24 March 2026
In April this year, Greenland’s Narsarsuaq International Airport will close, bringing to an end more than eight decades of operation in one of the most dramatic locations on Earth.
Perched at the end of a fjord in South Greenland, with icebergs drifting past and mountains rising steeply on all sides, Narsarsuaq has long been a vital stop-off for pilots crossing the North Atlantic. A place to refuel, rest, dodge the weather or simply marvel at the beauty and harshness of Greenland.
Like many airfields, Narsarsuaq was born from wartime need and at a speed that’s unthinkable today. Construction began in July 1941 by the American military and by January 1942 the first aircraft had arrived.
Codenamed Bluie West One, the base became a critical Allied outpost during WWII. From here, PBY Catalina flying boats and B-25 Mitchell bombers ranged out across the icy North Atlantic, escorting convoys and hunting German U-boats. B-17 and B-24 bombers used it as a refuelling stop enroute to the UK.
In the decades that followed, the airfield transitioned into a civilian role, becoming South Greenland’s primary aviation gateway. It handled domestic flights, connections to Iceland, and served as a refuelling stop for ferry pilots making the long hop between continents.
For General Aviation pilots, Narsarsuaq acquired a near-mythical reputation. Weather could close in quickly, terrain demanded respect, and yet the rewards were extraordinary.
There are few approaches in the world where you might find yourself descending over a glassy fjord dotted with ice, the runway appearing almost improbably at the water’s edge.
One of the world’s most stunning airport backdrops? Great images of the Red Arrows landing at #Narsarsuaq in #Greenland on the transit to Canada today – complete with icebergs in the waters around the runway!
?? AS1 Iwan Lewis#RedArrowsMapleHawk #RedArrows pic.twitter.com/01wSyGAbMo
— Red Arrows (@rafredarrows) August 18, 2024
The decision that sealed Narsarsuaq’s fate was made in 2018: build a new airport closer to Qaqortoq, South Greenland’s largest town.
The logic is straightforward. Narsarsuaq, for all its history and scenery, is not ideally located for the region’s population. Travellers often faced onward journeys by boat or helicopter. A new airport at Qaqortoq promises greater convenience and improved connectivity.
That airport is now nearing completion, with an opening targeted for 16 April 2026.
Once operational, it will assume Narsarsuaq’s role as the region’s primary hub. Flights that once routed through Narsarsuaq will divert to the new facility. Greenland’s government has confirmed that Narsarsuaq would be reduced to a heliport, its runway decommissioned.
The Northern Lights above the @rafredarrows Hawk T1 aircraft ???
??Narsarsuaq Airport in Greenland ???? pic.twitter.com/BPIOsMK39v
— BFBS Radio (@BFBSRadioHQ) September 5, 2024
