newstodate.aero
Sep 16, 2019 (newstodate): At long last, the future for Greenland's international airport at Kangerlussuaq seems to be brightening.
The new Danish Minister of Defence has spoken out in favour of keeping Kangerlussuaq Airport operational, also after the commissioning of new airports in Greenland by 2023.
Negotiations will therefore commence with Greenland's self-rule government, aiming at an agreement already before the end of this year.
Kangerlussuaq Airport is not part of the state-owned company Kalaallit Airport A/S, Greenland Airports, that has been established to materialize plans for the new airport infrastructure in Greenland.
To secure the future of Kangerlussuaq in the longer term will however require massive maintenance and reconstruction works on the airport's runway that is impacted by changes in the permafrost conditions causing cracks in the runway surface.
The Danish Ministry of Defence has earlier spoken out in favour of keeping the airport open, and the US National Air Guard also operates four Hercules aircraft supplying two stations on the ice cap as well as many training flights for pilots to operate on ice conditions.
Besides, Kangerlussuaq Airport is serving as an alternative airport in support of Transatlantic ETOPS flight operations.
The new Danish Minister of Defence has spoken out in favour of keeping Kangerlussuaq Airport operational, also after the commissioning of new airports in Greenland by 2023.
Negotiations will therefore commence with Greenland's self-rule government, aiming at an agreement already before the end of this year.
Kangerlussuaq Airport is not part of the state-owned company Kalaallit Airport A/S, Greenland Airports, that has been established to materialize plans for the new airport infrastructure in Greenland.
To secure the future of Kangerlussuaq in the longer term will however require massive maintenance and reconstruction works on the airport's runway that is impacted by changes in the permafrost conditions causing cracks in the runway surface.
The Danish Ministry of Defence has earlier spoken out in favour of keeping the airport open, and the US National Air Guard also operates four Hercules aircraft supplying two stations on the ice cap as well as many training flights for pilots to operate on ice conditions.
Besides, Kangerlussuaq Airport is serving as an alternative airport in support of Transatlantic ETOPS flight operations.