Denmark will provide an additional DKK 1.5bn ($240m) to Greenland Airports International to complete the new international airport in Ilulissat.
New development – Ilulissat International
The Ilulissat project is now expected to open at the end of 2026. Greenland Airports International, majority-owned by the Greenland government with the Danish state as minority shareholder, is responsible for developing and operating international airports in Nuuk and Ilulissat.
Nuuk International opened in 2024
Nuuk International Airport opened on 28 November 2024, ushering in a new era for Greenland. The capital’s new airport features a 2,200-metre runway capable of handling transatlantic flights. Air Greenland’s flagship Airbus A330neo now operates direct flights between Copenhagen and Nuuk, reducing the journey time to four hours and 50 minutes.
The airports replace the previous system where international passengers flew into Kangerlussuaq, a former US military base, before transferring to smaller aircraft for domestic connections.
All told, the Nuuk and Ilulissat airports will cost an estimated 3.7bn Danish krones ($495m). The Ilulissat facility will mirror Nuuk’s design with a 2,200-metre runway, new control tower and passenger terminal. The existing 845-metre runway will be converted into an access road.
United Airlines added direct flights from New York to Nuuk
United Airlines began direct flights from New York to Nuuk in June, replacing the previous route which required tourists to fly via Copenhagen and transit at Kangerlussuaq. Increased international connectivity could make Greenland more attractive for global conferences – particularly those surrounding climate and natural resources.
United Airlines at Nuuk Airport“The state wants to help Greenland Airports International to successfully complete the construction of the airport in Ilulissat and enter a new phase with the possibility of direct international flights in both Nuuk and Ilulissat,” said Danish Finance Minister Nicolai Wammen.
Events in Greenland – tech growth?
Tech events in Greenland have grown by 35% over three years, generating over $12m for local hospitality in 2023, according to Visit Greenland.
Major events in 2024 included: Arctic Innovations Summit – July 2024, Nuuk (technology solutions for Arctic environments) Future Greenland Conference – 14-15 May 2024, Nuuk (sustainable development) Nuuk Tech Forum – 2024, Nuuk (cutting-edge technology) Greenland Digital Transformation Conference – 2024, Nuuk (digital solutions across industries) Greenland Robotic Innovations Expo – 2024, Nuuk (robotics advancements)
The Greenland Startups Meetup, held annually in Nuuk, attracted over 500 attendees in 2023 with 75 startups securing $2.5m in seed funding. The 2016 Arctic Circle Forum in Nuuk was described as one of the largest conferences to take place in Greenland, whilst the Nordic Council held its first full meeting in Greenland in 2018.
Tourism directly accounted for 4.9% of Greenland’s GDP in 2024 and employed an average of 1,800 people, according to the country’s first Tourism Satellite Account. Tourists’ total expenditure in Greenland in 2024 amounted to nearly 3bn DKK, of which 58% came from international tourists.
