Greenland Travel Set For Boost As New Nuuk Airport Opens

As an Air Greenland Airbus A330neo touched down on the newly constructed 2,200-m (6,560-ft) runway at Nuuk Airport, it signaled the start of a new era of connectivity for Greenland.

More flights than ever before will now be able to land in Greenland’s capital city, including, from next year, a direct flight from North America.

Until now, most international flights to Greenland arrived in Kangerlussuaq, a small settlement to the north. The majority of travelers then had to take connecting flights to reach Nuuk, home to more than one-third of Greenland’s population and the major tourism hub.

This added significant time, cost, and complexity to anyone contemplating a visit to Greenland.

The work to develop Greenland’s tourism industry has been long in the planning. In fact, work to redevelop Nuuk and two other airports—Ilulissat and Qaqortoq—has been underway for the past six years.

The Danish Transport Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) approved the airport’s operations just hours before the Air Greenland jet from Copenhagen touched down on the new runway.

Air Greenland’s New Hub

The new Nuuk Airport now has the facilities to welcome larger aircraft from both North America and Europe. Previously, the small runway could only handle helicopters and small turboprop planes from Reykjavik and other settlements in Greenland.

From now on, Nuuk will serve as Air Greenland’s hub airport, enabling the airline to run a much more efficient system of regional and international connections. Air Greenland will operate connections to eight destinations throughout Greenland from Nuuk.

At the airport opening celebrations, Air Greenland CEO Jacob Nitter Sørensen explained that the new airport is about more than just tourism.

“Air transport enables fresh fish exports, trade, tourism and investment, while supporting education, family reunions, cultural exchange and access to vital healthcare, as well as recruiting and retaining employees through increased mobility,” he said.

Nuuk’s upgraded facilities include a modern terminal building, which was completed earlier this year, along with the new, much longer runway.

New Direct Flights To Greenland

Air Greenland will improve connectivity with Denmark, offering five flights per week to Copenhagen, with services to Billund and Aalborg following in 2025. A twice-weekly service to Reykjavik has also begun.

The new airport is likely to see slow and steady growth rather than a wave of new flights from other airlines. That being said, carriers based in Northern Europe have been quick to announce new routes.

Icelandair will serve Nuuk using Dash-8 aircraft from Reykjavik, switching to more frequent departures using Boeing 737 aircraft next summer.

From June 2025, United Airlines will fly directly from Newark to Nuuk. The twice-weekly service will be the only nonstop flight between the U.S. and Greenland.

Also launching a new route next summer is Scandinavian Airlines (SAS). The seasonal route from Copenhagen will be SAS’ first direct flight to Greenland in two decades.

Why Visit Greenland?

Greenland is a land of extremes, almost entirely covered by the world’s second-largest ice field. It boasts pristine Arctic landscapes, hardy wildlife, and a scattering of remote communities clinging to the water’s edge.

These communities offer a blend of modern conveniences and Inuit cultural heritage, with evidence of human settlement stretching back thousands of years.

Nuuk, the capital, is a surprisingly modern city. It houses Greenland’s only university and saw the opening of its first shopping mall in 2012. The striking Katuaq cultural center, inspired by the aurora borealis, highlights Nuuk’s modern flair.

As the seat of Greenland’s home rule government, Nuuk is the world’s northernmost capital of a constituent state, sitting just north of Iceland’s Reykjavik.

Despite its modernity, Greenland retains a rugged charm. With no road connections between settlements, Air Greenland and the Arctic Umiaq Line ferry serve as lifelines for locals and visitors alike.

These transport networks, alongside the new airport in Nuuk, are helping to open up this fascinating destination to adventurous travelers.

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