r/greenlandtravel

I normally lug a large camera around but these were all iPhone 17 pro max. I was impressed with the 4x and 8x.

I was on a cruise for the first photo and last MS Fridtjof Nansen as a speaker on board and I used local operator Ilulissat Excursions for the iceberg boat tour.

This was my 15th time coming to Ilulissat in the last 10 years. I prefer September because I like getting darker skies at night but this was fantastic weather so I’m not complaining.

I’m advising people to change up their plans at this point.

Several sources have told me personally that they’re stuck in Nuuk or Kangerlussuaq and can’t get to Ilulissat or the reverse scenario.

I’m coming back to GL next month. I’m taking the Sarfaq Ittuk ferry from Nuuk to Ilulissat and then I’ll see what happens after and probably sail back down a week later.

One of my clients was thinking of doing the Arctic Circle Trail. With the flights, I’m advising him to do it in reverse and start in Sisimiut and end in Kangerlussuaq and fly back to Denmark from there. That Atlantic flight won’t be canceled.

The problems are happening for people arriving in Kangerlussuaq from Denmark and then getting stuck there due to various domestic Greenland flight disruptions.

Beware. Maybe things will be better in 2028 after Ilulissat airport is operational and has had a full year of experience to get the kinks worked out.

Linda Lynge Martinsen from Qeqertarsuaq is a master of this art form. Her prices are reasonable. I buy the big pieces from her.

Susanne Brandt is also in Qeqertarsuaq and a true talent. I buy smaller pieces and more earrings from her

Cash is preferred. But they also take bank transfer.

They will mail this to your hotel if you arrange it properly. Hit them up on Facebook messenger if you’re not going to Qeqertarsuaq. Try English and translate to Danish is that doesn’t work out and tell them I sent you.

They’re like half the price of Glacier Shoppe and stuff in Ilulissat and Nuuk.

Gotta love local artisans. They’re all made by hand painstakingly. I always get compliments on the white one I have. Kind of like RBG rip. 🪦

My friend Kunngu has taken her jewelry business from Facebook to a small shop next to the harbor as well.

It’s on the higher end but she uses Greenland gold, rubies, and other gems. She also uses baleen and bone and other materials.

I snagged the red ones in the middle on the first pic.

Anyone looking for an upscale gift for themselves or someone else, have a look at the shop or https://www.instagram.com/icecap\_jewelry

I previously only knew of Inuk Adventures. They’re amazing but check out these guys if they’re fully booked.

It looks like this is the local operator whales of Greenland

https://www.whalesofgreenland.com and they’re affiliated with dogsled and ice academy that has been around for a while for winter tours.

https://www.dogsled-ice-academy.com

Prices for iceberg tour is a little high and it doesn’t look like a closed boat so please use Ilulissat Excursions for that. https://ilulissatexcursions.com

Do let us know. I’ve heard about some nightmarish situations for several folks. Totally unable to get to Ilulissat.

I heard about Kangerlussuaq being tough to get out of.

If you need help, let us know. Crazy times.

Lots of talk about the domestic flights being messed up right now. Just my data points for the international United flights last year and this year departing from Nuuk.

3 September 2025: GOH-EWR on time. Flight not sold out. Kind of foggy-ish because it was the morning 9:45 flight.

28 June 2026: GOH-EWR on time departure, early arrival. Row to myself. Fuller flight but not sold out. Same weather as last year.

Personal experience.

Security was smooth too but bag drop wasn’t working so I had to wait in line for the agent to do it. I arrived at 7 am so the line wouldn’t be long and that worked out.

News from Air Greenland:

Yesterday, IATA – the international organisation for the world’s airlines – announced that Air Greenland has now been admitted as a member.

This marks a major milestone after several years of dedicated work with audits, documentation and alignment with international standards across the entire organisation.

With our IATA membership, we can now take the next step towards our goal of strengthening cooperation with other airlines. This is an important step towards making Greenland more accessible – for the benefit of customers travelling to and from the country.

Thank you to all colleagues who have contributed to this milestone – and to IATA for their trust.

Read more here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1B9Wt75Uhw

I usually just stroll through and get to the gate but the prices on stuff here is a bargain compared to in the shops.

I can see why people stock up.

I didn’t understand it before but now I do.

Local brand for today is Inuit Quality Clothes. I’ll highlight the others in the coming days. But I’m seeing all of the shirts that were in high demand last year and sold out are now available. Not just from Inuit Quality Clothes brand but all the local brands.

