For the first time ever, Greenland’s capital of Nuuk is reachable by normal long-distance passenger flights since 28 November 2024. On this day, the renewed longer runway was opened, making take-offs and landings possible with aircraft types like the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320.
Until recently, as a normal air traveller, one could only reach Nuuk by air flying first to Kangerlussuaq, 315 kilometres (196 miles) north of the capital city and transfer to a smaller plane for the final leg. Or fly to Iceland and transfer to a smaller plane there.
But all of that has changed now Nuuk Airport features a 2,200 metre (7,218 feet) long runway. To make space for it, 6.8 million cubic metre (240.2 cubic feet) of rock had to be blown away with explosives, according to data from the tourist information board Visit Nuuk.
The first aircraft on Nuuk’s longer runway
The first aircraft to make use of the new runway, was actually a short- and medium-haul De Havilland Canada Dash-8 turboprop passenger aircraft, flight GL281 of Air Greenland to Paamiut, 260 km (163 miles) to the south – taking off at 07:35 local time. Direct flights from/to New York, Denmark and destinations in Canada will quickly follow. (Read the Air Greenland press release)
Donald Trump and buying Greenland
For the semi-autonomous government of Greenland, the truly international airport of Nuuk marks the next step in becoming less dependent on its motherland Denmark, while strengthening the ties with the United States. During his previous presidency, Donald Trump already expressed his wish to buy the big strategically located Arctic island. It was politely refused by Denmark, but at least under his new presidency, Trump can make visit the island easier if he likes.
Second Greenland airport to facilitate international flights
Greenland’s government hopes that the new airport is an impulse to tourism as well, and it is not stopping at Nuuk to make travelling easier. Ilulissat Airport is expected to open its longer runway of 2,200 metres (7,218 feet) in 2026. Both airports are owned by for two-thirds by the Greenland government, and one third by the Danish state.
Military air operations on Greenland
For military air operations, the United States have been active on Greenland for decades. Pituffik Space Base (formerly known as Thule Air Base), which Washington has leased from Denmark, has undergone and is undergoing renovations and improvements. With its 3-kilometres-long runway (1.9 miles) it can easily accommodate even bigger planes.
Harvesting raw materials on Greenland
After the end of the Cold War between the USA and the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the strategic importance of Greenland ebbed away. But with Russia’s more aggressive stance, including in the Arctics, and new possibilities for harvesting raw materials from Greenland’s soil, the Arctic island is back into the limelight of strategic military and economic planners. | © 2024 Marcel Burger, nordicreporter.com. Featured press photo: Oscar Scott Carl/Visit Nuuk