Flight departures from Danish airports continued to climb through the first half of 2026, even as travelers were warned that possible jet fuel shortages could drive ticket prices higher.
Denmark's Climate Council is urging the country to make flying pricier still, with one proposal calling for stronger fees to better reflect aviation's climate impact.
Here's what to know
Citing Danish public broadcaster DR, The Local Denmark reported that flights leaving Denmark kept increasing in the first half of 2026, a trend the country's Climate Council says warrants "climate fees."
Speaking to DR, Climate Council member and professor Marie Münster cast the proposal as a chance for Denmark to get ahead of some other countries. "Denmark could lead the way here," Münster told DR.
Denmark already has a flight-fee framework in place. The parliament approved a phased-in fee in 2023, according to The Local Denmark, with flights within the European Union scheduled to reach 50 kroner (about $7.50) by 2030.
For destinations outside Europe, the planned fees are higher: 310 kroner ($46) for medium-length routes and 410 kroner ($61) for longer-haul destinations.
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The Climate Council wants to go further than this existing framework by raising the European fee from the scheduled 50 kroner to 220 kroner ($33) and adding another 100 kroner ($15) for non-European flights.
Denmark's Copenhagen Airport is the largest airport in Scandinavia and a major hub in the region. A policy change there could touch a broad set of travelers.
Meanwhile, DR also heard a cooler assessment from Lars Aagaard, a former climate minister and the Moderate Party's current energy spokesperson. Aagaard told the outlet that there is no current government plan to raise the climate fee.
More background
Aagaard told DR that the existing fees are meant to support greener airline initiatives. He also warned that raising passenger charges further could make flying harder for some people in Denmark and push travelers to other airports.
By regional standards, the country's current departure fees are not especially steep. As The Local Denmark reported, Denmark's charges are similar to those in some nearby nations and lower than the levels in the U.K. and the Netherlands.
Münster, for her part, said Denmark should at least keep pace with countries that already charge more. "As a minimum they could match the countries with higher fees," she told DR. "If we did that, we could be role models along with them."
Where can I learn more?
Recent developments show how governments and travelers are already grappling with aviation's climate costs:
• In Denmark, lawmakers approved a new passenger tax to help fund aviation's green transition.
• Campaigners say tax breaks for airlines leave travelers and taxpayers covering aviation's climate costs.
• In Singapore, officials are introducing a sustainable aviation levy while giving travelers time to adjust.
• In Scotland, Prestwick Airport faced criticism for a rise in private flights despite climate concerns.
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