Greenland opened a new international gateway with the debut yesterday of the rebuilt and renamed Ilulissat International Airport (BGJN). Located on the west coast of Greenland—the world’s largest island and an autonomous territory of Denmark—it marked the last opening in a trio of new facilities, including Nuuk and Qaqortoq, which opened in 2024 and earlier this year, respectively.
BGJN features a 54,000-sq-ft terminal and a 7,200-foot runway, nearly three times the length of the previous landing strip. The longer runway allows for direct international flights to northern Greenland and the Disko Bay area, which is home to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Ilulissat Icefjord.
Operations at Ilulissat—approximately 150 miles (250 km) north of the Arctic Circle—will ramp up gradually, according to authorities. Greenland Airports aims for the airport to be fully operational by third-quarter 2027.
“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,” said Visit Greenland CEO Linda Kleist. “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.”
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