A Closer Look at Nuuk Airport’s Challenges
Frequent flights taking off and landing in rapid succession, crucial meetings continuously delayed, and a lack of clear communication from the Swedish Transport Agency. These issues have prompted significant new restrictions at Nuuk Airport. Aviation experts point fingers at Greenland Airports for failing to adhere to established protocols.
Aviation consultant Hans Christian Stigaard provides a candid assessment: “This is a very serious situation in Nuuk. It’s extremely unwise that the airport has not followed the operational rules outlined in last year’s permit. I can’t recall encountering such disregard in Danish aviation.”
Stigaard’s comments come in the wake of a recent inspection report from the Danish Transport Agency, which highlighted deficiencies during their September 2025 assessments. As a result, new flight regulations have been put in place—restricting the airport to a maximum of two landings and four total operations per hour, although certain exceptions, such as emergency flights, will be allowed.
The report confirms that Greenland Airports has not maintained the required 15-minute intervals between flights—a requirement that was previously enforced. “The Transport Agency itself noted at least five breaches during random checks, along with ten additional reports from Greenland Airports about violations. There is further documentation indicating that the local Air Traffic Control in Nuuk felt it was unnecessary to adhere to these rules,” the inspection report states.
Stigaard is adamant that the local Air Traffic Control personnel cannot disregard established regulations simply because they believe they know better. “You can’t create your own rules,” he emphasizes.
Coordination Breakdown
Further compounding these issues, Stigaard notes that daily meetings designed to coordinate flight schedules have never commenced. This has left the Swedish Transport Agency inadequately informed about operational conditions. One key point of criticism is the lack of sufficient reporting to the Danish Transport Agency by AFIS (Air Traffic Services) in Greenland, alongside Greenland Airports’ failure to follow up on these reports.
The ramifications of these oversights are already becoming evident. New travel restrictions are triggering delays, particularly for domestic flights, as Air Greenland confirmed last week. “Yes, these new restrictions are stringent, but they must be viewed within the context of the airport’s failure to comply with operational protocols,” Stigaard explains. “The Danish Transport Agency had already made considerable concessions to permit the early opening of the Nuuk airport last year. It’s puzzling why there’s been a seeming disregard for the requirements that have now become necessary.”
Greenland Airports must now identify the causes of these operational failures and develop an action plan to address them. They are also required to submit updated statistics on flight departures to the Swedish Transport Agency. This oversight comes with a stern warning: failure to comply could ultimately result in a ban on flights.
Stigaard interprets this as a clear message to Greenland Airports to take immediate and decisive action.
Acknowledging the Concerns
In a written statement, Jens Wittrup Willumsen, chairman of Greenland Airports, acknowledged the seriousness of the situation. “We take this criticism very seriously. We fully recognize that mistakes have been made with respect to compliance at Nuuk. This is a significant concern, and we understand the unease it has caused.”
Willumsen added, “I want to emphasize that nothing that happened reflects a willful disregard for rules or responsibilities. The aviation sector is technically complex and governed by a multitude of procedures, and we admit that we have not lived up to our responsibilities. We will rectify this.”
Willumsen further affirmed a commitment to thorough collaboration with the Danish Transport Agency and Air Greenland to address the agency’s findings promptly. “We are fully aware of the critical role that the airport plays in Greenland’s infrastructure and community, and we are actively working to restore efficient operations as swiftly as possible,” he stated.
This situation serves as a crucial reminder that adherence to established protocols is essential not just for the smooth functioning of airport operations, but for the safety and confidence of all passengers who rely on these vital services.