Copenhagen gains nonstop Greenland link as Ilulissat international airport opens

Greenland has opened a new international airport in Ilulissat, its third-largest city, in a push to draw more international visitors to the Arctic island. The first-ever direct flight between Copenhagen, Denmark, and Ilulissat operated on Thursday, giving travellers a new way to reach one of Greenland's most popular destinations.

Key facts

• The inaugural Copenhagen–Ilulissat flight took 4.5 hours on an Airbus A330neo with 169 passengers, operated by government-owned Air Greenland.
• The airport has a 53,820-square-foot terminal and a 1.37-mile runway able to take larger passenger aircraft.
• Air Greenland plans up to six weekly Copenhagen–Ilulissat flights during next year's peak summer months.
• Icelandair will also fly large jets to Ilulissat from its Keflavik hub.
• Ilulissat, the "City of Icebergs", has about 5,000 residents and sits more than 342 miles north of the capital, Nuuk.

What has changed for travellers?

Until now, visitors heading to Ilulissat had to arrive by cruise ship, take a small plane from Iceland, or fly to one of Greenland's international gateways and connect to smaller aircraft. There are no road connections between Ilulissat and other large towns.

For decades, those gateways were former U.S. military air bases at Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq, where all passengers landed before transferring to smaller planes. That began to change in late 2024, when an international airport opened in Nuuk. United Airlines last year started a seasonal route between Nuuk and Newark, New Jersey — the first direct flight from the United States to Greenland by an American airline.

Which airlines will serve Ilulissat?

Air Greenland has committed to as many as six weekly flights between Copenhagen and Ilulissat during next year's peak summer season, and Icelandair will operate large jets from Keflavik. Jens R. Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, said the company also hopes to attract airlines from the United States and mainland Europe to serve Ilulissat.

Why is Greenland investing in air links?

Greenlandic Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen, a passenger on the inaugural flight, called the airport "one of the biggest investments" in the island's history. He said a strong economic and industrial foundation is needed if Greenland is to become independent from Denmark. The island, home to roughly 56,000 people, still relies heavily on fishing, and tourism accounted for less than 5% of its GDP in 2024.

International visitor numbers have grown by at least 65% since 2018, reaching almost 150,000 in 2024, but the expected travel boom has yet to arrive and infrastructure, including hotel capacity, remains limited. Carina Ren, an associate professor at Aalborg University who specialises in Arctic tourism, said some U.S. tourists cancelled flights or bookings because of the recent standoff over Greenland, though many Americans still visit, particularly on cruise ships.

What this means for travellers

Travellers now have a direct option into Ilulissat rather than routing through Kangerlussuaq, Narsarsuaq, Nuuk or Iceland. Ilulissat's attractions range from sled dog tours to icefjord cruises in Disko Bay, known for its towering icebergs. Anyone planning a trip should check which airlines are operating the route and when, as Air Greenland's stated commitment covers next year's peak summer months.

Some residents have raised concerns about the impact of mass tourism. Palle Jerimiassen, a former regional mayor, said he fears the city's environment, population and infrastructure could be overwhelmed by too many visitors, adding that the island must be careful even as tourism offers new income.