Nuuk Halts International Flights Over Security Lapses

‍NUUK — International flights to Greenland’s capital city have been suspended after it was found that security staff had not been adequately trained to the standard of the Danish Transport Authority. Without the ability for security checks, international flights have been suspended until Thursday, August 28.

Greenland Airports, the owner and operator of all civilian airports on the Danish territory, including Nuuk International Airport (GOH), stated (In a translated release), “The suspension is due to the fact that, according to the Danish Transport Authority, the further training of staff for screening international travellers does not fully meet the applicable requirements.”

The statement goes on to say, “The suspension has no impact on domestic traffic, where screening continues as normal. The airport's security certification for domestic flights remains valid.” It appears all flights using Air Greenland’s (GL) Dash 8 fleet were unaffected, including those bound for Iceland and Canada.

Greenland Airports provided an update on Wednesday, saying in a release, “Tomorrow, Thursday, August 28, security will reopen for international travelers at Nuuk Airport (GOH). A team of certified security staff from two Danish airports has arrived in Nuuk and is ready to reopen international traffic on Thursday. At the same time, arrangements will be made within the next few days so that the security staff in Nuuk can resume their functions as soon as possible.”

However, this brief disruption did result in some cancellations. GL’s daily Copenhagen (CPH) flight with its Airbus A330-800, “Tuukkaq,” managed to make it through, landing just before 13:00 on Tuesday. Still, United Airlines’ (UA) semiweekly flight from Newark Airport (EWR) was less lucky, turning around just before hitting Labrador. SAS’s (SK) own Copenhagen flight for Wednesday was cancelled outright.

It’s the latest in a series of teething pains with the Airport’s new terminal facilities, including other security setbacks since the terminal opened last year.

Nuuk International Airport is the hub and technical base for GL.

New in Nuuk

Until 2024, GOH was restricted to small aircraft, such as GL’s fleet of De Havilland Canada Dash 8-200s, which form the backbone of its regional services in Greenland. With its former 3,117ft (950m) runway, not even regional jets could land. 

All international traffic was forced to go through Kangerlussuaq (SFJ), including GL’s Boeing 757 and Airbus A330-200. This setup forced Nuuk-bound passengers and freight to connect onto one of many 37-seat Dash 8s.

In November 2024, the airport’s runway expansion project was completed, extending runway 04/22 by 4,083 feet (1,250 meters), allowing even wide-body airliners to land, and enabling GL to relocate its operating base from SFJ. With the new runway, a new terminal and apron area were also completed in the summer of the same year.

Since then, new airlines have begun launching service to the Greenlandic capital, including UA from EWR and SK from CPH, both of which are seasonal summer routes operated on narrow-body Boeing 737-8s and A320neo, respectively.

Icelandair (FI) also launched jet service thrice weekly from Reykjavík-Keflavík (KEF) with their 737-8, while GL added flights to Billund Airport (BLL) and Aalborg Airport (AAL) with leased Boeing 737-800s from Jettime (JP) and Airseven, respectively.

Apart from a few setbacks and teething pains, including airline approvals, other operational passenger and cargo security deficiencies, and occasional fog and high winds, things are looking up for the airport to become Greenland’s tourism hub. Just this week, UA announced that its EWR flight will return for the 2026 summer season.

Update

On August 29, 2025, GOH reopened for international flights following temporary suspension.