A true day trip to Copenhagen from Newcastle is of course not yet available, with just one rotation a day being flown by easyJet at present, however a cheap and convenient night-stop is certainly possible. Arriving at Copenhagen during the evening, once passport checks have been completed immediately on disembarkation at the end of the A pier the extreme end of which is 'non-schengen', most of the airside area is available for shopping or gate 'browsing' before collecting any checked-in luggage and clearing customs. Walking up A-pier, a new extension to your left can be walked down, as well as the B-pier which runs parallel with 'A'. C-pier has a border control at its beginning so can not be walked down, but most of the parking gates at its sides can be easily seen from the 'transit area' which contains a multitude of shops and restaurants. There are however areas of the airport not seen from 'airside' - there are no apparent views from any landside location.
Once through customs, and 'landside', a few more well-known eating establishments are available in the Terminal 3 check-in area. The most convenient 'budget hotel' would appear to be the Bel Air Hotel, bookable through the easyJet web-site (rate we paid was £45). The hotel is situated conveniently close to the spotting site of choice for the following day, and the quickest and most convenient way to the hotel at this time of the evening is by taxi, which cost 62DK (£6.20 approx.). A bus option is available, but it involves two buses - basically reverse the bus change instructions for the return to the airport detailed below. The hotel is clean and comfortable, and while it doesn't have a bar or a restaurant that appeared to be open, drinks are available at the front desk. It is situated in a quiet residential area, with little local facilities apparent, although the more adventurous could I'm sure probably find a local hostelry or pizzeria with a little exploration. The rate booked through the easyJet web-site also included a quite substantial scandinavian buffet breakfast.
The previously mentioned viewing site is called the FlyverGrillen, and is just a 15 minute walk away from the hotel. Upon leaving the hotel, turn right until you come to the 'main' Amager Landevej road, and then turn right here heading south. As the road bends around to the right towards Dragor, go straight on - you will no doubt have already seen aircraft arriving or departing by this time anyway, and will be able to see the small road leading to the 'FlyverGrillen'. This is a small cafe with a raised 'viewing garden' which overlooks the two main runways (04L/22R & 04R/22L) and associated taxiway systems, as well as part of the hangar area, but not the terminal area. It would of course be expected that use be made of the 'FlyverGrillen' food and drinks stocks during the day, which are plentiful and tasty.
All arrivals/departures can be monitored from here, although any arrivals on the 'cross' 12/30 runway are not identifiable, while if a southerly flow is in operation, some arrivals on the 22L runway (mostly turboprops) can turn off early and challenge identification, but most are still readable with a little effort. Runway 22R is used for departures during the southerly flow, the first part of which is situated right in front of the 'FlyverGrillen'. When arrivals/departures are towards the north, 04L is used for arrivals, most aircraft having already exited the runway by the time they become visible to your left, and pass by on the 'inner' taxiway directly in front of you. Departures on 04R will taxy to the holding point on a taxiway in between the two runways again in full view. Photography is possible on either the taxiway immediately in front of the 'FlyverGrillen' or on runway 04L/22R. The DC-8 LN-PIP used by the fire service is easily visible from here too. Alternative photography possibilities exist, most notably close to the village of Dragor to the South-East of the airport if runways 04L/R are in operation, although transport here has not been explored, and to the north of the SAS Cargo area, by walking to your right upon leaving Terminal 3, a spot which gives good photo opportunities of landers on runway 22L.
Departure back to the airport to catch the flight home was at around 1730-1800. Barring a 30 minute walk or a suitable taxi becoming available, the 'two bus option' will be the most convenient. From the bus stop just to the north of the 'FlyverGrillen' at the bend of the Amager Landevej road, take the #73 heading north (departures at 02, 22 and 42 approx.), and ask the driver to take you to Saltvaerksvej (cost 17DK). You will leave this bus at the crossroads of Amager Landevej and Saltvaerksvej, and from here walk to the bus stop at the beginning of the road heading off to the right, as you would see it approaching the crossroads from the south. Here the 250S bus will take you direct to the Lufthavnen, cost again 17DK (a 'through ticket' may be available but language difficulties could preclude its purchase). If you are doing this bus option in reverse, to get to the 'FlyverGrillen', ask for a ticket to Amager Landevej on the 250S bus leaving the airport, and then one to Tommerupvej on the 73 bus - it's a good idea to print these place names out and carry them with you for showing to the bus drivers, although they are very helpful.
The 250S bus will drop you outside Terminal 2, and the check-in for the return flight to Newcastle commences at 1840. Then its through security and to the airside area for more shopping, dining or the usual 'walking of the gates'.
