A “historic step” for Greenland with the opening of a new international airport in Ilulissat
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A new international airport opened in Greenland’s third-largest city, Ilulissat, on Thursday after approval from the Danish Civil Aviation and Railways Authority.
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Built with the aim of better connecting the vast Arctic island to the rest of the world, it is the third new airport to open in Greenland since 2024. It puts in place the “final piece” of the country’s “historic airport expansion”, operator Greenland Airports said.
Ilulissat Airport is the latest to open under the Danish autonomous territory’s expansion programme, following Nuuk in November 2024 and Qaqortoq in April 2026. Together, these airports “form a new backbone” for the country’s infrastructure, the operator said.
“The opening is a historic milestone for Ilulissat, for North Greenland and for Greenland as a whole,” said Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports.
“The three new airports of Ilulissat, Nuuk and Qaqortoq fundamentally change how the country is connected internally and how Greenland is connected to the rest of the world.”
The new airport has a 2,200 meter runway capable of handling larger aircraft, enabling direct international services to Ilulissat, a hub in Disko Bay and northern Greenland.
Air Greenland operates domestic flights between Ilulissat Airport and destinations such as Nuuk, Aasiaat, Qaarsut and Upernavik. On the same day as the airport’s opening, Air Greenland launched a direct route between Ilulissat and the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
After the launch, the regular winter schedule begins in November. The connection between Copenhagen and Ilulissat will initially be operated by Jettime using a Boeing 737-800. Flights will primarily operate on Wednesdays, with some additional departures on Mondays around Christmas and New Years, as well as in March.
Meanwhile, Icelandair will operate a seasonal service between Keflavík and Ilulissat from June 3 to October 16, 2027.
Operations at the airport will “intensify gradually”, with opening hours and activity developing in stages. “The goal is for the airport to be fully operational by the summer 2027 season,” Greenland Airports said.
The modernization of airport infrastructure, partly financed by Denmark, aims to support the development of the local economy and tourism.
“Infrastructure is a long-term investment, and its real impact is measured in decades,” said Jens Wittrup Willumsen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Greenland Airports.
“With the three new airports, Greenland has a foundation on which future generations can build.
“The challenge now is to ensure that the new facilities benefit the whole country, including towns and cities around airports, as part of future business and tourism development.”
Located on the west coast of Greenland, approximately 250 kilometers north of the Arctic Circle, Ilulissat lies next to Disko Bay, known for its enormous icebergs.
For tourism, the new airport means international visitors can travel directly to Ilulissat to visit its UNESCO-listed icefjord. The airport also creates new opportunities for business, freight and regional development throughout North Greenland.
Additional sources • AFP
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