Fly To The Arctic! Nuuk Welcomes Greenland’s First International Airport

The first thing that strikes people's minds, as they plan a trip to Greenland, is whether there are flights into the island, its remote location, the icy scenery, and snow-covered terrains. Most of the things have not changed, but traveling to Greenland now will be easier with non-stop flights. This is possible with the opening of a new international airport in the capital city of Nuuk featuring a 2,200-me (7,217-foot) runway. This airport will allow larger aircraft to directly connect Greenland to many international destinations for the first time, which will be the most significant moment in this Arctic territory's history.

Nuuk Welcomes Greenland’s First International Airport

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The reports also reveal that, beginning in June, United Airlines will add nonstop seasonal flights from Newark, New Jersey, to Nuuk, thus reducing the journey time to just above four hours. At present, Greenland has about 130,000 visitors each year, most of whom have arrived by cruise ships or by air to smaller cities such as Kangerlussuaq or Narsarsuaq. The latter cities are former US military bases, which were among the most important flying bases in Greenland. The new airport, however, promises to ease the process even more into Nuuk and increase the number of visitors. Nevertheless, officials should control, in a sustainable way, the tourism influx.

The hub of Air Greenland will be Nuuk International Airport, with the Airbus A330neo operating routes to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Reykjavik, Iceland. Well-built up to an average hourly handling capacity of 800 passengers, the airport is bound to immensely boost the economy of Greenland, with every single flight estimated to bring in around $200,000 in revenue.

"As opposed to the ordinary mini-park vacation, now Northern Greenland tourists can expect still another adventure up north", added Lauridsen, Greenland Airports' chief executive officer.

According to Anne Nivíka Grødem, CEO of Visit Greenland, this new airport is a key stepping stone in driving the nation to ensure functional developments that would not only improve the tourism sector in the country but also bring about real changes in society through complementing local opportunities with global interest. 

The reports further indicate that, by 2026, two more new airports are expected to be inaugurated, which would link the southern part of Qaqortoq to the northern end of Ilulissat. These new hubs will all connect to the improvement of air and sea transport in Greenland, which boasts only 90 kilometers of paved highway in total.

"Greenland is not a destination; it is an experience; Grødem asserts. Visitors must open their hearts and minds to adventure to really enjoy the tranquil beauty and contemplative culture that the Arctic offers, enabling them to reconnect with nature and themselves".