options from its app and then began cancelling bookings
"My flights planned for June this year from Krakow (Poland) to Billund and back have been cancelled," Ryanair customer Malgorzata Krumin told The Local via email
"This cancellation brought a lot of sadness to my family
as visiting Legoland was our dream trip planned for a long time before," she said
adding that the family was yet to cancel their accommodation as they still hoped a compromise could be reached
one of Denmark's largest tourist attractions
In a post on its Facebook page on February 3rd
Billund Airport said Ryanair had not engaged with any attempts at dialogue over the future of its routes
"We have started conversations with a number of other airlines and are doing everything we can to get both new and existing airlines to take over some of the routes," Billund also said
Ryanair is responsible for around 25 percent of flight traffic at Billund
Ryanair also currently operates flights from Aarhus and Copenhagen
it is the third-largest airline after SAS and Norwegian
Ryanair is Europe’s largest airline in terms of passenger numbers with nearly 200 million passengers transported by the low-cost company last year
The company's wrangle over airport fees and taxes is not just limited to Denmark
It has also threatened to cut flights in Rome over airport fees and has already pulled out of Bordeaux airport in France over a similar dispute
Ryanair’s decision to pull out of Billund Airport is likely to have consequences for a large number of passengers
The airline currently operates 24 different routes all over Europe from Billund
Popular Ryanair destinations from Billund include London Stansted
All of these routes will be scrapped on March 31st, the airline confirmed on Friday, following an earlier decision to close its two-aircraft base at Billund
the cuts will mean a loss of two Ryanair aircraft
32 routes and 1.7 million plane seats for flights to and from Billund
That means travellers heading to central Jutland
or people based in the area who are heading away for business
pleasure or to visit friends and family back home
This could include travelling overland instead of flying
with bus and rail connections to mainland Europe available from the central and southern Jutland region
we’ll focus on alternative flights for the purposes of this article
Ryanair flights comprise 25 percent of Billund’s air traffic
so there’s no escaping the fact that the airline’s withdrawal will be a loss
But a long list of other airlines – both low-cost and national carriers – also offer flights from the airport
While this means the airport’s map of destinations is pretty extensive
it may not mean you’ll find a like-for-like replacement for your soon-to-be-defunct Ryanair flight
you’ll no longer be able to fly directly to London Stansted or Manchester from Billund after April 1st
and will need to find an indirect connection if you want to continue to use the Jutland airport
if you were planning to use Billund to fly to Malaga on holiday
an alternative to Ryanair’s flight might still be available through competitor Norwegian
It’s worth keeping an eye out for announcements of new flights from Billund and agreements with other airlines
Billund itself has said it will look to reach deals with other companies to fill the Ryanair-shaped hole in its schedule
while Norwegian told broadcaster DR on Friday that it sees “a lot of potential” in the airport
“We are currently reviewing our capacity for the summer and assessing whether we should make any changes to the programme that can include more routes from Billund,” Norwegian’s head of communication Sara Westphal Emborg told DR
A map of Billund’s existing destinations can be found on the airport’s website
Copenhagen Airport is the most comprehensive option destination wise
but its location two and half hours by train from Vejle
is a considerable inconvenience in terms of both cost and travel time for passengers who would normally use Billund
The most obvious alternative is Aarhus Airport
which is located around an hour and a half by road to the northwest of Billund and
is served by a bus service from a nearby city (in this case Aarhus)
Aarhus is a smaller airport than Billund but notably does offer some of the same destinations with Ryanair
which currently has four departures a week from Aarhus
Ryanair is continuing its operations from both Aarhus and Copenhagen
but pulling out of its two other Danish airports
Aarhus Airport’s director of operations Lotta Sandsgaard said it is not possible for the 24 Billund routes to be “swallowed” by Aarhus
but that the smaller airport does have ambitions of growth
“I have some hope that Ryanair and other airlines will look in our direction and place some of these routes at Aarhus,” she said
There are currently seven Ryanair routes on the summer programme from the East Jutland airport according to Ryanair’s website
People living in the south of Denmark could potentially also look to Germany for flights
For many in the border regions of the country
Hamburg can be reached in as little as two hours
Both Hamburg Airport and the smaller Lübeck
from where Ryanair operates a number of flights
may come into play for people in these areas