65 years of experience behind one of the world’s most demanding aviation operations

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65 years of experience behind one of the world’s most demanding aviation operations

Air Greenland balances critical infrastructure with safety, social responsibility and international growth, while preparing for the opening of the new airports in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq.

For more than six decades, Air Greenland has built an aviation operation that few airlines in the world can match in complexity. This experience is essential for maintaining reliable service in a country where harsh weather conditions, long distances and remote communities are part of everyday life.

CEO Jacob Nitter Sørensen points to the combination of a diverse fleet and continuous investment in training as the key to keeping Greenland connected year-round.

“It takes a large technical organisation, multiple aircraft types and highly trained staff to operate safely in the conditions we work under. It’s a responsibility we are very conscious of,” he says.

Air Greenland’s CEO, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, in front of one of the company’s iconic red aircraft that support daily operations across Greenland.

Critical infrastructure requires a specialised organisation

Air Greenland operates ten maintenance bases and manages a broad fleet that includes helicopters, Dash-8 turboprops and large Airbus A330 aircraft.

This enables the airline to carry out ambulance flights, search and rescue missions, charter operations and scheduled passenger services — including routes that cannot always be run on purely commercial terms.

“We operate more aircraft types and cover more mission profiles than airlines much larger than us. This places higher demands on our organisation than on many of our bigger colleagues. For example, we undergo around 220 audits each year, which is significant for a company with fewer than 700 employees,” says Jacob Nitter Sørensen.

“These are the conditions when you are responsible for connecting a vast geographic area. And we take great pride in delivering a wide range of critical services every single day on behalf of our owner, the people of Greenland,” he adds.

Weather can disrupt — and safety always comes first

Weather conditions in Greenland can shift rapidly. Even with sunshine and clear skies at the destination, conditions at altitude — or the risk of fog — may require a flight to be cancelled or diverted. In some cases, an aircraft must turn back mid-route.

“We depart if the captain judges it to be safe. But circumstances can change, and sometimes we must turn around,” says Jacob Nitter Sørensen.

“These events tend to attract attention, especially when an Atlantic flight has to return to Copenhagen. Fortunately, it happens relatively rarely. Most disruptions occur in domestic and helicopter operations and are typically due to coastal fog or storms.”

He emphasises that safety outweighs everything else.

“Our staff must never feel pressured to dispatch an aircraft if there is the slightest doubt. And at management level, we have full confidence that they make decisions based on solid professional judgement.”

Air Greenland also supports passengers with accommodation and rebooking when weather conditions lead to delays, changes or diversions — a fundamental part of the airline’s role in society.

New infrastructure will reshape mobility across Greenland

With the opening of new airports in Qaqortoq and Ilulissat in 2026, Greenland is entering the next phase of its aviation development.

“This is historic. First Nuuk’s new airport, which opened for jet operations in November 2024, and now Qaqortoq and Ilulissat next year. It will change many things and open Greenland in entirely new ways, especially from 2027 when the airports are fully integrated into the schedule,” says Jacob Nitter Sørensen.

The new airports will also shift passenger flows. More international travellers will fly directly, leading to fewer domestic passengers.

“This makes it even more important that we, as a society, encourage tourists to explore more of Greenland via domestic routes. It increases activity across the country and helps finance critical infrastructure going forward,” he says.

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