newstodate.aero
Jun 10, 2016 (newstodate): Development of Greenland's airport infrastructure has been on the political agenda for decades.
While there has never been a shortage of proposals, plans and strategies, concrete solutions to the crucial issue of investment sources have been scarce.
Now fresh hopes are rising: a group of institutional investors, headed by Siemens, has announced the intention of setting up a consortium to support the financing of the proposed runway extensions in Nuuk and Ilulissat.
The two important airports both have runways offering only 800 m, which is insufficient to allow unrestricted traffic by larger jet aircraft that would need 2,200 m runways.
By the end of 2015, Greenland's Parliament finally agreed on a master-plan for the country's airports.
Comprised by the comprehensive plan, the runway at the capital airport at Nuuk will be extended to 1,800m, from today's 950m, and Ilulissat Airport will also have its runway extended to 1,800m from today's 845m.
In both cases the airports would then accommodate larger aircraft to promote direct international flights.
A new airport would be constructed at Qaqortoq with a 1,200m runway, and Tasiilaq Airport would have a new 1,200m runway allowing for North Atlantic flights from other airports on the region.
Finally, a new airport would be constructed at Ittoqqortoormiit with a 650m runway.
The future of the current North Atlantic airport at Kangerlussuaq remains less secure as traffic between Greenland and Denmark might operate directly into Nuuk and Ilulissat with requiring any transfer through Kangerlussuaq, as is the case today.
While there has never been a shortage of proposals, plans and strategies, concrete solutions to the crucial issue of investment sources have been scarce.
Now fresh hopes are rising: a group of institutional investors, headed by Siemens, has announced the intention of setting up a consortium to support the financing of the proposed runway extensions in Nuuk and Ilulissat.
The two important airports both have runways offering only 800 m, which is insufficient to allow unrestricted traffic by larger jet aircraft that would need 2,200 m runways.
By the end of 2015, Greenland's Parliament finally agreed on a master-plan for the country's airports.
Comprised by the comprehensive plan, the runway at the capital airport at Nuuk will be extended to 1,800m, from today's 950m, and Ilulissat Airport will also have its runway extended to 1,800m from today's 845m.
In both cases the airports would then accommodate larger aircraft to promote direct international flights.
A new airport would be constructed at Qaqortoq with a 1,200m runway, and Tasiilaq Airport would have a new 1,200m runway allowing for North Atlantic flights from other airports on the region.
Finally, a new airport would be constructed at Ittoqqortoormiit with a 650m runway.
The future of the current North Atlantic airport at Kangerlussuaq remains less secure as traffic between Greenland and Denmark might operate directly into Nuuk and Ilulissat with requiring any transfer through Kangerlussuaq, as is the case today.