HCA Airport has become a central drone and business hub, helping to create growth and new jobs in both manned and unmanned aviation. Despite the bottom line deficit, the 2024 accounts emphasise the positive development of the airport, which now houses more than 30 companies and approximately 100 jobs. and which expects a growing level of activity in the coming years due to, among other things, the market for drone solutions for the defence industry.
2024 saw losses at the bottom but growth at the top for HCA Airport, which further strengthened its position as an important business hub for both drones and manned aviation.
The number of both drone and aircraft operations grew to an index 124 compared to 2023, and a four-hectare expansion of the airport's business park was initiated due to growing demand for rental space. US drone manufacturer Thunderstrike is already building its own hangar of approximately 5,500 square metres for testing and production facilities on one of the new sites. In addition, the establishment of the Danish Defence's national drone centre is expected to create around 100 jobs.
The growing number of drone operations is not least due to continued increased activity at the national drone test centre UAS Denmark Test Center, which attracted a number of national and international drone and software manufacturers throughout 2024, cementing its status as one of Northern Europe's most important drone hubs - including the development of drone technologies for defence and dual-use.
"We see a significant synergy between our business park and the drone test centre, as more and more companies see the benefit of being part of our unique ecosystem. As an airport, we want to contribute to aircraft and drones being able to share the airspace, so I am pleased that 2024 emphasised that we remain a relevant partner for both unmanned and manned aviation, and that we have only just begun the journey ahead," says Hans Okholm Vejrup, CEO of HCA Airport.
Growing costs
HCA Airport differs from other commercial airports in that it is based on three business areas: drones, the business park and traditional manned aviation - the latter primarily in the form of business, leisure and charter flights, but also so-called HEMS flights, i.e. Helicopter Emergency Medical Services.
The increased activity level is also reflected in HCA Airport's recently published financial statements for 2024. Despite an increase in net revenue of almost DKK 600,000 compared to 2023, direct costs as well as personnel costs and other external costs increased.
This resulted in a loss for the year of DKK 12.99 million compared to a loss of DKK 12.86 million the year before.
"The result for the year is in line with our budget. There are costs associated with running a commercial airport, and this is also true in our case," says Hans Okholm Vejrup and adds:
"We have a strategy to help develop the airspace of the future, so for us it's not just about passenger numbers, but also about creating growth in terms of jobs and new knowledge - both in drones and traditional manned aviation."
A strong foundation for the coming years
As of May 2025, HCA Airport is home to a total of approximately 30 companies with around 100 associated jobs.
These are figures that Hans Okholm Vejrup expects to increase in the coming years. There is great interest in the available new plots in the business park, and he also expects the level of activity at UAS Denmark Test Center to continue to rise - partly as a result of the ongoing rearmament of defence budgets, where drone technology and counter drone technology are an important part of the equation.
The positive development is underlined not least by the Danish Defence's announcement earlier this spring of its plans to establish a national drone centre at HCA Airport. The centre is expected to employ around 100 people as early as 2026 and will represent an investment of approximately DKK 725 million over the next 10 years.
"The developments in both 2024 and early 2025 put HCA Airport in a good place. With the expansion of the business park, the establishment of the Danish Defence's drone centre and the growing interest from foreign companies in particular to test their technologies in the drone test centre, a strong foundation has been created for the coming years," says Hans Okholm Vejrup.
Facts about HCA Airports 2024
- The number of drone operations grew to 5,552, corresponding to index 124 compared to 2023.
- The number of flight operations grew to 7,654, which also corresponds to index 124 compared to 2023.
- The number of passengers decreased to 7,407, corresponding to index 87 compared to 2023. This is in line with HCA Airport's strategy to keep passenger numbers at a maximum of 9,999 passengers per year according to current legislation in this area.