Air Greenland now projects a loss of 30 million kroner for 2025, a stark contrast to the initially anticipated profit of 60 to 75 million kroner before tax. This downturn is attributed to significant operational challenges encountered at the newly opened international airport in Nuuk.

The airline’s half-year financial statement reveals that adverse weather conditions, icy runways, and logistical delays in security and fuel delivery have severely impacted operations.

These difficulties have led to a substantial increase in flight cancellations. Air Greenland has had to cancel 59 long-haul jet flights in the first six months of the year, compared to only three cancellations during the same period last year when flights operated from Kangerlussuaq.

Air Greenland’s CEO, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, acknowledged the issues, stating, “We are marked by the challenges that are beyond Air Greenland’s direct control, but we are also part of the equation. Therefore, we also take responsibility and contribute with measures to stabilize operations where we can.”

The airport in Nuuk, despite undergoing major renovations including a new and longer runway to accommodate larger aircraft, presents more unstable weather conditions than Kangerlussuaq. Its coastal location makes it more susceptible to fog, storms, and snowfall.

Nuuk’s new airport opened in November of the previous year and has since hosted notable figures such as American Vice President JD Vance and French President Emmanuel Macron. Air Greenland is owned by the Government of Greenland, with previous stakes held by SAS and the Danish state being sold to the Greenlanders in 2019.