NUUK- Ilulissat Airport (JAV) opened on Thursday, 29 October 2026, completing Greenland’s three-airport expansion following the opening of Nuuk’s expanded airport in November 2024 and Qaqortoq Airport (JJU) in April 2026.
Air Greenland (GL) inaugurated the direct Copenhagen Airport (CPH) to Ilulissat Airport (JAV) route with its Airbus A330-800neo Tuukkaq. Jettime (JP) will operate the winter service, while Icelandair (FI) plans seasonal flights from Keflavík International Airport (KEF) in summer 2027.
A New Gateway to North Greenland
The new Ilulissat Airport marks a major development in Greenland’s aviation infrastructure. Its 2,200-metre (7,200-foot) runway can accommodate larger passenger aircraft, enabling direct international services to a region that previously relied on a much shorter runway.
The old airfield, which has now closed, had a runway measuring approximately 845 metres. The new facility provides greater operational capacity and allows airlines to serve Ilulissat with larger aircraft, including the Airbus A330-800neo used for the opening flight.
The Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority approved the airport after inspections and testing of its aviation safety systems. The approval includes temporary operating conditions during the initial phase.
Greenland Airports plans to increase operating hours and activity gradually, with full operations targeted for summer 2027.
Ilulissat is Greenland’s best-known tourist destination and a major gateway to Disko Bay. The town lies beside the UNESCO-listed Ilulissat Icefjord, which attracts visitors interested in Arctic landscapes, glaciers and iceberg-filled waters. Direct international flights can make the region easier to reach by reducing the need for some passengers to connect through other Greenlandic airports.
According to Arctic Today, The airport is therefore important for more than passenger travel. It provides infrastructure to support tourism, regional businesses and connections between North Greenland and international markets.
Direct Flights Connect Ilulissat to Copenhagen and Iceland
Air Greenland marked the opening on 29 October with a direct flight between Copenhagen and Ilulissat using its Airbus A330-800neo Tuukkaq.
The inaugural service established a direct international connection for a destination that has traditionally depended on connecting flights through Greenland’s wider domestic network.
Regular winter services are scheduled to begin on 2 November 2026, with Jettime operating Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The initial timetable centres on one weekly departure, generally on Wednesdays, with additional Monday flights planned for selected periods around Christmas, New Year and March 2027.
Air Greenland plans to take over the route in April 2027 with its Airbus A320neo Unaaq. The airline expects to increase frequencies during the summer season, with up to 6 weekly round trips planned between mid-June and early September.
The expanded schedule is intended to provide additional capacity during the peak travel period.
Icelandair also plans to introduce seasonal direct flights between Keflavík International Airport and Ilulissat in 2027. Its published schedule lists services from 3 June to 16 October, with up to three flights per week during the peak summer period. The route will provide another international connection for visitors travelling through Iceland.
These services will give Ilulissat more direct access to international markets and provide travellers with alternatives to connections through Nuuk. The actual benefit will depend on operating schedules, available seats and the continued development of airport operations.
Greenland’s Airport Expansion
Ilulissat Airport is the final major element in Greenland’s recent airport expansion programme. Nuuk’s extended runway opened in November 2024, while Qaqortoq’s new airport in South Greenland opened in April 2026.
The projects aim to improve international access and strengthen links between Greenland’s main population centres and surrounding regions.
The expansion also changes the role of Kangerlussuaq Airport (SFJ), a former US air base that served as Greenland’s principal international gateway for decades.
The new infrastructure is intended to shift some international traffic towards Nuuk and Ilulissat, allowing passengers to arrive closer to their final destinations.
Nuuk remains Greenland’s main aviation hub, while Ilulissat is positioned as the country’s second international hub. Together with Qaqortoq, the airports provide improved infrastructure for passenger services, cargo transport, tourism and regional business activity.
Greenland Airports, the organisation responsible for the airport network, was formed in 2024 through the merger of Kalaallit Airports, the airport development company, and Mittarfeqarfiit, Greenland’s existing airport operator. The organisation will oversee the development of operations as the country’s aviation network adjusts to the expanded facilities.
Financing, Construction Delays and Ownership
The Nuuk and Ilulissat airport projects required significant investment and cooperation between Greenland and Denmark.
Under a 2018 agreement, the Danish state acquired a one-third stake in the company developing the two airports for DKK 700 million and committed to providing loans of up to DKK 450 million.
The agreement followed concerns in Copenhagen and Washington about possible Chinese involvement in the projects. However, the financing arrangement also became controversial in Greenland, where some nationalist politicians opposed giving up sole ownership of strategically important infrastructure.
Ilulissat’s new airport was originally scheduled to open in 2024. Construction delays postponed the opening by approximately two years, delaying the introduction of its new runway and direct international services.
The completion of the airport now allows Greenland to move from construction towards the gradual expansion of passenger operations. Its long-term impact will depend on the ability of Greenland Airports and the airlines to establish reliable schedules and make effective use of the additional runway capacity.
Opening Ceremony Recognizes Local Effort
Greenland Premier Jens-Frederik Nielsen attended the opening ceremony and described the airport as the start of a new chapter for Ilulissat. He compared the occasion with the opening of the town’s previous airport in 1984, which had also marked a significant change for the community.
Speaking from a platform in the new terminal’s arrivals hall after arriving aboard the first large aircraft to use the facility, Nielsen thanked the construction teams, Greenland Airports staff, Air Greenland and the Danish state for their contributions. He also recognized the residents who had endured construction noise, disruption and delays.
Addressing the local community, Nielsen said, “Today, the airport is yours.” He stressed that infrastructure connects Greenland’s communities and plays an important role in keeping the country connected. He also said the experience of opening Nuuk’s expanded airport had provided lessons for the staff preparing to operate the Ilulissat facility.
The opening day included an Air Greenland flight from Nuuk, whose three-person crew all came from Ilulissat, according to the original report. Captain Tonny Fisker told Sermitsiaq that the approach took the crew past the old airfield, which has now closed. His parents had worked at the former airport, adding a personal connection to the transition between the two facilities.
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