Air Greenland will launch its second year-round service to Copenhagen Kastrup airport out of the new Ilulissat airport on Oct. 26, 2026. Weekly Wednesday flights will initially operate with a Boeing B737-800 wet-leased from Jettime, before transitioning to an in-house Airbus A320-200N once it is delivered in spring 2027.
Air Greenland’s sole Airbus A300-800neo seconds before touching down in Kangerlussuaq © Joey Gerardi
Air Greenland
Air Greenland is the national flag carrier of Greenland and was founded in 1960 as Grønlandsfly, until 2002. This airline is owned by the Greenlandic government and it provides crucial passenger, cargo, and charter services, connecting Greenland’s 13 civil airports and remote communities via a fleet of fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Based in Nuuk, with a major hub at Kangerlussuaq Airport, it operates domestic flights across Greenland and international flights primarily to Copenhagen, Denmark, and Iceland. It also operates subsidiaries like Hotel Arctic and Greenland Travel to support the tourism industry.
Kangerlussuaq Airport in summer 2024 © Quintin Soloviev
Routes and Fleet
Air Greenland currently operates year-round services to Copenhagen, Denmark from Nuuk, Greenland. It also flies seasonally from Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen and from Nuuk to Billund and Aalborg. It is a scheduled carrier that operates 79 daily flights and connects Greenland to 63 destinations. It has daily flights in the summer and 4x weekly in the winter to Copenhagen. It also has regular flights to Reykjavik-Keflavik, and seasonal routes to Iqaluit, Canada.
The airline operates a diverse fleet of 33 aircraft, including:
One Airbus A330-800neo for long-haul
Seven Dash-8 fixed-wing aircraft
18 Helicopters (Airbus H125 and H225) – used for remote, mountainous terrain
One Airbus A320eno scheduled to join in 2027
The company is phasing in more fuel-efficient aircraft, such as the new Airbus A330-800neo, which uses 14% less fuel per seat.
Air Greenland’s route network consists of around 70 different connections, between 14 airports and 42 heliports and helistops © Air Greenland
Benefits of New Routes
Adding a year-round route between Copenhagen and Greenland significantly enhances connectivity, facilitates year-round tourism, and lowers operational costs for Air Greenland. It strengthens connections with Scandinavia, supports local economic growth, and allows for improved distribution of tourists beyond the summer season.
CEO of Air Greenland, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, stated:
“The new route strengthens accessibility to North Greenland, which we are pleased about as it ensures more direct connections for travellers and at the same time contributes to supporting both tourism and business,”
The service supports a shift away from exclusively summer-focused tourism, allowing for winter adventure and Northern Lights tourism. The consistent, reliable connection will also boost local businesses, secure jobs, and facilitate better access to popular destinations like Ilulissat.
Have you flown with Air Greenland before? Share your experience in the comments below!