Popular and original. The inventory is great right now so early in the season. Support local businesses please!

Don’t be shocked by the prices. 300 DKK nearly $50 USD for a T-shirt is not unusual.

I haven’t been shy about commenting on the main international airport in Nuuk. It’s been a huge adjustment from Kangerlussuaq. We can’t change the past but moving forward there will be more security personnel to smooth operations - about 3x more than they expected they’d need. And we’ll see if they’re able to partition international vs domestic but that looks more challenging.

I hope they can retain staff. It’s such a stressful job working there so I’m hoping there is some relief.

Let’s see how Ilulissat goes…

From Sermitsiaq and KNR today: confirmation of what we already knew but details of what’s needed.

https://www.sermitsiaq.ag/erhverv/skeletterne-vaeltede-ud-af-skabene/2397862

Lacks security
Still, there are plenty of challenges ahead.
First of all, the many problems with security at Nuuk Airport. It emerged at the general meeting that this task is completely underestimated. 

Greenland Airports had originally budgeted 20 employees for the task. Now it turns out that there will be 60 employees. It takes time to hire, train and security-clear so many people - and for now, Greenland Airports is getting help with the task from security employees from Copenhagen Airports.

At a press conference after the general meeting, Greenland Airport's CEO also acknowledged that the security problems are mainly due to the fact that the terminal building in Nuuk is constructed completely incorrectly - and cannot be changed immediately.

- It is a mistake that we mix regional and international traffic in the same arrival and departure. But the design of the building does not immediately provide any possibilities to change this, explained Jens Lauridsen, who was able to say that the need for security staff in Qaqortoq and Ilulissat will be significantly reduced for the same reason - and not least because there is less traffic at the two airports, so that the security staff can do other tasks when there is no traffic.

Need for air traffic controllers
Another major challenge at Nuuk airport is that the original plan was not to have air traffic controllers, but AFIS operators in Nuuk. It has turned out that both airlines and especially the Danish Transport Authority were dissatisfied with this solution.

Last year, this led to restrictions in traffic flow, which, among other things, has given Air Greenland major challenges with regional flights in connection with Tuukkaq's arrivals and departures.

The challenges have been solved with a so-called TMA air traffic control system, which was introduced from May 14 this year in collaboration with Naviair. Air traffic control directs the planes to the airport, after which the AFIS operators, as before, keep track of the traffic at the airport itself.
Greenland Airports expects that the Danish Transport Authority will require TMA in connection with the upcoming airport in Ilulissat.

At the general meeting, it was also announced that in the first year in Nuuk there had been challenges in securing fuel for the large Airbus aircraft - and therefore they had to invest in a new fuel trailer with a capacity of 30 m3.
In addition to the challenges with the new airports, Greenland Airport's finances in 2025 are affected by a fire at the workshop in Kulusuk and an expected fine of 8 million kroner in connection with an oil spill.

Yep. You heard that right. High season and Ilulissat Airport will have major limitations imposed on operations because of installation of a critical piece of equipment.

This means that flights that would normally be able to arrive in Ilulissat might not be able to. So don’t be surprised if you get delayed or your Ilulissat leg could get cancelled as it has for several folks and we are only in week 2 of this restriction. We have been getting reports of significant interruptions leaving people stranded or unable to get to Ilulissat at all.

I didn’t know about this in advance. Did anyone else?

Notice in English here

Information about air traffic to and from Ilulissat in the period 15 June – 31 July
Greenland Airports is currently installing a new antenna at Ilulissat Airport during the period from week 25 to week 31 (15 June – 31 July).
 
This work means that Air Greenland’s Dash 8 aircraft will need to operate under stricter weather requirements during this period. This may reduce the time windows in which planes can take off and land, particularly during periods of low visibility such as morning and evening fog.
 
As a result, delays, changes, or cancellations of flights to and from Ilulissat may occur during this period.
 
The installation is carried out by Greenland Airports and is outside Air Greenland’s control. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our passengers.
 
Thank you for your understanding

Will I do it again? No.

Took forever (like 23 minutes) and it did not have that distinctive BK flavor but wasn’t bad and the fries were actually good.

I never thought I’d see this in Greenland so I couldn’t help myself.

Presently there is only one food option after clearing security. This will be able to serve people in the main hall lobby.