New Developments on One Stop Security for Nuuk Airport
Travelers departing from Nuuk will continue facing the inconvenience of passing through security again when changing planes in Europe, at least until 2026. It appears that Greenland Airports has temporarily abandoned efforts to set a new timeline for achieving the essential approval from the European Union. Meanwhile, the Swedish Transport Agency has cautiously floated the idea of a possible timeframe for implementing One Stop Security (OSS).
As it stands, Nuuk Airport must first stabilize its operations before it can re-engage in discussions about OSS.
Setbacks in Implementation
Originally, officials had anticipated that the new Nuuk Airport would be fully operational with OSS by the time it opened in 2024. When that did not materialize, hopes shifted to the summer of 2025, and then to late 2025. However, it has become clear that these timelines were overly optimistic. Consequently, Nuuk Airport remains without the necessary EU endorsement for One Stop Security.
For travelers, this means that anyone connecting through European airports, such as Copenhagen, must expect additional security screenings upon arrival. Passengers are escorted by bus and directed to a rear entrance where they check in their luggage before heading to their connecting flights.
The day will finally come when the EU’s inspection team certifies Nuuk Airport’s compliance with European security standards. At that point, travelers will be able to navigate seamlessly from one gate to another without the added hurdle of additional security checks.
No New Timelines Yet
Mikkel Bjarnø Lund, the communications manager for Greenland Airports, has made it clear that announcing a new timelinefor OSS implementation is not on the agenda at this moment. “Right now, it’s too early to provide any updates on schedules or the next steps,” Lund explained. “As we’ve encountered some challenges in the security area, our focus is to stabilize operations first. We have also brought on a new security manager to assist in this process.”
This marks a departure from the previous optimism surrounding the timeline for OSS approval, as Greenland Airports had once maintained that achieving this by 2025 was feasible. However, the supervisory authority, Trafikstyrelsen, had raised concerns about the realism of that target.
Factors Contributing to the Delay
Several factors contribute to the continuing delay in OSS approval. Primarily, Greenland Airports must address its own security issues before seeking EU oversight, which is estimated to take as long as a year.
The Swedish Transport Agency has weighed in with a tentative proposal regarding the timeline for OSS implementation. Officials have suggested that the summer season of 2027 could be a possibility, though they were careful to label this timeframe as part of a “highly ambitious scenario.” This cautionary stance underscores the many challenges still ahead.
In short, while the prospects for One Stop Security at Nuuk Airport remain uncertain, the journey toward achieving this goal is ongoing. Travelers can only hope that the necessary improvements will come to fruition, allowing for a more seamless travel experience in the future.