Kangerlussuaq Airport is Greenland’s main hub for international and domestic flights with 250,000 annual passengers, of which between 80-90 percent transfer to different flights. Melting permafrost has resulted in technical failures of the pavement requiring either costly and ongoing repairs and maintenance or a shortening of the runway, which would impact its suitability for large commercial airliners.

While it has not yet been determined to what extent the airport will be used for commercial traffic after 2024, international traffic and most Air Greenland flights will be relocated to yet-to-be-built runways at the airport of the capital Nuuk in the south and the tourist destination Ilulissat to the north.

“The current status is to partly close the airport for Air Greenland scheduled traffic during the summer of 2024. It is now agreed and confirmed by the Greenlandic- and Danish Government, that the airport will remain open [...] mainly for the future use by the Royal Danish Air Force and commercial traffic. The extent and use of commercial traffic is not yet determined,” explains Peter Høgh the International Airport Manager of Mittarfeqarfiit, the company that manages Greenland’s Airports.

A history of runway damage

Damage to the runway was first documented in 1973 when the pavement at the western threshold had settled up to 30 centimeters resulting in local repairs. More extensive excavation and replacements occurred in 1988/89 when the entire runway was repaved. However, settlements continued and by 2006 a 400m long section of the runway had settled unevenly by up to 40 centimeters. Further studies conducted in 2013 measured settlements of 52 centimeters leaving scientists to conclude that the western part of the runway sinks by 2.6 centimeters per year.