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Sep 03, 2021 (newstodate): Uncertainty again shrouds the plans for a new airport at Qaqortoq, in the south of Greenland.
   Originally, plans were to replace the existing facility accommodating only helicopters with a new airport capable of handling fixed-wing aircraft to provide better connectivity with other parts of Greenland, as well as connection to the coming two new Atlantic airports at Nuuk and Ilulissat, both now slated for opening in 2024.
   Qaqortoq Airport would have a 1,499m runway, but the project was stalled in September 2020 as the outcome of a tender for the airport's runway made clear that the bids from the entrepreneurs by far exceeded the budget, requiring either a recalibration of the project, or reconsideration of its financing.
   A second tender was opened on January 7, 2021, still requiring construction of a 1,499 m runway - but now coupled to construction of the pertinent airport buildings in the optimistic hope that the combined solution might still land within the financial limits of the budget allocated to the project.
   The outcome of this tender also did not meet these hopes, and a new report by COWI shows that the cost for a 1,499m runway will run into one billion Kroner; a 1,000m runway will cost 647 mio, and a 799m runway will run into 527 mio Kroner in construction costs.
   This should be seen against a budget of "only" 669 mio Kroner.
   Greenland's politicians will now - once again - open a discussion on these three alternatives, leaving the issue open of when a new airport at Qaqortoq will open for fixed-wing traffic - and which aircraft types would eventually be able to operate.
    In the original master plan, the new airport at Qaqortoq was slated for completion by Q4, 2023