Wikipedia

Nuuk Airport

Nuuk Airport (Greenlandic: Mittarfik Nuuk, Danish: Nuuk Lufthavn, formerly Godthåb Lufthavn in Danish) (IATA: GOH, ICAO: BGGH) is an airport serving Nuuk, the capital of Greenland. The airport is a technical base and focus city for Air Greenland, the flag carrier airline of Greenland, linking the capital with almost all towns in the country, including the airline's international hub at Kangerlussuaq Airport, providing most onward international connections. Nuuk Airport is one of six designated international airports in Greenland but mostly serves domestic destinations, however it is served by limited international service to Iceland and Canada.

Nuuk Airport

Mittarfik Nuuk
Nuuk Airport, under construction in October 2024.
Summary
Airport typePublic
OperatorGreenland Airports
ServesNuuk, Greenland
Focus city forAir Greenland
Elevation AMSL283 ft / 86 m
Coordinates64°11′27″N 051°40′41″W / 64.19083°N 51.67806°W / 64.19083; -51.67806
WebsiteNuuk Airport
Map
BGGH is located in Greenland
BGGH
BGGH
Location in Greenland
Map
Runways
Direction Length Surface
m ft
04/22 930 3,051 Asphalt
Statistics (2012)
Passengers69,324
Aircraft movements4,162
Source: Danish AIS[1]
Statistics from airport[2]

The airport was constructed in 1979 to serve the capital and largest town in Greenland, with STOL-capable aircraft with a 950m runway. As a result of its short runway located in mountainous terrain and frequent weather disruptions, it is currently unable to service large airliners.

A major expansion of the airport, including a runway extension and a new terminal, is ongoing and is slated for completion in November 2024, which will allow larger jet aircraft to serve more international destinations.[3] The decision to expand the airport was subject to controversy due to economic, environmental and operational reasons.[4]

Geography

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The airport is located 2 NM (3.7 km; 2.3 mi) northeast[1] of Nuuk Centrum. The former suburbs of Nuuk, such as Nuussuaq, Quassussuup Tungaa, and Qinngorput, incorporated into the town in the last decade, have brought the city closer to the airport. As of 2010 the airport is within walking distance of the nearest continuously inhabited area, its runway approximately 700 m (2,300 ft) from the University of Greenland campus. There is an alpine ski course only 200 metres (660 ft) from the airport terminal.

History

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Seaplane era

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In the early 1960s, after the establishment of Air Greenland on 7 November 1960 as Grønlandsfly,[5] Nuuk was served exclusively by the PBY Catalina flying boat, with the aircraft using the waterways of the Nuuk Port as a landing site.[5] In 1962 a PBY Catalina crashed near the port, killing 15 people on board.[5]

Helicopter era

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The tragedy was one of the factors leading to the decision to invest in a helicopter fleet. The Sikorsky S-61N machines proved to be a more reliable mode of transport for the city, providing exclusive service for the Nuuk city for more than a decade—from the purchase date in 1965 until the late 1970s.[5][6]

Even in the later era of the fixed-wing, turboprop plane domination, the S-61N helicopters continued to link Nuuk with the smaller town of Paamiut, until the airport was built there in 2007, replacing the old heliport.[7]

Regional airport network

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Former runway, as originally built.

Nuuk Airport was built in 1979,[8] when the then newly formed home rule government decided to create a network of the STOL-capable domestic airports.[9]

Nuuk airport was originally constructed with one asphalt runway (05/23) 950 m × 30 m (3,117 ft × 98 ft) 283 ft (86 m) above sea level.[1] The airport terminal and apron are built on a levelled platform on an undulating slope under the Quassussuaq mountain, with the runway platform artificially elevated to compensate for the scarp immediately to the west. The runway platform bed is composed of broken rock and rubble, topped with gravel, and was protected by a low, wooden fence.

