newstodate.aero

Sep 19, 2023 (newstodate): Greenland's politicians may well have to reconsider the future of allocation of air services in the country's southern region.
   Greenland will see the opening of new international airports at Nuuk and Ilulissat by the end of 2024, and a new airport is under construction at Qaqortoq with a 1,499 m runway allowing for fixed-wing operations and poised for opening by fall 2025.
   Now, the mayor of the commune housing Qaqortoq Airport has aired the hope for seeing the runway extended instead to 1,799 m, citing a growing need for air traffic between Denmark and southern Greenland after the redirection of Transatlantic flights away from Kangerlussuaq that has so far served this purpose.
   The mayor also cites the future development of the region's mining industry that will also generate demands for more passenger and cargo traffic on larger aircraft.
   Until the opening of the new fixed-wing airport facility, Qaqortoq Airport is served only by helicopter traffic to and from Kangerlussuaq/Sdr Stromfjord.
   The Canadian company Pennecon Heavy Civil won the contract for construction of the runway and contracted the Danish logistics company Blue Water for chartering of bulk vessels from Canada to Greenland, as well as coordination of various shipments of material from Canada and Europe to Greenland to be used for the construction of the new airport.
   In the original master plan, the new airport at Qaqortoq was slated for completion by Q4, 2023, already.