Greenland opens first international airport in Nuuk to boost tourism

Greenland has opened its first international airport in Nuuk, aiming to double tourist arrivals by air within a year. The new airport features a 2.2-kilometer runway and allows larger planes to land, enhancing access to the Arctic region. United Airlines will begin direct flights from Newark to Nuuk in June 2025, joining SAS and Icelandair, which will operate routes from Copenhagen and Keflavik. Previously, international flights only arrived in Kangerlussuaq, further north. Passenger traffic is projected to exceed 100,000 in the first year, up from over 50,000. In 2023, Nuuk's small domestic airport served about 5,000 international travelers. Two more airports are planned to open in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq by 2026.