Greenland Opens a New Gateway to the World of Ice Mountains: Direct Flights from Copenhagen

Access to one of the Arctic’s most famous natural landscapes has become easier than ever before, following Greenland’s opening of a new international airport that allows tourists to travel directly to the town of Ilulissat without needing to change planes in the capital, Nuuk.

The airport was inaugurated on Thursday, October 29, featuring a 2,200-meter runway capable of accommodating large aircraft, according to Euronews.

The opening day saw the arrival of the first direct flight from Copenhagen, operated by Greenland Air using an Airbus A330neo.

Regular winter services are scheduled to begin in November, with flights typically operating once a week on Wednesdays, operated by Jet Time using a Boeing 737-800, along with additional flights during specific periods.

Starting in April 2027, Greenland Air will operate the route using an Airbus A320neo, with plans to increase frequencies to six flights per week during the peak summer season.

Ilulissat, located north of the Arctic Circle, is renowned for its ice fjord, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and for the giant icebergs in Disko Bay.

The airport is the third major airport project to open in Greenland since 2024, as part of a plan to boost tourism and connect the island to the world.