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Greenland Airports
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Greenland Airports (Greenlandic: Mittarfeqarfiit) operates and owns all civilian airports in Greenland. The company is 2/3 owned by the Greenlandic Government and 1/3 owned by the Government of Denmark.[1][2]
It operates 14 airports, all of which can accommodate fixed-wing STOL operations year-round, and three of which can handle larger airliners. It also operates a large, countrywide network of 43 heliports, of which 8 are primary heliports, while the rest are considered 'helistops'.[3]
The company employs over 450 people, staffed primarily at larger airports. Most 'helistops' are operated by Air Greenland. Greenland Airports also own the hotel in Narsarsuaq as well as most buildings in Kangerlussuaq.
Greenland Airports are regulated by the Danish Civil Aviation and Railway Authority.[4]
For all the airports operated by the authority, see the List of airports in Greenland.
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Aviation in Greenland was historically primarily reliant on airports built for military purposes during World War II by the United States: Kangerlussuaq Airport, Narsarsuaq Airport and Kulusuk Airport. Towns were served by helicopters through a network of heliports, mostly on the west coast.[5]
In 1979, a STOL airport was constructed in Nuuk and in Ilulissat in 1984.[6][7] Fixed-wing flights using smaller aircraft were now possible, reducing transport costs and increasing service. As a result of its success, in 1998-2007, the Greenlandic Government began building a network of STOL airports in 8 major towns in western Greenland to improve transport by moving away from the dependence on helicopters between towns. The airports built by the Greenlandic government were at Ilulissat, Sisimiut, Aasiaat, Maniitsoq, Qaarsut, Qaanaaq, Upernavik and Paamiut. In conjunction, Mittarfeqarfiit (Greenland Airports) was established.[8][9]
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In 2016, the state owned company Kalaallit Airports A/S was formed when it was decided that three new or rebuilt airports would be constructed closer to larger population centres in Nuuk, Ilulissat and Qaqortoq. These airports will accommodate larger jet aircraft which can serve international destinations, at a cost of 3.6 billion DKK (approximately $560 million USD), primarily financed by the Danish state.[10] Kalaallit Airports A/S would build and operate these three new airports.[11]
In April 2024, Kalaallit Airports and Mittarfeqarfiit were merged into a new company called Greenland Airports.[12] The company is 2/3 owned by the Greenland government and 1/3 owned by the Government of Denmark.[1]
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