6 minWorld
Greenland Opens First International Flight Route to Ilulissat Airport
Greenland has launched an international airport in Ilulissat to attract tourists and diversify its fishing-dependent economy, amid its drive for independence from Denmark.
Greenland has opened a new international airport in Ilulissat, hoping to attract visitors from around the world and diversify the island's economy, which still depends heavily on fishing. The first international flight from Copenhagen to Ilulissat took place on Thursday and is part of the island government's efforts to develop its tourism industry. The island aims for future independence from Denmark.
Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called the new airport "one of the largest investments" in the island's history. He was one of 169 passengers on the 4.5-hour flight aboard an Airbus A330neo operated by state carrier Air Greenland. The flight was also accompanied by an Associated Press journalist as part of a trip organized by the tourism agency Visit Greenland. "If Greenland wants to be independent, we need a strong foundation, both economically and in industry and business," Nielsen said before the plane took off.
The island, home to about 56,000 people, has been in the spotlight of U.S. President Donald Trump since his first term, when he first expressed interest in acquiring Greenland. During his second term, his repeated threats to take the territory from Denmark, a NATO member, caused several months of tension with other alliance allies. In September, Trump signed an agreement with the leaders of Denmark and Greenland on strengthening security in the Arctic and North Atlantic. Danish Finance Minister Peter Hummelgaard, who also flew on the first flight, said the situation had been "a shadow over the entire Kingdom of Denmark, and especially over Greenland." According to him, the opening of the airport "means hope and optimism."
Ilulissat, known as the "City of Icebergs," is located on the island's west coast and has about 5,000 residents. It is Greenland's third-largest town and one of the most visited destinations on the island. The town is more than 550 kilometers north of the capital, Nuuk, and its tourism services include dog-sledding trips and cruises through Disko Bay, known for its towering icebergs. Previously, Ilulissat could only be reached by cruise ship, by small aircraft from Iceland, or through one of Greenland's international hubs with a connection to smaller planes. There are no other road links to major cities.
For decades, Greenland's main international air gateways were former U.S. military airbases, remnants of World War II, at Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq. Passengers had to land there and then transfer to smaller planes to reach the island's major towns, including Ilulissat and Nuuk. The situation changed at the end of 2024, when an international airport opened in Nuuk. Last year, United Airlines launched a new seasonal route between Nuuk and Newark, New Jersey. This flight was the first direct connection between the United States and Greenland operated by an American airline.
The Ilulissat airport terminal covers 5,000 square meters, and the new 2,200-meter runway is long enough for large passenger aircraft. Air Greenland has promised up to six flights a week between Copenhagen and Ilulissat during peak summer months next year, and Icelandair will also operate large-aircraft flights from its hub in Keflavik. Jens R. Lauridsen, CEO of Greenland Airports, said the company also hopes to attract airlines from the United States and continental Europe to serve Ilulissat.
Local resident Kirsten Bertelsen, a 35-year-old student who bought a ticket for Thursday's flight, did not know it was the first flight on the new route. "Now you can fly directly, which is great," she said. "Sometimes it's quite difficult to get from Nuuk to other countries." Meanwhile, the number of international visitors to Greenland has grown by at least 65% since 2018, reaching nearly 150,000 in 2024, but the expected tourism boom has not yet materialized. In 2024, tourism accounted for less than 5% of the territory's GDP, and infrastructure, including hotel capacity, remains limited.
Karina Ren, associate professor at Aalborg University who specializes in Arctic tourism, said some American tourists have even refrained from traveling to the island due to the recent standoff with Trump, and several people have canceled their tickets. "I've heard about people canceling bookings, but also about those who canceled out of fear that they might not be welcome," she said, adding that many Americans still visit Greenland, including on cruise ships. At the same time, locals express concern about mass tourism and possible damage to the island's fragile nature. Former regional mayor Palle Jerimiassen said he fears the environment, population, and infrastructure of the town may not withstand an excessive number of visitors. "How many can we invite?" he asked. "We welcome all tourists, it is an opportunity to earn new money. But we must be careful."
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