Greenland opens a new international airport to lure tourists and diversify its economy as it eyes independence from Denmark
Ilulissat, known as the “City of Icebergs,” sits along the island's western coast and is home to some 5,000 people.
Greenland has inaugurated a new international airport in Ilulissat, a city known as the "City of Icebergs," in an effort to lure tourists and diversify its economy, which remains heavily reliant on fishing. The move comes as Greenland seeks eventual independence from Denmark. Greenland's Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen described the airport as one of the biggest investments in the island's history.
The new airport will be operated by Air Greenland, a government-owned airline, and will offer daily flights to Copenhagen, Denmark, beginning in the peak summer months. The airport's 2,200-meter runway is capable of accommodating larger aircraft, allowing for direct flights from the U.S. and mainland Europe. While tourism in Greenland has increased by at least 65% since 2018, reaching nearly 150,000 visitors in 2024, it still accounts for less than 5% of the territory's GDP.
Concerns remain about the potential impact of mass tourism on the fragile nature of Greenland's environment.
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