The airport in the largest city in Greenland was a priority for the government, followed by Kulusuk Airport[9] in Kulusuk in south-eastern Greenland, and Ilulissat Airport[9] in Ilulissat, the largest town in the Disko Bay region of western Greenland. This constituted the first such wave of network expansion.[9]

Network expansion

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The first international flights from Nuuk Airport were to Iqaluit in Nunavut, Canada, operated from 1981 until it was discontinued due to commercial inviability in 1994. Flights to Reykjavik, Iceland via Kulusuk also began in the same year.[9]

It was not until the 1990s that the network experienced another spurt of large-scale growth, when the airports in the remaining larger towns were built: Sisimiut Airport in Sisimiut and Maniitsoq Airport in Maniitsoq in central-western Greenland,[10] Aasiaat Airport in the Disko Bay region,[10] Upernavik Airport in Upernavik in northwestern Greenland,[10] and Qaarsut Airport,[10] an airport in Qaarsut, a settlement in the Uummannaq Fjord region; the airport serving both the village and the larger town of Uummannaq,[11] located on the rocky Uummannaq Island.

2000–onwards

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Air Greenland has its technical base at Nuuk Airport (hangars pictured).
 
Former main apron. The tower and terminal pictured were demolished in 2024.

Due to the commercial inviability of international flights to Canada and Iceland using smaller STOL aircraft, for years afterwards international flights to Greenland were limited to Kangerlussuaq Airport in central western Greenland, 319 km (198 mi) to the north of Nuuk, an airport inherited from the U.S. Air Force when the former Sondrestrom Air Base was handed over to the then home rule government on 30 September 1992.

With the airport being limited to serving small planes, the possibilities for international connections remain limited. Icelandair opened a route from Reykjavik to Nuuk in 2007. In order to compete with Icelandair, which operates services to Nuuk, Narsarsuaq, Ilulissat, and all airports on the eastern coast,[12] Air Greenland announced opening of new connections with Iceland,[13] linking Nuuk and Narsarsuaq with Keflavík International Airport, later restricting it to Nuuk.[14]

Air Greenland's seasonal flights to Iqaluit in Canada finally resumed in summer 2012, but ended before summer 2015.[15] Air Greenland relaunched its summer seasonal route between Nuuk and Iqaluit with a once-weekly frequency for the 2024 season using its Dash 8.[16]

The airport is also used for various charter flights, such as airlifts to the summit of the 1,210 m (3,970 ft)[17] Sermitsiaq Mountain,[18] a landmark of Nuuk, located on Sermitsiaq Island north of the airport. The airport is also used for shuttle flights for events like the 2010 Inuit Circumpolar Council general assembly in Nuuk.[19] and for the 2016 Arctic Winter Games. In general the short runway is a problem for large events in Nuuk. Most, charter, VIP and extra flights from outside Greenland can not land in Nuuk (or any other city of Greenland), so Air Greenland need to shuttle passengers between Kangerlussuaq and Nuuk, using planes much smaller than the charter planes, often requiring a hotel night in Kangerlussuaq.[20]

Proposals for expansion

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Considering the growth of Nuuk as a commercial and administrative centre in Greenland as well as increasing tourism, there was a need to improve flight connections to the country's capital. With more than a third of Greenland's populace residing in Nuuk,[21] and the majority of the country's significant institutions situated in the city, the requirement to change planes in Kangerlussuaq for most international flights proves costly and time-consuming for passengers, particularly for larger groups utilizing long-distance charter planes.[22]

The short runway was highly problematic as established previously, as it makes the airfield unusable for even regional jet aircraft (for instance the Bombardier CRJ family), instead requiring highly-specialised STOL-capable aircraft to be used, which are both limited in size and numbers.

The airport expansion issue has been a long-standing topic of controversy in Greenland.[23][22] Many challenges and issues arose in deciding the future of the airport, including cost, flight safety, commercial effects on Air Greenland and implications on service frequency to other areas of Greenland.

 
The landscape beyond the northern end of the runway. There is little room for expansion there, so most of the expansion is beyond the southern end.

Operational challenges for an extended Nuuk Airport include challenging weather and geographical constraints. Rough weather in the region is cited as life-threatening to larger airplanes, given the additional difficulty of approach in a mountainous region.[23] The northern end of the runway is less than 700 m (2,300 ft) from the shore of Nuup Kangerlua fjord. An expansion of the runway in that direction would require relocation of the connecting road, which climbs under the runway scarp. An often-discussed extension of the runway in the other direction would have brought the endpoint close to Qinngorput, the newest district of Nuuk, rapidly expanding in the late 2000s. Also, concerns were raised regarding maintaining air service to Nuuk during construction.[22][23]

