Greenland Opens International Airport in Ilulissat
Greenland has opened a new international airport in Ilulissat. The first international route, from Copenhagen, flew on Thursday.
The island's government wants more tourism to widen an economy that depends on fishing. The airport is also part of Greenland's path towards eventual independence from Denmark. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called it "one of the biggest investments" in the island's history. He was among 168 other passengers on the 4.5-hour flight, an Airbus A330neo.
"If Greenland wants to be independent, we need to have a strong foundation, both economically and in terms of industry and business," Nielsen said before takeoff.
Why the airport matters
Ilulissat is known as the "City of Icebergs". About 5,000 people live there. It sits on the west coast, more than 550 kilometres north of the capital, Nuuk. Visitors come for sled dog tours and icefjord cruises in Disko Bay. No roads link it to other big towns.
Until now, travellers had to arrive by cruise ship, take a small plane from Iceland, or fly to an international hub and change to a smaller aircraft. The airport has a 5,000-square-metre terminal and a new 2,200-metre runway, long enough for larger passenger jets.
Air Greenland has committed to as many as six weekly flights between Copenhagen and Ilulissat in next summer's peak months. Icelandair will also fly large jets from Keflavik. Jens R. Lauridsen, chief executive of Greenland Airports, said the company hopes to attract airlines from the US and mainland Europe.
Danish Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard was also on the flight. He said the opening "marks, I think, hope and optimism". Kirsten Berthelsen, a 35-year-old student from Ilulissat, booked the ticket without knowing it was the inaugural service. "It's quite wonderful that you can go directly right now," she said.
Tourism and the Trump standoff
For decades, Greenland's main gateways were former US military air bases at Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq, left from World War II. An international airport opened in Nuuk in late 2024. Last year United Airlines began a seasonal Nuuk to Newark route.
International visitors have grown by at least 65% since 2018, to almost 150,000 in 2024. The expected boom has not arrived. Tourism made up under 5% of GDP in 2024, and hotel capacity is limited.
Carina Ren, an associate professor at Aalborg University who studies Arctic tourism, said some US tourists were put off by the standoff with President Donald Trump. "I've heard of people canceling their bookings, but also others canceling because they were afraid that perhaps they would not be welcomed," she said. Many Americans still come, she added, mostly on cruise ships.
Source: The Independent