Greenland Airports

Aviation in Greenland was historically primarily reliant on airports built for military purposes during World War II by the United States: Kangerlussuaq Airport, Narsarsuaq Airport and Kulusuk Airport. Towns were served by helicopters through a network of heliports, mostly on the west coast.^[4]

In 1979, a STOL airport was constructed in Nuuk and in Ilulissat in 1984.^[5][6] Fixed-wing flights using smaller aircraft were now possible, reducing transport costs and increasing service. As a result of its success, in 1998–2007, the Greenlandic Government began building a network of STOL airports in 8 major towns in western Greenland to improve transport by moving away from the dependence on helicopters between towns. The airports built by the Greenlandic government were at Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Aasiaat, Maniitsoq, Qaarsut, Qaanaaq, Upernavik and Paamiut. In conjunction, Mittarfeqarfiit (Greenland Airports) was established.^[7][8]

In 2016, the state owned company Kalaallit Airports A/S was formed when it was decided that three new or rebuilt airports would be constructed closer to larger population centres in Nuuk, Ilulissat and Qaqortoq. These airports will accommodate larger jet aircraft which can serve international destinations, at a cost of 3.6 billion DKK (approximately US$560 million), primarily financed by the Danish state.^[9] Kalaallit Airports A/S would build and operate these three new airports.^[10]

In April 2024, Kalaallit Airports and Mittarfeqarfiit were merged into a new company called Greenland Airports.^[11]

In 2016, a project was initiated by the Greenlandic self-government to modernize and expand Nuuk and Ilulissat Airports and construct a new regional Qaqortoq Airport.^[12]

The project initially drew international scrutiny when the China Communications Construction Company was pre-qualified as a bidder, rising geopolitical concerns by the United States and Denmark regarding Chinese influence in the Arctic region and ultimately Chinese military presence in the Western hemisphere.^[13][14] This led to a Danish intervention in 2018 and 2019 with a funding package of 700 million DKK, and the airports were moved into a new company Greenland Airports International A/S, where the Danish Ministry of Finance got a 33.33% ownership and Greenland Airports retained the remaining 66.66% stake.^[13][15] The funding was later seen as insufficient, and the Danish government increased total contributions to more than 1.6 billion DKK, as the company was not determined capable of taking commercial loans.^[16]

Nuuk International Airport was officially inaugurated on November 28, 2024, featuring a 2,200 meter runway for direct transatlantic routes, predominantly to and from Denmark, Canada, Iceland, and the United States.^[17]

The new Qaqortoq Airport opened on April 16, 2026, replacing Narsarsuaq Airport as Greenland's southern hub.^[18]

Illulissat Airport is still ongoing construction as of May 2026, but is scheduled to finish by October 2026.^[19]

• Transport in Greenland
• Air Greenland
• Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority