On the 28th of November, Nuuk International Airport (GOH) opened its doors for the first time. Connecting Greenland easily with the rest of the world, the airport marks the dawn of a new age of travel for the country.
What has Greenland done before this?
Before Nuuk International, those flying in and out of Greenland on international flights had to do so at old military bases. People had to fly to old American air bases Narsarsuaq or Kangerlussuag and then get domestic flights to Nuuk. The only other way to enter Greenland was to travel via cruise ship. Most of these cruises travelled from Canada’s Arctic regions or Reykjavik, Iceland.
Nuuk International is a massive improvement for travellers. The airport can process up to 800 passengers and the new terminal offers comfort in ways the old airbases could not. There is a new landing system and a 2,200-metre runway, making it much easier for long-haul flights to land at Nuuk.
Connecting Greenland with the world!
On opening day, the airport welcomed its first flight in and out of its runways. Air Greenland conducted both of these flights. The first flight was flight GL281 to Paamiut, a town in Greenland. After that, they welcomed flight GL781 arriving from Copenhagen (CPH), Denmark. The passengers on the flight from Copenhagen were greeted by 2,000 Greenlanders flying small flags and waving at them.
The airport will connect Greenland with the rest of the globe. Air Greenland’s CEO, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, agrees that the new airport changes things for Greenland:
“Imagine leaving London in the morning and enjoying the northern lights in Nuuk by evening, or leaving Nuuk in the morning to savour French cuisine in Paris the same night. Today marks the start of a new era for Greenland.”
Currently, the airport has partnered with Icelandair, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) and United Airlines. Icelandair will serve flights between Reykjavik (KEF) and Nuuk twice a week during the winter season, increasing to three times a week during the summer. Scandinavian Airlines will commence flights from June 25th, operating seasonal flights three times a week until late August. United Airlines will introduce a non-stop service from June 15th. The flights will fly from Newark Liberty International Airport, in New York, and will operate twice a week. Above all, the hope is that the new airport will attract more international airlines.
The potential to become a new hot spot.
Ultimately, the drive behind this airport is the need to expand Greenland’s tourism export industries. Currently, 130,000 tourists visit Greenland annually. This number will increase due to Nuuk International and it is estimated that each flight will generate 200,000 USD for Greenland’s economy. The airport also means more opportunities to export Greenland’s produce to the rest of the world. The opportunity to have cargo facilities at the airport means that it will be easier to export products, such as seafood like fresh fish and shellfish.
Jens Laridsen, the CEO of Greenland Airports, talked about why this airport is so important for Greenland:
“This is a truly historic milestone that will create a world of new opportunities for the entire country, as it will, for the first time, enable direct flights across the Atlantic to the nation’s capital.”
Overall, this is an exciting new development for the aviation industry in Greenland and will hopefully allow Greenland to connect with the globe in a way it hasn’t before.
Are you excited about the possibility of flying into Greenland? Let us know in the comments or find us on Social Media!
