When we think about Greenland cold, snow and isolation usually come to mind. Of these three characteristics, two are unlikely to change anytime soon, but, from this Thursday (28), isolation will be much less thanks to a new international airport, with a 2,200 meter runway, which will be opened in the capital, Nuuk. This new feature will allow bigger planes connect the Arctic territory to the rest of the world.
Nuuk airport will be the base for Air Greenland which will operate an Airbus A330neo on flights to Copenhagen, Denmark. With the capacity to meet 800 passengers per hour the site will also connect Nuuk to Reykjavik, Iceland.
Starting in June, United Airlines will offer direct seasonal flights from Newark, New Jersey, in the United States, lasting just over four hours.
Before this new airport, anyone who wanted to fly to Greenland had to disembark in smaller cities, such as Kangerlussuaq, to the north, or Narsarsuaq, to the south. Both, former American military posts from the Second World War, have the capacity to receive large aircraft.
Jens Lauridsen executive director of Greenland Airports, states that the new airport will have a major impact on tourism and the local economy, with each flight injecting around US$200,000 (R$1,165,700) into the country’s economy.
He emphasizes that visitors must be prepared for something different from traditional tourism: “We are in the Arctic,” says Lauridsen, “and anyone who comes here is looking for an adventure.”
Currently, around 130,000 tourists visit Greenland every year, whether by cruises or flights. With the opening for tourism this number tends to grow — something that authorities hope to control to avoid excesses.
Watershed for tourism
With more than 400 thousand followers on his YouTube channel, called Q’s Greenland, Qupanuk Olsen is considered the largest content creator in Greenland. She has already confirmed her presence on the first flight that will land at the new airport.
“I’m very excited,” she says. “It will be incredible to be on the inaugural flight and see it all happen.”
To Anne Nivíka Grødem CEO of Visit Greenland, the opening of the airport marks a watershed for tourism and society as a whole.
“I believe tourism can be a force for positive transformation,” says Grødem. “The challenge is balancing local opportunities, market trends and people’s desires.”
By the end of 2026, two more airports are expected to open in Greenland : one in Ilulissat, to the north, and another in Qaqortoq, to the south.
In a country with just 90 kilometers of paved roads, both residents and tourists will still need to use planes or boats to travel internally. These new airports promise to make travel much easier.
“Greenland is not just a destination; it is a transformative experience, which changes how you see the world”, says Grødem.
She suggests that visitors come with an open mind and a spirit of adventure, ready to experience the country’s introspective culture and reconnect with nature – and with themselves.
The post Greenland opens international airport and increases passenger transport appeared first on CNN Brasil V&G.
Source: CNN Brasil
Johanna Foster is an expert opinion writer with over 7 years of experience. She has a reputation for delivering insightful and thought-provoking articles on a variety of subjects. Her work can be found on some of the top online news websites, and she is currently lending her voice to the world stock market.
