Traveling To Greenland Made Easy
Traveling to Greenland is about to become more accessible with the opening of a new international airport in the capital city of Nuuk. The airport features a 2,200-meter runway, allowing larger planes to connect Greenland to the rest of the world.
As of November 28, the new airport will be operational, and United Airlines will offer nonstop seasonal flights from Newark, New Jersey, starting in June. These flights will take approximately four hours.
Currently, 130,000 visitors arrive in Greenland each year, mostly by cruise ships or flights into smaller cities. However, officials hope to manage tourism growth sustainably.
Prior to the new airport’s opening, travelers had to fly into smaller cities like Kangerlussuaq or Narsarsuaq, which were formerly US military bases. The new airport will serve as the base for Air Greenland, operating an Airbus A330neo plane on a route to Copenhagen, Denmark.
Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, acknowledges the significant impact the new airport will have on tourism and the economy. Each flight is expected to add $200,000 to Greenland’s economy.
Lauridsen emphasizes that visitors should be prepared for a unique experience in Greenland. “We’re located in the Arctic,” he says, and visitors are “in for an adventure when you come here.”
The airport is designed to handle 800 passengers per hour. With the opening of this new facility, Greenland is poised to become more accessible to tourists and travelers.
In addition to the Nuuk airport, two more airports are scheduled to open in Greenland by the end of 2026, connecting Ilulissat in the north and Qaqortoq in the south. These new airports will significantly expand travel options within Greenland.
Anne NivÃka Grødem, CEO of Visit Greenland, believes the new airport will boost tourism and have a broader societal impact. “I believe tourism can drive meaningful change,” Grødem says. “It’s about finding the balance between local opportunities, market trends, and human aspirations.”
Greenland offers a unique experience for visitors, with its quiet, reflective culture and breathtaking natural beauty. As the country becomes more accessible, it is likely to attract more tourists and travelers seeking adventure and connection with nature.
