Aarhus Airport lands experienced pilot as new CEO

45-year-old Lotta Sandsgaard will be responsible for piloting the Danish airport through its next phase of growth.

Lotta Sandsgaard is used to seeing Aarhus Airport from high above. As a passionate recreational pilot, she has taken to the air many times from the mainland Denmark airport and now she will take her place in the captain’s seat and will be at the forefront of realizing the airport’s growth strategy, where the ambition is high in lifting the number of passengers to over 1.5 million travelers in coming years. The recently recruited position as CEO attracted a wide and attractive field of candidates, and the chairman of the board is very happy on behalf of the airport in securing such a competent profile. Lotta Sandsgaard has just under 20 years solid management experience from municipal authorities and highly familiar with the airport industry.

“We have been looking for an experienced leader with the right skills to bring together the many professionals and stakeholders of our company. Lotta comes with a strong future vision combined with an obvious appetite for creating results. That she simultaneously has a deep insight into and a passionate interest in aviation is a dream scenario and more than we could have wished for. The board is confidently handing over the reins to Lotta, and we are very much looking forward to the collaboration”, says Lars Dige Knudsen, who is chairman of the board at Aarhus Airport.

Lotta Sandsgaard currently holds a position as technical and environmental leader in the Municipality of Silkeborg. Previously, she has, among other things, held leadership positions in Norddjurs Municipality as director of environment and culture and chief positions in the technical and environmental areas in both Norddjurs and Herning Municipalities. In addition, she is chairman of the board at Herning airfield. On top of that, she is a trained pilot and flight instructor and has personally flown in and out of Aarhus Airport for many years.

“The service has always been exceptional at the airport, regardless of whether I have come as a guest in the terminal or as a pilot to airport operations. The experience of high quality and warm service for everyone, I look forward to maintaining and developing together with the many skilled and committed employees and the management team at Aarhus Airport”, says Lotta Sandsgaard.

“My passion for aviation will be a driving force in my new role as Airport CEO, but it’s the managerial tools and the technical and environmental experience I bring with me that will contribute to further developing the culture of the airport and enhancing the solid foundation for growth. In addition, I will draw on my many years of experience in modernising and developing cities, infrastructure facilities and organisations while at the same time ensuring smooth operations”, continues Lotta Sandsgaard.

Lotta is originally from northern Denmark, but now lives near Grenaa along with her husband Claus. Her scarce free time is often spent in up the air, where Lotta has a quick grip on the control stick of her very own small aircraft, a Rockwell Commander 114b, located at Aarhus Airport.

Lotta Sandsgaard takes over as the new CEO of Aarhus Airport on 1st April 2023.

Further information available from David Surley – Senior Director Route Development & Marketing at Aarhus Airport on +45 27 15 05 93 or by  email on dsu@aar.dk