Summer route between Greenland and Nunavut announced

Kira Wronska Dorward,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Air Greenland and Canadian North are teaming up to offer direct flights every Wednesday between Nuuk and Iqaluit starting June 26.

In a release on May 17, it was announced that Air Greenland will be operating the once-weekly flight on its Dash 8 aircraft with Canadian North providing flights on its Boeing 737 aircraft for passengers from Montreal, Ottawa and Kuujjuaq to meet up with the flight heading to Nuuk. The eastbound will depart from Iqaluit Airport for Nuuk at 3:15 p.m. EDT with the westbound service departing at 2:55 pm Nuuk time and arriving in Iqaluit at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

A one-way ticket will $392 and Canadian citizens will need a passport to enter and exit Greenland, while Greenland citizens will have to apply for an entry permit to visit Iqaluit. The service has the potential to expand if there is sufficient demand, stated the release.

This route is a continuation of the 2022 agreement between Nunavut and Greenland that would increase international cooperation and enhance Arctic connectivity.

“Our mission is to lift Greenland, and with the opening of the route to Iqaluit, we will greatly contribute to further opening up the country for cooperation with our cousins and neighbours to the west,” stated Malik Hegelund Olsen, executive chairman of Air Greenland. “The desire to visit each other in the Arctic region has increased since the last scheduled flight between the two capitals in 2014. We believe that the time and the local market are now right to resume the route.”

“Canadian North and Air Greenland have been working towards connecting our two regions since January 2020, when we signed a letter of intent,” added Johnny Adams, executive chairman of Canadian North. “This work has continued despite being temporarily delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic (but) we are very excited that this route is launching, connecting the circumpolar region.

Kira Wronska Dorward,
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Nunavut News