A new airport has opened in Qaqortoq, Greenland, located in the country’s southern region. For the first time, international travelers can reach this main town in South Greenland directly by air, improving access to one of the Arctic’s most diverse and less-visited areas.
© Greenland Airports
Until now, Qaqortoq could only be reached by helicopter or boat. The new airport establishes the town as the primary gateway to South Greenland, with year-round flights from Nuuk and seasonal services from Iceland. It replaces Narsarsuaq as the main regional access point, significantly cutting travel times to the southern hub and improving connections to destinations such as Tasermiut Fjord, often called the “Patagonia of Greenland.”
Air Greenland plans to operate approximately two daily flights between Nuuk (GOH) and Qaqortoq (JJU) throughout the year, increasing to as many as 17 weekly rotations during the busy summer season. Icelandair intends to offer four weekly summer flights between Keflavík (KEF) and Qaqortoq, further enhancing international access.
© Greenland Airports
South Greenland is renowned for its comparatively mild climate and verdant scenery, offering a contrast to the stereotypical Arctic environment. The region also contains the UNESCO World Heritage site of Kujataa, an area that reflects more than a millennium of human settlement by Inuit communities and Norse settlers.
The opening of Qaqortoq’s airport is part of a broader expansion of Greenland’s aviation network. It follows the upgrades at Nuuk’s airport and precedes the scheduled opening of a new airport in Ilulissat later this year, a program aimed at improving year-round connectivity and supporting tourism and local communities across the country.