The new international airport in Ilulissat opens a new gateway to Greenland
The new international airport in Ilulissat is scheduled to open on 29 October 2026, marking a new chapter for travel to Greenland. Located on Greenland’s west coast, approximately 250 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle, Ilulissat is one of the country’s most visited destinations and home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord.
With a new 2,200-metre runway, replacing the previous 845-metre runway, and a terminal building of approximately 5,000 square metres, Ilulissat will be able to welcome larger aircraft and direct international flights from Copenhagen.
Previously, travellers flying from Copenhagen to Ilulissat needed to transfer through Nuuk or Kangerlussuaq. The new airport will make it possible to reach Ilulissat directly in five to six hours from Europe or North America, improving access to Disko Bay and the wider North Greenland region.
New direct flights connect Ilulissat with Copenhagen
Air Greenland plans to mark the opening on 29 October with an inaugural direct flight from Copenhagen aboard its Airbus A330neo, Tuukkaq.
From November 2026, the route will be operated by Jettime using a Boeing 737-800, with an initial schedule of one weekly direct flight and additional departures during selected periods.
In April 2027, Air Greenland expects to introduce its new Airbus A320neo, Unaaq, on the route. During the peak summer season of 2027, the airline plans to operate up to six weekly direct flights between Copenhagen and Ilulissat.
Icelandair also connects Ilulissat with Keflavík International Airport in Iceland during the summer season, providing another gateway for travellers from Europe and North America. Its published 2027 schedule includes three weekly flights between Keflavík and Ilulissat from 3 June to 16 October.
New opportunities for local tourism
The opening of the airport is an important milestone for North Greenland, creating new opportunities for local tourism businesses, regional partnerships and the development of experiences beyond Ilulissat.
Improved accessibility can support tourism throughout the year and make it easier for visitors to explore more of the region.
For Visit Greenland, the opening is also part of a wider ambition to develop responsible tourism that creates lasting value for Greenlandic communities.
“The opening of Ilulissat International Airport marks another important milestone for Greenland. Together with the new airports in Nuuk and Qaqortoq, it creates new opportunities for tourism across our regions. But infrastructure alone does not create lasting value. What matters is how we build on these opportunities together – strengthening local businesses, creating opportunities across our communities and shaping tourism development that respects our nature, culture and way of life.” says, Linda Kleist, CEO of Visit Greenland
The scheduled opening of Ilulissat International Airport marks the final stage of Greenland’s three major airport infrastructure projects, following the openings of Nuuk International Airport in November 2024 and Qaqortoq Airport in April 2026.
Together, the airports represent a significant change in how Greenland connects with the rest of the world.
Airport opening approval
The planned opening of Ilulissat International Airport on 29 October 2026 is subject to final operational approval from the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority (Trafikstyrelsen).
A gateway to icebergs, culture and everyday life in North Greenland
Ilulissat means “icebergs” in Kalaallisut (Greenlandic), a fitting name for a town overlooking Disko Bay, where enormous icebergs drift from the nearby Ilulissat Icefjord into the open sea.
Yet Ilulissat is more than its icebergs. It is a living Greenlandic town where fishing, maritime traditions and a close relationship with nature continue to shape everyday life. It is Greenland’s third-largest town, with a population of around 5,000 people.
Visitors can explore the region through locally guided sailing trips, hiking and kayaking during the warmer months, or experience dog sledding and the northern lights during winter. The surrounding Disko Bay region is also home to smaller towns and settlements, each with its own traditions, stories and connections to the land and sea.
Getting to Ilulissat
- From Denmark: Air Greenland plans to operate direct flights between Copenhagen and Ilulissat, taking approximately five hours. Flight frequencies vary by season.
- From Iceland: Icelandair operates seasonal direct flights between Keflavík and Ilulissat. Travellers can also reach Greenland via Nuuk.
- From the United States: Travellers can connect to Greenland via Iceland or Copenhagen. Seasonal direct flights between Newark/New York and Nuuk provide an additional route to Greenland, with onward domestic connections to Ilulissat.
About Visit Greenland
Visit Greenland is Greenland’s national tourism board, working with local and regional partners to promote Greenland internationally and support responsible tourism development. Our ambition is to ensure that tourism creates lasting value for Greenland’s people, communities, culture and nature.
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