Air Greenland is preparing for a major expansion with the lease of a new Airbus A320neo aircraft. This addition to their fleet will coincide with the opening of the new international airport in Ilulissat, Greenland, in late 2026.
The narrowbody A320neo is scheduled to join Air Greenland’s summer schedule in 2027.
This strategic move, formalized through a six-year lease agreement with Carlyle, underscores Air Greenland’s commitment to growth and improved connectivity.
Strategic Lease Option
The lease includes an option for extension, providing valuable flexibility for the airline. The A320neo will be instrumental in operating the new route between Ilulissat and Copenhagen.
This will complement the existing widebody A330neo aircraft and bolster overall capacity.
“The delivery time for new Airbus aircraft is currently quite long, around six to seven years,” explains Jacob Nitter Sørensen, CEO of Air Greenland.
“So, we’ve chosen to lease this aircraft to be ready precisely when the new international airport in Ilulissat opens. This also gives us greater financial flexibility as the Ilulissat-Copenhagen route is still a relatively new venture.”
The A320neo’s arrival in December 2026 will allow ample time for modifications to suit Greenland’s unique operating conditions. It’s expected to be fully operational by spring 2027, perfectly timed for the first peak season at the new airport.
The 2,200-meter runway at Ilulissat’s new airport will be a game-changer for the region, and the A320neo will play a crucial role in maximizing the airport’s potential.
Air Greenland Fleet Expansion
This lease agreement is a carefully planned step in Air Greenland’s overall fleet strategy. Since becoming fully self-managed in 2019, the airline has been strategically modernizing its fleet.
This includes the addition of Airbus H155 and H225 helicopters for various operations, including search and rescue. It also saw the recent arrival of the state-of-the-art A330-800neo, “Tuukkaq,” which serves the transatlantic route.
The A330neo is currently complemented by wet-lease flights operated by Jettime. The long-term strategy has always included acquiring an additional aircraft once jet engine production capacity allowed for it. The opening of the Ilulissat airport marks that milestone.
Operations from Copenhagen Base
The A320neo will be based in Copenhagen for technical maintenance, leveraging the existing partnership with SAS, who already maintain Air Greenland’s A330-800neo. This streamlined approach ensures efficient maintenance operations and cost-effectiveness.
Air Greenland crew will operate the new aircraft, which will fly in the airline’s distinctive red livery and logo.
A key advantage of the Airbus family is the common type rating, which allows pilots and cabin crew to operate both the A330 and A320 with the same license. This means “Tuukkaq” crews will be able to fly the A320neo as well, supplemented by retrained Dash-8 pilots. The name of the new aircraft will be revealed at a later date.
“We have high hopes for the new route to Ilulissat and see this lease agreement as a catalyst for exciting opportunities across our route network,” says Sørensen.
“Critically, it will give us greater flexibility to adjust capacity between the larger A330neo and the smaller A320neo, allowing us to better match supply with demand.”
The official signing of the lease agreement took place at the monthly employee meeting on February 14, 2025.
The opening of the new airports in Ilulissat and, eventually, Qaqortoq, will not impact the domestic operations of the Dash-8 aircraft.
These fleet aircraft will continue to serve their vital role in connecting communities within Greenland. This strategic fleet expansion positions Air Greenland for continued success and enhanced connectivity for the people of Greenland.
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