The first year was used Catalina aircraft that could land both on water and on the runways in Narsarsuaq and Kangerlussuaq, which was established by the U.S. defense during second World War II. When they were landed at a town should “runway” first cleared of icebergs and ice floes, and every town had a special airport code that was painted on selected take on the city’s houses.
In 1965 was brought heliports in all cities and these services were performed with S-61 helicopters that could include up to 20 passengers. At the time, route network in Greenland around. 3000 km, which was the world’s longest network of routes served by helicopter. There was flown annually with 15,000 passengers, a figure that during the ten years rose to 50,000.
As a result of the rapid development in Greenland in the 1960s and 1970s increased the need for both freight and passengers, and when helicopters are very expensive to run, it was decided to move progressively to operate with fixed wing aircraft. It was built airports, first in Nuuk (1979) and Ilulissat (1983) and later in most towns along the west coast of Greenland. Today, most of the internal traffic in Greenland with DASH-7 aircraft with seating for up to 50 passengers – often part of the cabin, however, involved the cargo. Some towns and villages still served by helicopters of various sizes.
Air Greenland is also responsible for search and rescue service and works as an ambulance if the patient be evacuated to a larger hospital or treatment in Denmark. Also assist Air Greenland with its helicopters in connection with mineral exploration and performs charter tasks both inside and outside Greenland. Among other things, Air Greenland aircraft and equipment assignments in Antarctica, Nepal and Africa.
In the late 1990s, Air Greenland has decided to compete with SAS, which until then had only handled the flight route between Greenland and Denmark. Air Greenland has procured two jets and a couple of years SAS withdrew from the route on an annual basis. Air Greenland now handles only helårsbeflyvningen between Denmark and, respectively, Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq. In winter there are five weekly flights in summer 10 til12 weekly connections.
Growth in passenger numbers has been steep: from the garden and 15,000 passengers in 1965, welcomed Air Greenland in 2010, welcome aboard to more than 427,000 passengers!. Click here To more information