Nuuk Airport, (formerly Godthåb in Danish), serves the capital of Greenland, and is located 3.7km northeast of the city of the same name. However, with its short runway, the airport is only capable of servicing aircraft up to the size of the Dash 8, though there are plans to extend the runway in the near future to allow aircraft such as the Boeing 737 or Airbus A320 to utilise the airport.

Nuuk is a technical base for Air Greenland, the flag carrier, and the airline links the capital with several towns in the west and south of Greenland which is the world’s largest island. As well as operating its Dash 8 and helicopter fleets from Nuuk, Air Greenland also bases a Beech King Air there for air ambulance flights and occasional charters. Despite being an international airport, the only international route currently served from Nuuk is the Icelandair service to Keflavik in Iceland.

The airport was built in 1979 when the newly formed home rule government decided to create a network of STOL-capable domestic airports. Nuuk, Kulusuk and Ilulissat Airports constituted the first wave of this development, with several other new airports being built in the 1990s. Nuuk Airport’s passenger terminal has three gates and there is also an Air Greenland cargo terminal.

Written by Clive Grant. Last Update: October 2022.

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Visitor Rating How was your trip? Rate this airport!	(No Ratings Yet) Loading...
Airport Information
Runways
05/23	950m (3.117 ft)
Terminals	The airport has one small passenger terminal serving all traffic.
Spotting Information
Ladder	Not necessary. There is just a small wooden fence around the field.
Car/Public Transport	Not necessary, spots are within walking distance of the terminal.
Drinks/Food/Restrooms	Available in the airport terminal.
Hotels	There are several hotels in the city but nothing adjacent to the airport
Season	With few daylight hours, temperatures in Greenland are likely to be unbearably cold between November and April, though April is historically the sunniest month. For the combination of daylight hours, sunshine and reasonable temperatures, the best time to visit Nuuk is probably between May and September, with July having up to twenty hours of daylight.
Runway Usage
05/23	Is the only runway and the wind direction will generally determine which end of the runway is in use.

By loading the map, you agree to Google's privacy policy.
Learn more

Load map

Always unblock Google Maps

	Spot #1 – Terminal Car park – Traffic on the runway
WHERE	Exit the terminal and turn left towards the runway to the parking lot. There is just a small wooden fence, so no ladder is needed.
WHAT	All traffic on the runway.
TIME	In the mornings only.
MISC.	Just outside the airport terminal, so all facilities are available there.
FOCAL LENGTH	Dash 8-200: 120mm.

GOH-Spot1

GOH-Spot1

	Spot #2 – Mound – Traffic on the runway
WHERE	Walk north from the terminal for ten minutes towards the threshold of Runway 23. Runway extension work is being undertaken, so the airport perimeter road may be closed north of the terminal.  If so, just use the adjacent parallel road to the east and climb up onto the rocks at the end of the runway.
WHAT	All traffic on the runway.
TIME	In the mornings only for traffic in line with the runway, though it can be later into the afternoon for traffic turning at the end to line up on Runway 23.
MISC.	All facilities are available in the terminal.
FOCAL LENGTH	Dash 8-200: 120mm

GOH-Spot2

GOH-Spot2

GOH-Spot2