Billionaire saves threatened airport at the 11th hour in massive deal

Aarhus Airport sells buildings and land to Anders Holch Povlsen's company Heartland. This saves it at the 11th hour.

The airport sells buildings and land at the airport to the company Heartland, which is owned by billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen. (Photo: © Liselotte Sabroe/ritzau scanpix)

By Heikki Yding ([email protected]) 59 minutes ago Updated 39 minutes ago

The financially struggling airport on Djursland, Aarhus Airport, has gotten new wind beneath its wings.

The airport sells buildings and land at the airport to the company Heartland, which is owned by billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen.

The airport writes this in a press release. Heartland already owns Midtjylland Karup Airport.

The deal is intended to strengthen the airport's finances, which have been under severe pressure for several years due to too few passengers.

Heartland is paying 90 million kroner for the airport's terminal, hotel, parking areas, and the remaining land around the civilian part of the airport.

The property agreement does not change the fact that it is still the three municipalities of Aarhus, Syddjurs, and Norddjurs that own the company Aarhus Airport A/S and manage the operation of the airport.

"There is a need to get money in the coffers. The alternative was bankruptcy," says Aarhus Mayor Anders Winnerskjold (S). (Photo: © Bo Amstrup, Ritzau Scanpix)

The deal with Heartland comes after the airport previously sold the runway and control tower to the Danish Defense in December 2025.

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Mayor: Risked bankruptcy

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Aarhus Mayor Anders Winnerskjold (S) says he is satisfied with the solution.

"There is a need to get money in the coffers. The alternative was bankruptcy," he says.

The airport has so far been under pressure because the company must repay a loan totaling 290 million kroner to Aarhus Municipality by December 13.

But the municipality is now waving goodbye to that loan, and instead the amount is being converted into shares in the airport.

"If the airport had to repay the money it owes to Aarhus and the other owner municipalities, it would go bankrupt," says Anders Winnerskjold (S).

He believes the solution secures infrastructure for Aarhus for businesses, tourism, and educational institutions.

"We are doing this because companies and citizens in Aarhus and East Jutland need to get out into the world," he says.

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