Air Greenland was resistant to relocating its hub, pointing out the financial implications of such a move, and highlighting the consistently favourable weather conditions at Kangerlussuaq. Situated deep inland, about 30 km (19 mi) from the fringe of the Greenland ice sheet (known as Greenlandic: Sermersuaq), Kangerlussuaq benefits from excellent infrastructure and unhindered visibility, unlike the coastal fogs, storms, heavy snowfall, and frequent turbulence prevalent near the coastline. Additionally, after 2010 there are few suitable aircraft that can be purchased which have more than 30 seats and can use short runways like Nuuk. When the existing Dash-8 200 retire or more aircraft are needed, a longer runway is necessary.[23]

These well-substantiated arguments in favor of maintaining the current arrangement posed a challenge for the Government of Greenland. Air connections are essential for cruise ship passengers, as staying onboard from Europe or the USA and back is often too time-consuming and expensive. Some cruise ships take the extended route to Kangerlussuaq to facilitate passenger exchange (as there is no suitable port, passengers must transfer to small boats), while others utilize the Nuuk-Kangerlussuaq feeder flights. However, these flights have insufficient capacity for cruise ships. Direct charter flights are desired. Expanding the runway would bolster cruise ship tourism.

Suggestions were to extend it from 950 m (3,117 ft) to 1,199 m (3,934 ft),[24] to 1,700 m (5,600 ft), or 2,200 m (7,200 ft) (the longest possible) the latter which would allow direct flights to Denmark.[25] Another suggested alternative was to build a new airport on one of the islands of Angisunnguaq or Qeqertarssuaq, locations having less turbulence, and allowing 2,800 m (9,200 ft) runway needed for the large planes for flights to Denmark. These are located a few kilometres south of Nuuk and would need a bridge or tunnel connection. Such a project could cost somewhere around 2–3 billion DKK.[25]

Another alternative proposed involved making Keflavik Airport (Iceland's primary international airport) the international hub, in proximity to Kangerlussuaq, and slightly expanding the Nuuk Airport runway to accommodate small jet planes.[25] (Icelandair has already established a network connecting Greenland and Reykjavík, Iceland)

Runway and airport expansion

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New terminal under construction in 2023

A decision was made to extend the runway to 2,200 m (7,200 ft), build a new terminal, expanded apron and service buildings in 2016. The state-owned company Kalaallit Airports A/S was formed, to manage the airport expansion. It will build or rebuild (extend) the airports in Nuuk, Ilulissat and Qaqortoq, and thereafter own them.[26]

Construction began at Nuuk Airport in November 2019. With the aim to keep the airport operational during construction, the southern part of the new runway was built first and opened in November 2022, with the same declared length of 950 metres. The old runway was then removed and the rest of the new runway is currently under construction as of July 2024. The new runway overlaps the old runway.[27][28] The new terminal building and accompanying apron was opened in summer 2024. Subsequently, the old terminal and control tower were demolished in September 2024, as they were located too close for the new runway operations.[29] The new control tower was commissioned in the same month.[30]

The final completion of the project is due on 28 November 2024, when operations on the full extended runway will begin. When the extended runway opens in late 2024, Air Greenland has announced the transition of its Greenland hub to Nuuk along with its Copenhagen route, operated using its Airbus A330-800.[31] Air Greenland has also announced additional routes in 2025 using leased Boeing 737 aircraft to Billund and Aalborg[32] as well as an additional flight to Copenhagen via Kangerlussaq in cooperation with a local travel agency.[33] The route to from Nuuk to Billund Airport will also stopover at Keflavík International Airport, expanding Air Greenland's capacity to Iceland.[34]

Icelandair also plans to increase service to Reykjavík-Keflavík International Airport with larger aircraft, initially using De Havilland Canada Dash 8-400 when the new runway opens, and serving Nuuk with Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft in summer 2025.[35]

On 10 October 2024, United Airlines announced that they will launch for the first time ever a direct flight from Newark to Nuuk operating twice weekly, beginning on 14 June 2025.[36] Also in October, Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) announced a new route from Copenhagen to Nuuk for the summer 2025 season, operating 3 flights per week - SAS last served Greenland (to Kangerlussuaq) in 2009.[37]

Facilities

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Air Greenland Dash 8-200 in Nuuk

Nuuk Airport has a passenger terminal, and a cargo terminal of Air Greenland.[38] It serves as the technical base for Air Greenland.[39] Navigational aids serving the airport include the GH NDB, LOC instrument approach and DME distance measuring equipment.[1] A new terminal opened in June 2024, which introduced security checks for the first time at Nuuk Airport. The terminal has 4 gates, separated for Schengen/Non-Schengen areas and passport control facilities.

