Greenland inaugurated a new airport in Ilulissat, the nation's third-largest town, on a date not specified, marking a major step toward easier access to the world's biggest non-continental island.
The island, which draws only about 180,000 tourists annually, has built the facility at an estimated cost of 1.77 billion DKK (£197 million). It is the third airport opened since 2024 as part of a broader £700 million infrastructure programme.
Featuring a 2,200-metre runway capable of handling larger aircraft, the airport can now support international flights. A passenger terminal covering 5,000 square metres serves arrivals and departures.
Air Greenland operates domestic services linking Ilulissat Airport with Nuuk, Aasiaat, Qaarsut and Upernavik, and has launched a direct six-hour flight to Copenhagen this week. Icelandair will run a seasonal route between Keflavík and Ilulissat from 3 June to 16 October 2027.
Operations are being increased gradually, with full functionality expected by summer 2027.
Jens Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, said: "The opening is a historic milestone for Ilulissat, for North Greenland, and for all of Greenland." He added, "The three new airports in Ilulissat, Nuuk, and Qaqortoq fundamentally change how the country is connected internally and how Greenland is connected to the rest of the world."
Nearby lies the Ilulissat Icefjord UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for massive icebergs and wildlife, with options for whale-watching excursions.
Travelers from the UK must first fly to Copenhagen (under two hours) and then connect to Ilulissat.
