Upernavik Airport

Upernavik Airport occupies a man-made ridge at the center of Upernavik Island, serving a town of roughly 1,200 residents in northwestern Greenland. The airport is the third largest in the country by passenger volume, but its scale relative to Greenland's vast emptiness remains modest. Since the cancellation of the Arctic Umiaq Line ferry service, Air Greenland flights have become the only regular link between Upernavik and the outside world. The airport's location — on a levelled mountaintop — makes it one of the most exposed in Greenland, where weather dictates schedules with an authority that few other airports experience. Passengers who arrive here step into a community that depends on this single strip of asphalt for everything from mail and medicine to fresh produce and visitors.

Getting There

Upernavik Airport is accessible only by air from other Greenlandic settlements. The most common routing is from Copenhagen via Kangerlussuaq or from Nuuk and Ilulissat. Air Greenland operates Dash 8 turboprop flights that connect Upernavik to Ilulissat, Qaanaaq, and smaller settlements along the coast, with typical flight times of around an hour from Ilulissat. There are no roads to Upernavik; the sea ice and open water make boat travel seasonal and unreliable. Prior to 2020, the Arctic Umiaq Line ferry provided passenger and cargo service along the west coast, but its cancellation has left air travel as the sole dependable option. When booking, it is critical to arrange the entire journey — including the international leg from Copenhagen — on a single reservation code with Air Greenland. The airline has a strict policy: if a weather cancellation strands you and your domestic ticket is separate, they will disavow all responsibility. The airport is located about one kilometer uphill from the town center. Walking is the only practical way to get between the airport and town; no taxis operate in Upernavik. The walk is downhill from the airport to town, but the return uphill can be strenuous, especially with luggage. Some passengers arrange for local boat transportation on the island's small harbor, but this is not a regular service.

Inside the Terminal

The terminal at Upernavik Airport is compact but functional. Arriving passengers deplane via airstair and walk across the tarmac to a single building that houses check-in, security screening, a waiting area, and baggage claim. The facility is wheelchair-accessible and includes a clean toilet. The atmosphere is quiet and unhurried compared to larger hubs; check-in counters open shortly before departure and close just before flight time. Staff are consistently described as friendly and helpful, often providing real-time weather updates and assisting with rebooking during delays. The waiting area has limited seating, and there is no restaurant or café, so passengers should bring snacks and water. Departure procedures are straightforward: check in, pass through a simple security check (no liquids restrictions beyond the usual), and wait in the small lounge until boarding is called. Boarding announcements are made in Greenlandic and Danish, but flight information screens display times in English as well. The biggest challenge inside the terminal is uncertainty — flights are frequently delayed or cancelled due to wind, fog, or low clouds. There are no hotels or sleeping facilities in the terminal, so if a flight is cancelled, passengers must find accommodation in town. The airport does not have luggage storage, and carry-on limits are strictly enforced on small aircraft.

Upernavik Airport and Upernavik

The town of Upernavik sits on a small island in the Baffin Bay, surrounded by fjords and scattered islands. Its name means "Springtime Place" in Greenlandic, a reference to the brief but vibrant summer when the sun stays above the horizon for weeks. The town's colorful houses — red, blue, yellow, green — climb the hillside overlooking a natural harbor. Upernavik has been inhabited for over 800 years, originally by Thule culture ancestors, and later by Danish colonizers who established a trading post in 1772. Today, the economy is based on fishing (halibut and shrimp), hunting (seal and polar bear), and a growing tourism sector. The Upernavik Museum, housed in the old colonial buildings near the harbor, displays artifacts from the Thule period and exhibits on kayak building. The town's church, built in 1926 with a distinctive bell tower, stands on a hilltop with views over the archipelago. Visitors come to Upernavik for its authentic Greenlandic character — far removed from the cruise-ship crowds of Ilulissat. Hiking around the island offers stunning views of the ice-choked fjords, with the chance to see whales, seals, and seabirds. The kayaking community in Upernavik is particularly strong; traditional skin-on-frame kayaks are built locally, and guided tours are available in summer. The airport's location on the mountaintop means that every arrival and departure offers panoramic views of the surrounding sea ice, mountains, and distant glaciers. The island's population (around 1,200) is welcoming to visitors, and the absence of large-scale tourism means that interactions feel genuine. However, isolation brings practical challenges: supplies are expensive, and weather can trap you for days. It is advisable to build flexibility into any itinerary and to carry enough cash (credit cards are accepted at the hotel and some shops, but ATMs are limited). For those willing to embrace the unpredictability, Upernavik rewards with some of the most striking Arctic landscapes and warmest hospitality in Greenland.

Practical Information

Upernavik Airport is not open around the clock; it operates during scheduled flight times, which vary by day and season. The busiest times, based on flight schedules, are Monday at 4 pm, Tuesday at 8 pm, Wednesday at 3 pm, and Thursday at 11 pm. Outside these periods, the terminal is locked and staffed only if a delayed flight is expected. Contact the airport via phone at +299 96 11 99 or visit the website mit.gl (the site is in Greenlandic and Danish, but flight information is usable). There is no on-site parking: if you are a resident, you walk or use a private vehicle parked at the terminal loop. For departing passengers, plan to arrive at least one hour before scheduled departure, as check-in closes 30 minutes before flight time. The airport has no shops, so purchase any supplies in town before heading uphill. One concrete piece of advice: book your entire journey from Copenhagen to Upernavik on a single Air Greenland reservation, and when you land, take a photo of the flight board — if the return flight is delayed, you have documented evidence for rebooking. Also, bring a water bottle and snacks, and dress in layers; the terminal is heated but the walk from town can be windy and cold, even in summer.