Air Greenland's Bombardier Dash 8-Q200 turboprops, acquired in Spring 2010, are based at the airport.[40] Nuuk Airport is also home to the Beechcraft King Air B200 "Amaalik", used for air ambulance flights and occasional charters.[41]

Airlines and destinations

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Air Iceland Connect Dash 8-200 at Nuuk Airport
AirlinesDestinations
Air Greenland Aasiaat, Copenhagen (begins 29 November 2024),[42] Ilulissat, Kangerlussuaq, Kulusuk, Maniitsoq, Narsarsuaq, Paamiut, Reykjavík–Keflavík, Sisimiut
Seasonal: Aalborg (begins 12 June 2025), Billund (begins 18 March 2025),[43] Iqaluit[16]
IcelandairReykjavík–Keflavík[44]
Scandinavian AirlinesSeasonal: Copenhagen (begins 27 June 2025)[45]
United AirlinesSeasonal: Newark (begins 14 June 2025)[46]

Ground transport

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Line 3 of Nuup Bussii connects the airport with Nuuk Centrum, passing through the Nuussuaq and Quassussuup Tungaa districts on the way. Buses depart from the airport every hour during rush hours Monday to Friday.[47][48] Taxis operated by Nuna Taxa are also available.[49] Limited-time parking for private cars is available outside the terminal.[50]

