There is one date on the horizon in 2024 with regard to aviation in Greenland and that is 28th November. This is the day when the new airport is planned to open in Nuuk. And then what?

– This is a new reality, answers Tomas Leth Jørgensen, who is the leader of Network and Revenue at Air Greenland and who therefore occupies an important post when it comes to one of the central concerns for an airline: The flight schedule.

– On 28th November, Nuuk “becomes” Kangerlussuaq. In November, the capital becomes the traffic hub for domestic and overseas flights. It will be the new “bus station” from where flights go in all directions, says Tomas Leth Jørgensen.

“The flight schedule” might sound somewhat unexciting. One envisions endless columns of figures, but make no mistake. There is interesting news for 2024/25 – so let’s start with overseas traffic:

In the summer flight schedule valid from March to October 2025, the number of direct flights on the transatlantic route will increase to eight flights per week, five of them with Tuukkaq and three with a so-called Narrow Body aircraft with one aisle and seating for 180-189 passengers. As something new, there will be three weekly morning departures from Nuuk to Copenhagen, with arrival in Denmark in the afternoon. There will also be afternoon departures from Copenhagen, arriving in Nuuk at 19.30 hours.

On the horizon – on the other side of the present 2024/25 flight schedule – there are glimpses of more possible improvements. Night flights with Tuukkaq are on the drawing board when Tomas Leth Jørgensen and his colleagues look into their crystal ball. This is also true of a route to The Big Apple, New York. Tomas Leth Jørgensen summarizes the focus points:

– We are focusing hard on Denmark with Copenhagen and Billund – and we are working on plans for Aalborg. To the east, we are strengthening connections to Iceland. To the west, we are starting with Canada and in the long run we would like to fly to New York and similar destinations. That will not happen today or tomorrow, but when Ilulissat opens and demand increases, America will be in our sights.

Few airlines in the world can handle the complexity that is involved in Air Greenland’s operations. The geographical conditions in themselves are unique, with a very scattered population spread out over the biggest island in the world. The weather conditions add extra challenges and the polar night in itself is also a challenge.

– Changes will mean, e.g. at passengers from East Greenland will be able to catch a transatlantic connection on the same day, Leth Jørgensen.

In other words, it takes experience and a broad overview to functionally connect the world’s biggest island, so everyone can be moved from point A to point B. If Air Greenland were a military organisation, they would say “leave no man behind”. For Tomas Leth Jørgensen and his colleagues, it is all about getting three networks to interact effectively with each other.

– The first branch of our network consists of the routes that are farthest away from the biggest traffic arteries. It is here the service contracts are in effect, he remarks.

Service contracts with the government consist of helicopter services for areas around Qaanaaq, Upernavik, Uummannaq, Ilulissat (winter), Sisimiut (winter), South Greenland, Tasiilaq and Ittoqqortoormiit as well as fixed wing aircraft contracts between Upernavik and Qaanaaq.

– The second network consists of flights between the larger towns using the Dash 8. Here, Nuuk will be taking over Kangerlussuaq’s role as hub, explains Leth Jørgensen.

In the new flight schedule, North, Central, South and East Greenland will get more and improved same-day connections between regions as well as in connection with transatlantic routes.

– Changes will mean, e.g. at passengers from East Greenland will be able to catch a transatlantic connection on the same day, thus avoiding an overnight stay. Two Dash 8s will be stationed in Ilulissat as opposed to one today, remarks Leth Jørgensen.

The big question from our customers remains: what about the prices?

– The best defence against outside competition is a good flight schedule and competitive prices, answers Tomas Leth Jørgensen and explains:

– At Air Greenland, we are very aware that our present situation – and our loyal passengers – must never be a pretext for inaction. We are very pleased with this loyalty, but we should not let ourselves be lulled by the fact that “our red aircraft” in themselves make passengers choose us, he says.

– There is no love in business. We must be sharp with our prices and also offer a cohesive trip based on our Dash 8 network. We are also focusing on being the obvious partner for the bigger international companies so we sell their routes in our shop and they choose ours, says Tomas Leth Jørgensen.