Ilulissat airport in western Greenland opened on Thursday, 29 October, after receiving final approval from Denmark’s aviation regulator. The airport welcomed a direct flight from Copenhagen on its opening day, giving the Disko Bay region a new international air connection.
The new 2,200-metre runway can accommodate much larger aircraft than the previous 845-metre runway. An Air Greenland Airbus A330neo arrived from Copenhagen for the inauguration. Until now, passengers travelling from the Danish capital to Ilulissat generally had to change planes elsewhere in Greenland.
The Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority (Trafikstyrelsen) approved the airport after months of inspections and a test flight. Its checks covered the runway, fire and rescue services, terminal security and air traffic control. The approval includes temporary operating restrictions, with flight capacity due to increase as the airport gains experience. The regulator expects these conditions to have little effect on the limited winter timetable.
Direct Copenhagen flights will initially operate once a week
According to Air Greenland’s published timetable, regular direct flights between Copenhagen and Ilulissat will begin in November, normally every Wednesday. The winter service will be operated by Jettime using a Boeing 737-800, with selected additional Monday flights around Christmas, New Year and in March 2027.
Air Greenland expects its new Airbus A320neo to take over the route in April 2027. The airline plans to increase services to as many as six return flights a week during the peak summer season. On other days, passengers will still be able to travel between Ilulissat and Copenhagen via Nuuk.
Ilulissat completes Greenland’s airport expansion
The opening marks the completion of Greenland’s three-airport expansion programme. The new international airport at Nuuk opened in November 2024, followed by a new airport at Qaqortoq in April 2026. Greenland Airports says the three facilities are intended to improve connections within Greenland and with the rest of the world.
Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, who was among the passengers on the inaugural flight according to Danish broadcaster DR, said the new airport could make travel for work, education and family visits easier. In a statement from the Greenlandic government (Naalakkersuisut), he also stressed that new opportunities would bring changes requiring dialogue and shared responsibility.
Ilulissat is a major destination for visitors to Disko Bay and the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit Greenland expects the direct connections to create opportunities for local tourism businesses. The airport will expand operations gradually, with the operator aiming for full service by summer 2027.