The log below is a complete one, just to show what is possible from such a 'day trip' - thanks to Keith Briggs for its compilation.
Sun 21/3/04 Copenhagen-Kastrup CPH/EKCH
AP-BDZ A.310-308 0585 Pakistan International Airlines
G-STRB 737-3Y0 24255 1625 Iceland Express/Astraeus Airlines
LN-RKI A.321-232 1817 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RON DC-9-81 53347 1979 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-ROS DC-9-82 49421 1263 Scandinavian Airlines (snowflake c/s)
LN-ROY DC-9-82 49615 1543 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-ROZ MD-87 49608 1572 Scandinavian Airlines
OY-APB 737-5L9 28084 2788 Maersk Air
OY-CRG 146-200 E2075 Atlantic Airways
OY-KBE A.321-232 1798 Scandinavian Airlines
OY-KHM DC-9-82 49914 1693 Scandinavian Airlines
OY-KHN DC-9-81 53000 1812 Scandinavian Airlines
OY-MRC 737-7L9 28006 26 Maersk Air
OY-MRG 737-7L9 28010 396 Maersk Air
OY-VKC A.321-211 1932 MyTravel Airways A/S
SE-DIL DC-9-82 49913 1665 Scandinavian Airlines
SE-RDT DC-9-82 49278 1183 Nordic Airlink
TF-FIV 757-208 30424 956 Icelandair
YL-BBA 737-5 Air Baltic
Mon 22/3/04 Copenhagen-Kastrup CPH/EKCH
CS-TTH A.319-111 0917 TAP Air Portugal
D-ACHB RJ-200LR 7391 Lufthansa CityLine
D-ACLQ RJ-100LR 7073 Lufthansa CityLine
D-AIPZ A.320-211 0162 Lufthansa
D-AIRO A.321-131 0563 Lufthansa
D-COLD Metro III 421B OLT
EC-FFH MD-87 53211 1874 Iberia
EC-HNC DC-9-82 49620 1484 Spanair
EC-HOV DC-9-82 49416 1271 Spanair
EC-INM A.320-232 1979 Spanair
ES-ABF 737-5L9 24778 1816 Estonian Air
F-GJNL 737-5H6 26448 2484 Air France
F-GRHH A.319-111 1151 Air France
F-GRHK A.319-111 1190 Air France
F-GRJP RJ-100ER 7301 Brit Air
G-CPET 757-236 29115 798 British Airways
G-DOCM 737-436 25843 2244 British Airways
G-DUOB CRJ-700 10029 Duo Airways
G-DUOC CRJ-700 10039 Duo Airways
G-DUOD CRJ-700 10048 Duo Airways
G-EMBI ERJ.145EU 126 BA CitiExpress
G-EUOF A.319-131 1590 British Airways
G-EZJJ 737-73V 30245 1058 easyJet Airline
G-EZYH 737-33V 29332 3072 easyJet Airline
G-EZYI 737-33V 29333 3084 easyJet Airline
G-EZYN 737-33V 29338 3114 easyJet Airline
G-RJXB ERJ.145EP 142 bmi regional
G-RJXF ERJ.145EP 280 bmi regional
G-STRB 737-3Y0 24255 1625 Iceland Express/Astraeus Airlines
HA-LMC F.70 11569 Malev
HB-IHX A.320-214 0942 Edelweiss Air
HB-JAG ERJ.145LU 321 Swiss International Air Lines
HB-JAK ERJ.145LU 387 Swiss International Air Lines
HS-TGK 747-4D7 24993 833 Thai Airways International
LN-RCY 737-883 28324 767 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RDA DHC-8Q-402 4013 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDB DHC-8Q-402 4018 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDE DHC-8Q-402 4020 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDF DHC-8Q-402 4021 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDG DHC-8Q-402 4022 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDI DHC-8Q-402 4024 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDJ DHC-8Q-402 4010 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDL DHC-8Q-402 4011 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDM DHC-8Q-402 4033 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDO DHC-8Q-402 4036 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDQ DHC-8Q-402 4008 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDR DHC-8Q-402 4034 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDS DHC-8Q-402 4035 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RDT DHC-8Q-402 4038 Scandinavian Commuter
LN-RKF A.340-313X 0413 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RKH A.330-343X 0497 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RKI A.321-232 1817 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RMH MD-87 49612 1827 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RMK MD-87 49610 1705 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RML DC-9-82 53002 1835 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RMM DC-9-81 53005 1855 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RMP MD-87 53337 1962 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-RMT DC-9-81 53001 1815 Scandinavian Airlines
LN-ROA MD-90-30 53459 2141 Scandinavian Airlines
