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It is now easier to reach one of north Greenland’s most popular tourist destinations as a new international airport has opened in Ilulissat.
The airport marks a new chapter for travel to and around Greenland, making it easier to reach more destinations in the ice-capped territory.
Opening Thursday, 29 October, the airport is found on Greenland’s west coast near the town of Ilulissat, famous for its Unesco World Heritage-listed icefjord, where skyscraper-tall ice walls dwarf even the largest of ships.
Visitors will also find Disko Bay nearby, known for its gigantic floating icebergs and plenty of opportunities to whale watch.
Travellers will be able to reach this natural marvel by landing on a new 2,200-metre runway, replacing the previous 845-metre runway.
A new terminal building of approximately 5,000 square metres has also been built, allowing Ilulissat to welcome larger aircraft and direct international flights from Copenhagen, Denmark.
Before the airport opened, travellers would have previously had to fly from Copenhagen to Nuuk or Kangerlussauq and transfer to a domestic aircraft.
Reopening as an international airport means that passengers can reach Ilulissat directly in five to six hours from Europe or North America.
It’s first international arrival, operated by Air Greenland on an Airbus A330neo, left Copenhagen at 10am on Thursday and is scheduled to arrive 11.40am local time.
The aircraft will then depart Ilulissat at 1.40pm for a return flight to Copenhagen.
From November 2026, this route will be operated by Danish charter airline Jettime using a Boeing 737-800, with an initial schedule of one weekly direct flight and additional departures during certain seasons.
The airport then plans to expand its flights in April 2027 with Air Greenland’s new Airbus A320neo on the route.
By summer, the airline says it will operate six direct flights per week between Copenhagen and Ilulissat.
Icelandair will also connect Ilulissat with Keflavík airport in Iceland during the summer season, providing another gateway for travellers from Europe and North America alongside Copenhagen’s transfers.
Its 2027 schedule includes three weekly flights between Keflavík and Ilulissat from 3 June to 16 October.
Linda Kleist, CEO of Visit Greenland, said: "The opening of Ilulissat International airport marks another important milestone for Greenland.
“Together with the new airports in Nuuk and Qaqortoq, it creates new opportunities for tourism across our regions.
“But infrastructure alone does not create lasting value. What matters is how we build on these opportunities together – strengthening local businesses, creating opportunities across our communities and shaping tourism development that respects our nature, culture and way of life.”
Greenland opened its first commercial international airport two years ago in its capital, Nuuk.
Before this, anyone wishing to make it to Nuuk had to fly first to the former military airport of Kangerlussuaq from Copenhagen, and then change planes for a domestic transfer.
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