By Karim Hammam
Greenland has opened a new international airport in Ilulissat, a popular tourist town on the island’s west coast, making it easier to reach the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord and Disko Bay.
Expanded infrastructure
The airport features a 2,200-metre runway, replacing the previous 845-metre strip, and a 5,000-square-metre terminal capable of handling larger aircraft. The first international arrival, an Air Greenland Airbus A330neo from Copenhagen, landed on Thursday, 29 October 2026.
Direct connections from Europe and North America
Passengers can now fly directly from Copenhagen in five to six hours, eliminating the need to transfer via Nuuk or Kangerlussuaq. From November 2026, Danish charter airline Jettime will operate a weekly Boeing 737-800 service, with Air Greenland adding an Airbus A320neo route in April 2027 and increasing to six weekly flights by summer. Icelandair will also launch three weekly summer flights from Keflavík, Iceland, starting 3 June 2027.
Tourism milestone
Linda Kleist, CEO of Visit Greenland, said the opening marks another important milestone for Greenland, creating new opportunities for tourism across regions. She emphasized that infrastructure alone does not create lasting value and called for strengthening local businesses and shaping tourism that respects nature and culture. Greenland’s first commercial international airport opened in the capital Nuuk two years ago.
