E-commerce portal for Northern Europe
For decades, Denmark’s logistics scene has primarily revolved around exports. But at Billund Airport, a strategic move is underway – one that strengthens the country’s second-largest airport by adding capacity to a critical hub for e-commerce imports across northern Europe.
“Traditionally, Denmark has always been an export-intensive country,” said Caspar Andreas Nissen, Senior Manager Air Cargo at Billund Airport. “To open new routes, you need goods in and out. Jumping on the e-commerce wave has given us that opportunity.”
The airport began developing a dedicated e-commerce service a few years ago, to address a long-standing challenge in customs inspections – the manual retrieval of individual parcels that have been flagged for inspection. “This was the missing link,” he added. “We worked closely with Billund Airport Logistics to create an efficient and fully integrated solution.”
This step has already paid off. With regular e-commerce flights operating daily and simplified customs handling, Billund is gaining recognition for its operational speed. “We are already starting to focus on how we approach e-commerce,” he added.
Partnership, practicality and precision
Collaboration is at the heart of Billund’s strategy. Andreas Nissen expressed that the airport’s cargo handling and logistics providers “make things a lot easier.”
One of the most important factors for the airport’s success is its close partnership with Danish Customs. “We joined the customs authorities from the beginning,” he said. “We asked them: How would you like inspections to be conducted? Where should things be placed? This collaboration means inspections are now faster, smoother and less hassle.”
This coordination allowed Billund to maintain speed without compromising safety. The airport remains one of only two airports in the world certified to use the advanced REST (Remote Explosive Smell Tracking) method for screening air cargo. “We can take an air sample from a truck or a closed container and have a trained dog evaluate it,” he explained. “A full truckload can be cleared in about 20 minutes.”
The system – which took 18 months to implement – is now widely adopted by freight forwarders across Denmark. “It’s faster, safer and less resource-intensive,” he said. “It has been very well received by the industry.”
Infrastructure and investment
Billund’s ambition extends beyond the runway. Earlier this year, a new route was opened to improve truck access, bypassing Billund entirely. “Municipalities are actively investing in better infrastructure,” said Andreas Nissen. “Now trucks can arrive directly at our handling facilities without causing congestion. It’s a win-win situation.”
The airport’s owners – a consortium of local municipalities – also support larger development plans.
This expansion is fundamental to Billund’s goal of becoming the e-commerce gateway for Northern Europe. The airport’s location provides quick access to key regional markets – within four hours by road to all parts of Denmark, and easy connections to Hamburg, Berlin, Sweden and Norway. “We are very close to the northern German market,” he said. “We are also developing logistics services for medicines and fish, making us a preferred shipping hub in the region.”
A balanced model focused on the future
Although cargo now plays an increasingly strategic role, Billund remains a dual-focus airport handling around four million passengers annually. “We are not per se a cargo-first airport,” explained Andreas Nissen. “Passenger operations are our core business, and our cargo operations are completely separate. This makes it simpler – we can tailor our cargo operations specifically to freighters, ensuring each aspect gets optimal focus.”
This clear separation also ensures that growth in e-commerce does not come at the expense of other shipping sectors. “We have organized it so that Logistics at Billund Airport manages e-commerce, along with its other activities, while Billund Airport Cargo continues to handle cargo in a focus on general freight,” he said. “Keeping them separate means that neither area loses focus.”
