International flights suspended for day at Greenland airport
International departures from Greenland’s capital Nuuk were suspended on Wednesday after authorities found that airport security staff lacked sufficient training, the Danish transport ministry announced.
The suspension came less than a year after Nuuk inaugurated a new runway designed for long-haul flights. The expansion was hailed as a milestone for Greenland, enabling larger aircraft to operate without relying on Icelandic stopovers. Since then, the airport has launched a direct service to New York twice weekly, but Wednesday’s flight was canceled, according to operator Greenland Airports’ published schedule.
Later in the day, the airport authority said flights would resume on Thursday once reinforcements arrived. “Security personnel are being dispatched from two Danish airports to support operations,” the company explained in a Facebook statement.
Anders Windfeldt, a senior official at Denmark’s transport ministry, told AFP that the suspension followed concerns uncovered during an inspection. “We have issued Greenland Airports an injunction to comply with aviation safety rules at Nuuk Airport, where we identified a number of insufficient safety measures,” he said. Windfeldt noted that training for staff responsible for screening international travelers had not yet met required standards.
As a result, international flights were halted “until security personnel receive the necessary training and the airport is fully capable of adhering to its own procedures and security plan,” the ministry explained.
Domestic operations in Greenland continued without disruption, meaning local air travel was unaffected by the suspension.
For international travelers, the abrupt halt caused inconvenience, particularly for those scheduled on the New York route. Greenland Airports said passengers would be contacted directly by their airlines to receive updated itineraries and practical information regarding delays or cancellations.
The setback is a blow for Nuuk’s airport, which has positioned itself as a gateway between North America and Europe since the new runway opened. The facility was designed to bolster Greenland’s connectivity, reduce dependence on foreign hubs, and support the island’s growing tourism and business ties.
Despite the temporary suspension, officials stressed that the measure was precautionary and short-term. With additional trained staff due to arrive and further training programs underway, authorities expect international departures to resume swiftly and operate under improved safety standards.
