New international airport in Ilulissat

From October 29, 2026, it will be possible to fly directly from all over the world to Greenland’s most famous tourist destination.

With its 2,200-meter runway, the new airport allows international aircraft to land in Ilulissat, opening up exciting possibilities for new connections in the future.

Initially, there will be direct flights from Copenhagen (CPH), Denmark, with a flight time of approximately 5 hours—roughly the same duration as a flight from Hamburg, Germany, or New York, USA. Additionally, there will be direct flights from Iceland (KEF) between June and September, with a flight time of approximately 3.5 hours.

FACTS ABOUT ILULISSAT AIRPORT

• IATA code: JAV
• ICAO code: BGJ
• Runway: 2.2 kilometers (1.4 miles)
• Capable of accommodating jet aircraft such as the Boeing 737, Airbus A320neo, and A330neo
• Location: 2.8 km (1.7 miles) north of the town center. The road is heavily trafficked; therefore, walking to or from the airport is NOT recommended.
• Transport: Taxi or hotel shuttle. Several hotels offer pick-up services upon prior arrangement.
  

The town of Ilulissat

Ilulissat is located in Disko Bay, approximately 300 km north of the Arctic Circle, at the mouth of the UNESCO-protected Ilulissat Icefjord (Kangia). At the head of the icefjord lies the glacier Sermeq Kujalleq, the most active glacier in the Northern Hemisphere.

Consequently, every day from the town, you can witness a new ‘skyline’ of colossal icebergs drifting out from the icefjord and into Disko Bay, heading toward the Davis Strait.

Sailing among these icebergs is a unique experience—much like navigating through massive skyscrapers made of ice. If you are lucky, during the summer months, you might also spot humpback whales feeding on krill and plankton near the mouth of the icefjord.

FACTS ABOUT ILULISSAT  

• The name Ilulissat means “the icebergs”; it is often interpreted as “the town by the ice,” as it is situated at the mouth of the Ilulissat Icefjord.
• Located in Disko Bay (Qeqertarsuup Tunua), within Greenland’s northernmost municipality (Avannaata Kommunia).
• Coordinates: 69° North, 51° West.
• The town is home to a museum dedicated to the polar explorer Knud Rasmussen, who lived here and wrote about the town. (Ilulissat museum)
• Ilulissat has approximately 5,500 inhabitants, including those in the surrounding settlements of Qqaasut, Qeqertaq, Saqqaq, and Ilimanaq (figures as of 2025).

Experiences in Ilulissat 

Daily boat tours are available, taking you among the gigantic icebergs. You can also opt for a longer excursion to the calving glacier Eqi, located north of Ilulissat. From Ilulissat, you can walk to the historic settlement of Sermermiut, where people from the Saqqaq culture lived as early as 4,500 years ago.

You can also travel by boat or hike to Oqaasut, located 21 km (13 miles) north of the town, or take a boat to the settlement of Ilimanaq on the opposite side of the Icefjord.

The Icefjord

The fjord has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2004. You can reach it from the town via a wooden boardwalk. The Icefjord Centre, Kangiata Illorsua, tells the story of the ice and the people.

The icebergs appear most massive when viewed from the water. Boat tours depart several times a day—even at midnight during the summer.

FACTS ABOUT THE ILULISSAT ICEFJORD

• The Ilulissat Icefjord is called *Kangia* in Greenlandic and is approximately 60 km (37 miles) long.
• The glacier at the head of the Icefjord is called *Sermeq Kujalleq* in Greenlandic.
• The Icefjord and its surrounding area were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2004.
• The glacier is one of the most active in the world, estimated to produce 46 cubic kilometers of ice annually.
• Some of the tallest icebergs in the Icefjord have been measured at over 400 meters (1,312 feet) above sea level—an impressive figure, considering that only 10% to 20% of an iceberg lies above the water.

Climate Change

The Icefjord Museum in Ilulissat features, among other things… …how the glacier has retreated more than 40 km (25 miles) into the fjord in recent times.

Until the year 2000, there was sea ice every winter off the coast of Ilulissat. Local hunters used this ice to travel out with their sled dogs and fish through holes in the ice.

Since sea ice is no longer present, fishing can now be conducted by boat year-round; consequently, the population of sled dogs has dropped significantly—from around 6,000 dogs in the 1990s to fewer than 2,500 today.

Ilulissat Airport opens up new possibilities

As there is no longer a need to pay for an additional domestic flight from Kangerlussuaq or Nuuk, Disko Island and the towns in Disko Bay have become more accessible and can be reached via daily boat services from Ilulissat.

The more northerly towns of Uummannaq and Upernavik can also be reached via a single flight from Ilulissat—a great option for those wishing to experience an authentic side of Greenland.

Best time to visit Ilulissat

While it is possible to visit Ilulissat year-round, it is important to keep in mind that the experiences available vary significantly depending on the season.

From November 29 to January 13, the sun does not rise in Disko Bay, resulting in the “polar night”—a period of continuous darkness.

While this can make it difficult to see the icebergs from the town, it offers excellent opportunities to view the Northern Lights.

If there is moonlight, or if the sky is clear and starry and snow is present, making it easy to go dog sledding, take a snowmobile tour, or strap on some snowshoes.

Please note that you should book a hotel or other accommodation a year in advance to guarantee a spot during the summer. A good tip is that during spring and autumn, there are fewer guests, lower prices, and still full access to the Icefjord.

When can you see what?

Summer (June–August): Midnight sun, whales, icebergs, hiking along the fjord, and boat tours to the icebergs, the Eqi Glacier, and Disko Island.

Autumn (September–November): Boat tours to the icebergs, Northern Lights.

Winter (December–January): Polar night, Northern Lights, boat tours to the icebergs.

Spring (February–April): Dog sledding, Northern Lights, boat tours to the icebergs.

Spring (May): Northern Lights, boat tours to the icebergs.

Tips for your trip

• Book flights and hotels well in advance – especially for July and August.
• Consider planning your first day for exploring on your own—a day without scheduled tours—and include a buffer day before your return journey; weather in the Arctic can cause delays lasting entire days.
• Combine your trip to Ilulissat with a visit to Disko Island or one of the other towns and settlements.
• Pack clothing suitable for layering. Remember that it is always colder out on the water than it is on land. (Best clothing to pack for a trip to Arctic Greenland) 
• The temperature alone isn’t the deciding factor; it is the combination of wind and cold that creates the wind chill.
• Read more in our Ultimate Travel Guide to Ilulissat and view all tours in Ilulissat at Guide to Greenland. 
  

Look at the schedule for Ilulissat Airport here.

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