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One-year service contract for helicopter transport in South Greenland approved

A new one-year service contract between the Self-Government and Air Greenland will ensure service to South Greenland from April 2026. It is now possible to purchase connecting helicopter tickets to and from the new airport in Qaqortoq.

 

Earlier this week, the one-year service contract for helicopter services in South Greenland was signed between the Ministry of Housing, Infrastructure and Rural Affairs and Air Greenland. The contract will come into force on 16 April 2026 in connection with the opening of Qaqortoq Airport.

 

With this agreement, travellers can now purchase connecting tickets linking the new airport in Qaqortoq with Narsaq, Nanortalik and the surrounding settlements – and on to the rest of Greenland and abroad via Air Greenland's other route network.

 

The service contract covers two H125 helicopters based in Qaqortoq, which will fly to Narsaq and Nanortalik all year round and to the settlements during the periods 1 January – 31 May and 1 September – 25 October 2026. The H155 helicopter currently serving the region from Narsarsuaq will remain in operation during a transition period while the new helicopters and crews are phased in.

Jacob Nitter

Clarity for customers

Jacob Nitter Sørensen, CEO of Air Greenland, is pleased that the agreement is now in place:

- Many customers have been asking for clarity about helicopter connections to and from the new airport in the region. Now they can purchase a seamless journey to and from South Greenland to the rest of the country and abroad. This provides greater security for our customers – even during periods of delays and cancellations,he says.


The new timetable has been adapted to a changed traffic pattern in South Greenland, where the passenger base for helicopter traffic is expected to decline when the feeder flight between Qaqortoq and Narsarsuaq ceases at the opening of the new airport. At the same time, the deployment of two helicopters based in Qaqortoq will contribute to a more robust timetable and greater operational reliability in serving the region.

Aqqa

Temporary solution until new tender

The opening of Qaqortoq Airport will entail significant changes to the traffic structure in South Greenland. The authorities therefore wanted to ensure a stable transition towards a long-term solution.
Naalakkersuisoq for Social Affairs, Labour Market, Housing, Infrastructure and Remote Districts, Aqqaluaq B. Egede, says:


- In order to create more certainty about passenger transport in South Greenland, it has been important to put a temporary solution in place. At the same time, I attach great importance to local involvement, which is why we are holding an infrastructure seminar in Qaqortoq right now. Here, local stakeholders are contributing input to the future transport structure towards 2030.

The one-year service contract covers the period from the airport's opening in April 2026 to 2027. After that, the department plans to conduct a public tender for helicopter services in South Greenland until the end of 2030.

 

The flight schedule for flights to Qaqortoq Airport has been on sale since autumn 2025. With the new agreement, the helicopter flight schedule has now also been loaded, and tickets are on sale.

 

After the opening of Qaqortoq Airport on 16 April 2026, the flight schedule will be as follows:

• Regular connection Copenhagen – Nuuk – Qaqortoq on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
• During the high season, also on Saturdays and Sundays — i.e. up to daily connections and an extra connection between Billund and Qaqortoq via Nuuk on Wednesdays

 

The destinations in the helicopter route network are connected to and from Copenhagen via Nuuk and Qaqortoq in the basic flight schedule several times a week, as well as further connections to the rest of Greenland via Nuuk.

Facts

  • Brief overview of the helicopter flight schedule in South Greenland 

    Qaqortoq – Narsaq
    • Up to 2 daily return flights on weekdays

    Qaqortoq – Nanortalik
    • Up to 3 daily return flights on weekdays

    Community flights 
    Operated during the periods 1 January – 31 May and 1 September – 25 October:
    • Alluitsup Paa
    • Ammassivik
    • Tasiusaq
    • Aappilattoq
    • Narsaq Kujalleq
    • Arsuk*

    * Arsuk is only served during the period 1 January – 15 May.