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Nuuk Water Taxi sees both opportunities and challenges with the new airport

The opening of Nuuk’s international airport has delivered a significant boost in demand and fully booked boats throughout the peak season. At the same time, challenges with safety and air traffic control have hit the industry hard during a critical period.

Nuuk Water Taxi enters 2026 with a clear sense that years of investment are now paying off. The opening of the new international airport in Nuuk has driven a marked increase in tourism, and the company has just completed its busiest season to date. At the same time, the year has underlined that new infrastructure only works when operations are fully in place.

We are seeing enormous interest, and it has given a strong boost to the business. In July and August we were completely sold out on all boats and simply could not take in any more guests,” says CEO Anders Lykke Laursen.

The strong demand has led Nuuk Water Taxi to expand its fleet further in 2025. The company now operates five boats with capacity for 12 passengers, two boats carrying six passengers and one 36-passenger vessel.

“We have had to increase capacity to keep up. The new 12-passenger boat is a direct response to the surge in demand following the airport opening,” says Anders Lykke Laursen.

CEO Anders Lykke Laursen explains that investments in fleet, staff, and camp facilities are now beginning to pay off for Nuuk Water Taxi.

No time to lose when peak season hits

Although the airport has helped lift tourism, the first months of operation have also carried consequences for the entire sector.

“Airport safety simply has not been in place from day one. This has meant cancellations, guests who were unable to arrive, refunds and lost revenue. And all of that in the shortest and most important period of the year,” says Anders Lykke Laursen. For Nuuk Water Taxi, operating within just a few intense months, every single day counts.

“When you lose revenue in July and August, you feel it. There are no other months where you can make it back.”

At the same time, the current shortage of air traffic controllers is impacting the wider visitor experience across the country.

“It affects the entire tourism industry in Greenland. If guests cannot get here, they don’t get out on the water, they don’t go to camp, and they don’t travel around the country. That has to be taken very seriously. We expect this to be resolved — otherwise it will have consequences for the reputation of the destination as a whole.”

Airport opening enables consolidation

After several years of major investments in vessels, staff and camp facilities, Nuuk Water Taxi is now entering a phase focused on consolidation and optimisation.

The company currently employs 40–50 people across its boats, administration, workshop and Camp Kangiusaq – and the broader organisation has proven its strength this year.

“We have invested heavily ahead of the airport opening, and it has been the right decision. Now it is about strengthening systems, the organisation and quality so we can manage growth in a sustainable way,” says Anders Lykke Laursen.

Camp Kangiusaq continues to play a central role in the business. During the summer season, 10 full-time employees offer guests accommodation, meals, paddleboarding, kayaking, hiking and fishing trips. Winter activity is lower, but the potential is increasing as the seasons are gradually extended.

Looking ahead to a more stable future

Despite the challenges, optimism remains high. The new airport has cemented Nuuk’s role as a gateway to Greenland, and demand is expected to grow further as more airlines add the destination to their networks.

“We have had clear confirmation that the potential is enormous. If the infrastructure can keep pace, we are looking at many good years ahead,” says Anders Lykke Laursen.

Nuuk Water Taxi is ready to welcome this growth, but Anders Lykke Laursen stresses that it requires a solid framework.

“We have done our part. We have invested, hired and expanded. Now it is crucial that the rest of the system follows, so we can deliver the kind of experience that Greenland — and our guests — deserve.”

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