An Airbus A330 took off on Thursday November 28, 2024 from Copenhagen (Denmark) for Nuuk, inaugurating the first direct international connection to the capital of Greenland. This historic event symbolizes the territory's ambition to open up to the world and boost its tourism economy in the midst of climate change.
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An Airbus A330 left Copenhagen (Denmark) at 9:45 a.m., Thursday November 28, 2024 for a historic flight. This flight marks a major turning point for Greenland. This aircraft inaugurates the first direct international connection to Nuuk, the Greenlandic capital. This air link is one of the measures to enable this territory to develop tourism and thus boost its economy.
This landing is also accompanied by the official inauguration of the new international airport. This modern infrastructure, with a total cost of 300 million dollars, benefited from 20% financing by the Danish government.
It is its 2,200 meter runway, capable of accommodating long-haul flights, which allows the Airbus A330 to now be able to land on the soil of the autonomous province of Denmark. From now on, theTravelers no longer have to stop at Kangerlussuaq, the former American military base which until now served as an international hub.
VisitGreenland, the local tourist office, is delighted with the prospects offered by this new air link. “This change is expected to lower ticket prices and significantly reduce travel times, making Greenland a more competitive destination for tourists and business travel,” the body said..
Arctic tourism finds itself in a paradoxical situation in the face of climate change. Its increasing development accentuates environmental impacts, while the effects of global warming directly threaten tourist activities.
Tourism, which already represents 10% of Greenland's GDP with revenues of 1.9 billion crowns (250 million euros), is expected to experience significant growth.. The number of tourists has already increased by 9% on average per year for several years. This growth will be reinforced by the planned opening in two years of Ilulissat airport, located near the UNESCO World Heritage fjord..
A situation that is nonetheless paradoxical due to climate change. The growing development of tourism will accentuate environmental impacts, while the effects of global warming directly threaten tourist activities. The melting of glaciers and its consequences complicate access to sites for skiing, hiking and cruises.
“Developing such a destination today requires thinking now about the image and reality of the future of a post-Arctic landscape, in which snowy reliefs, polar bears and ice floes – which have shaped the image of these places – are no longer” underlines Emmanuel Salim, lecturer in geography at the University of Toulouse
In 2023, tourism generated revenues of 1.9 billion crowns (250 million euros), representing almost 10% of Greenland's GDP of 20.3 billion.
This new airport should also allow the development of other economic activities: mining and the export of seafood, fishing being the main resource of the territory.
From summer 2025, Nuuk Airport will even host two weekly connections with New York, further strengthening its international accessibility.
