Greenland Opens Ilulissat Airport to Attract Tourists and Support Future Independence

Greenland opened an international airport in Ilulissat, with its first Copenhagen flight arriving on October 29, aiming to attract visitors and diversify an economy dependent on fishing. Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen called the project one of the island’s biggest investments, saying a strong economic base is essential to eventual independence from Denmark. The new runway can accommodate larger planes; Air Greenland plans up to six flights weekly from Copenhagen during peak season. Tourism remains below 5% of Greenland’s GDP, and residents have raised concerns about infrastructure and environmental impacts.