Accidents and incidents

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  • In 1973 a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter operated by Grønlandsfly crashed in waters about 40 km (25 mi) south of Nuuk, due to possible main rotor failure. 15 people were killed, all on board, including passengers.[51]
  • On 7 June 2008, a Eurocopter AS350 operated by Air Greenland crashed on the runway at Nuuk Airport.[52] There were no injuries, but the helicopter was damaged beyond repair.[52][53]
  • On 4 March 2011, an Air Iceland Dash 8's landing gear collapsed while landing on the runway. There were no injuries, but the aircraft suffered serious damage.[54]
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Nuuk Airport is depicted in the 2013 film The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, with an Air Greenland widebody aircraft landing there. However the actual filming location of the scene is at Hornafjörður Airport in Iceland.[55][56]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Greenland AIP for BGGH – Nuuk Airport from Naviair
  2. ^ "Operationer og pax 2012-1988.xls". Dropbox.
  3. ^ "Greenland Sets Date For Nuuk Airport Opening | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  4. ^ "Opening of new airport of Nuuk, Greenland, postponed by one year until 2024". 31 August 2021.
  5. ^ a b c d "Greenlandair 1960–69". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Fleet: Aircraft and Helicopters". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 24 May 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Så fik Paamiut sin lufthavn". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 1 December 2007. Archived from the original on 6 February 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  8. ^ "Our History". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 23 May 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  9. ^ a b c d e "CGreenlandair 1980–89". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d "Greenlandair 1990–99". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  11. ^ "How to get there". Greenland Guide. Archived from the original on 29 April 2013. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  12. ^ "Air Iceland's Destinations". Air Iceland. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  13. ^ "Stor interesse for debat med Binzer". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 18 November 2009. Archived from the original on 22 November 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  14. ^ "Erhvervsliv raser mod Air Greenland". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 14 April 2010. Archived from the original on 15 April 2010. Retrieved 14 July 2010.
  15. ^ "Air Greenland cuts Nuuk-Iqaluit scheduled flights in 2015". CBC News. 6 March 2015. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  16. ^ a b Quinn, Eilís (18 October 2023). "Air Greenland to restart Nuuk—Iqaluit link in summer 2024". Radio Canada International. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  17. ^ "TIL OPPLYSNING". Norwegian University of Science and Technology. Archived from the original on 15 June 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  18. ^ "Programme". Arctic Science Summit Week. Archived from the original on 26 July 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  19. ^ "Nuuk Declaration 2010". Inuit Circumpolar Council. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  20. ^ Stor tilfredshed med indsatsen i forbindelse med Arctic Winter Games (17 March 2016, in Danish)
  21. ^ "Greenland in Figures 2022" (PDF). Statistics Greenland. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  22. ^ a b c "Leder: 56.000 trafikofre". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 11 September 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  23. ^ a b c d "Turbulens ved Nuuk kan ende i flytragedie". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 24 October 2007. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  24. ^ "Seriøse planer om at udvide lufthavnen i Nuuk". Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (in Danish). 24 May 2009. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  25. ^ a b c Placering af central atlantlufthavn (Danish)
  26. ^ "Nuuk – Kalaallit Airports Holding A/S".
  27. ^ "Pressemeddelelse: Egenkapitalfinansiering og tidsplan for nye lufthavne i Ilulissat, Nuuk og Qaqortoq på plads – Kalaallit Airports Holding A/S".
  28. ^ "Nu går byggeriet i gang" (PDF) (in Kalaallisut and Danish). Kalaallit Airports. 9 October 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 August 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  29. ^ Første del af ny landingsbane i Nuuk åbner
  30. ^ COMSA Corporación. "Commissioning of the new control tower at Nuuk airport". Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  31. ^ "Greenland Sets Date For Nuuk Airport Opening | Aviation Week Network". aviationweek.com. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  32. ^ "New flight schedule makes Greenland more accessible". Visit Greenland. Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  33. ^ Schultz-Nielsen, Jørgen (16 July 2024). "Ny fly-rute er godt nyt for Kangerlussuaq". www.sermitsiaq.ag (in Danish). Retrieved 22 July 2024.
  34. ^ "2025 flight schedule expanded with new options". www.airgreenland.com. Retrieved 12 October 2024.
  35. ^ "Icelandair NS25 Peak Season Frequency Variations – 18AUG24". AeroRoutes. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  36. ^ Schlappig, Ben (10 October 2024). "AMAZING: United Airlines Will Fly To Greenland, Mongolia, And Beyond!". One Mile at a Time. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  37. ^ "SAS starts flying to Nuuk in Greenland - SAS". www.sasgroup.net. Retrieved 23 October 2024.
  38. ^ "Cargo Contact". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 16 October 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  39. ^ "Flyvetryghedskursus i Nuuk". Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (in Danish). 17 July 2010. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
  40. ^ "Første Dash-8 lander i Nuuk". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 30 April 2010. Archived from the original on 3 May 2010. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
  41. ^ "Kingair BE200B". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 8 December 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  42. ^ "Air Greenland Launches Nuuk – Copenhagen From late-Nov 2024". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 12 March 2024.
  43. ^ "Air Greenland Expands 2025 Summer Schedule with New Routes to Denmark". Aeroroutes. Retrieved 24 September 2024.
  44. ^ "Icelandair NS25 Peak Season Frequency Variations – 18AUG24".
  45. ^ "SAS Adds Copenhagen - Nuuk Seasonal Service in NS25". AeroRoutes. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 24 October 2024.
  46. ^ "United Airlines Bets on Offbeat Destinations, Adds Mongolia and Greenland for 2025". Skift. Retrieved 10 October 2024.
  47. ^ O'Carroll, Etain (2005). Greenland and the Arctic. Lonely Planet. p. 153. ISBN 1-74059-095-3.
  48. ^ "Time Tables". Nuup Bussii. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  49. ^ "Nuuk". Air Greenland. Archived from the original on 17 June 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  50. ^ "Snart slut med langtidsparkering i Nuuk Lufthavn". Kalaallit Nunaata Radioa (in Danish). 13 July 2006. Retrieved 15 July 2010.
  51. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Sikorsky S-61N OY-HAI, 25 Oct 1973". aviation-safety.net.
  52. ^ a b "Helikopter styrtet ned i Nuuk". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 7 June 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  53. ^ "Mange spiritusrelaterede opgaver for politiet i Nuuk". Sermitsiaq (in Danish). 9 June 2008. Retrieved 6 July 2014.
  54. ^ "ASN News Report: DHC-8 Landing Gear Collapses During Hard Landing". news.aviation-safety.net. 22 August 2013. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  55. ^ The Secret Life of Walter Mitty, 30 July 2017, retrieved 19 February 2024
  56. ^ Ago, Highwingsin #film • 7 Years (9 August 2017). "Film Locations I visited; Secret Life of Walter Mitty, Iceland". Steemit. Retrieved 19 February 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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