The Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority has approved the opening of the new international airport in Ilulissat. This puts the final piece in place in Greenland’s historic airport expansion, giving North Greenland and Disko Bay a new gateway to the rest of the world.
The new international airport has a 2,200-meter (7,200-foot) runway that can accommodate larger passenger aircraft. This makes direct international connections possible to Greenland’s third-largest city and the natural hub for Disko Bay and North Greenland.
“We can now welcome the first passengers at the new Ilulissat International Airport. We have been looking forward to this for years, and hundreds of people have worked hard so that we can now complete a historic expansion of Greenland’s infrastructure,” says Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports.
“The opening is a historic milestone for Ilulissat, for North Greenland, and for all of Greenland. The three new airports in Ilulissat, Nuuk, and Qaqortoq fundamentally change how the country is connected internally and how Greenland is connected to the rest of the world,” he adds.
New opportunities in Disko Bay
The new airport gives residents and businesses in the region shorter travel times and better connections.
For tourism, the new airport means that international visitors can travel directly to the Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The airport also creates new opportunities for business, cargo, and regional development throughout North Greenland.
Security approved without restrictions
As part of the approval of the new airport, security has been approved without restrictions. This is an important result and a strong starting point for the opening of Ilulissat Airport.
“This is a great day for all of us, and we have every reason to be proud of what our colleagues have achieved. They have worked incredibly hard, and it is fantastic to see their efforts pay off. But the work doesn’t stop just because we open the doors. We will keep training our procedures, optimizing staffing, and strengthening collaboration across teams to ensure smooth, well-functioning operations and give passengers the best possible experience,” says Jens Lauridsen.
The airport will ramp up gradually, with opening hours and activity expanding as operations are phased in. The goal is for the airport to be fully operational by the summer 2027 season.
Strengthening Greenland’s infrastructure
Ilulissat Airport is the last of Greenland’s three new airports, following the new airports in Nuuk and Qaqortoq, which opened in November 2024 and April 2026, respectively. Together, they form a new backbone for the country’s infrastructure.
“Infrastructure is a long-term investment, and its real impact is measured in decades. With the three new airports, Greenland has a foundation that future generations can build on. Now the task is to ensure that the new facilities benefit the entire country, including the towns and settlements around the airports, as part of the future development of business and tourism,” says Jens Wittrup Willumsen, Chairman of the Board of Greenland Airports.
Image Credit: Greenland Airports
