The Smart Marty Sky Dispatch
‘Historic milestone’ for Greenland as new international airport opens in Ilulissat
Greenland has completed its three-airport expansion, with Ilulissat’s new international gateway opening up direct access to Disko Bay and North Greenland.
A new international airport opened in Ilulissat, Greenland, following approval from the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority. The development is described by Greenland Airports as the final piece in a broader expansion of Greenland’s airport network.
Ilulissat Airport features a 2,200-metre runway capable of handling larger aircraft, enabling direct international services to the town. Air Greenland operates domestic flights from Ilulissat to several destinations, and a direct Copenhagen route was launched on opening day.
The Ilulissat facility is part of Greenland’s wider airport expansion, which includes Nuuk (opened November 2024) and Qaqortoq (April 2026). Greenland Airports says the three new airports form a new backbone for the country’s infrastructure.
Direct international service to Ilulissat began with a Copenhagen route, operated by Jettime using a Boeing 737-800, with schedules focused on Wednesdays and additional departures around Christmas, New Year, and in March. Icelandair is planned to operate a seasonal Keflavík–Ilulissat service from June to October 2027.
Officials describe the opening as a historic milestone for Ilulissat and Greenland, with gradual ramp-up of operations and hours aimed at full functionality by the 2027 summer season. The upgrades are partly funded by Denmark and are expected to support local economy, tourism, and regional development across North Greenland.