Greenland Suspends International Flights at Nuuk Airport Over Safety Gaps

International flights from Greenland’s Nuuk airport have been halted less than a year after the facility opened its new long-haul runway, the Danish transport ministry confirmed on Wednesday.

The 2,200-metre runway, inaugurated in November 2023, was designed to accommodate larger aircraft and boost Greenland’s global connectivity, including the launch of a twice-weekly direct service to New York.

However, scheduled departures on Wednesday morning—to New York at 9:00 am (0800 GMT) and to Billund, Denmark, at 11:50 am—were cancelled after regulators flagged lapses in passenger safety checks.

According to ministry spokesperson Anders Windfeldt, training for security staff at Nuuk airport did not meet international standards.
“We have issued an injunction to Greenland Airports to comply with aviation safety rules after identifying several shortcomings,” Windfeldt told AFP.

As a result, international flights are suspended “until staff complete the required training and the airport can fully implement its safety procedures.”

Domestic services within Greenland remain unaffected.

Greenland Airports said it would notify the ministry once compliance is achieved. Affected passengers are being contacted directly by their airlines with travel updates and alternative arrangements.