Air Iceland (Flugfélag Íslands) will begin direct flights to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland from the Reykjavík downtown airport in June 2016. Previously the airline has offered direct flights to four destinations in Greenland, Kulusuk, Nuuk, Narsarsuaq on the west coast of Greenland and Ilulissat on the east coast.
The local newspaper Morgunblaðið reports that from the beginning of June to the end of August Air Iceland will be flying twice weekly to Kangerlussuaq. Air transport is important in Greenland, as no two towns in Greenland are connected by road. The Kangerlussuaq airport is the main hub of air travel in Greenland.
Former US Airbase, largest commercial airport in Greenland
Kangerlussuaq is a small town on the western coast of Greenland, and the location of the largest commercial airport in Greenland. The airport in Kangerlussuaq, which is known as Sødre Strømfjord in Danish, was built by the US in WWII like the airport in Keflavík, Iceland. Kangerlussuaq served as a US airbase between 1951 and 1992 and was known at the time as Sondrestrom Air Base. In the 1970s and 80s the US launched numerous rockets from a site near the airport to conduct examinations of the upper atmosphere.
In 1992 it was turned over to the Greenland government. The 500 inhabitants of the town are mostly employed at the airport or in tourism.
Related: US considering restationing troops in Iceland
Air Iceland is a regional airline serving domestic destinations in Iceland and a subsidiary of Icelandair. Its main hub is the downtown Reykjavík Airport from where airline flies to domestic destinations as well as the Faroe Islands and four in Greenland. Kangerlussuaq would be the fifth destination in Greenland.
Air Iceland (Flugfélag Íslands) will begin direct flights to Kangerlussuaq in Greenland from the Reykjavík downtown airport in June 2016. Previously the airline has offered direct flights to four destinations in Greenland, Kulusuk, Nuuk, Narsarsuaq on the west coast of Greenland and Ilulissat on the east coast.
The local newspaper Morgunblaðið reports that from the beginning of June to the end of August Air Iceland will be flying twice weekly to Kangerlussuaq. Air transport is important in Greenland, as no two towns in Greenland are connected by road. The Kangerlussuaq airport is the main hub of air travel in Greenland.
Former US Airbase, largest commercial airport in Greenland
Kangerlussuaq is a small town on the western coast of Greenland, and the location of the largest commercial airport in Greenland. The airport in Kangerlussuaq, which is known as Sødre Strømfjord in Danish, was built by the US in WWII like the airport in Keflavík, Iceland. Kangerlussuaq served as a US airbase between 1951 and 1992 and was known at the time as Sondrestrom Air Base. In the 1970s and 80s the US launched numerous rockets from a site near the airport to conduct examinations of the upper atmosphere.
In 1992 it was turned over to the Greenland government. The 500 inhabitants of the town are mostly employed at the airport or in tourism.
Related: US considering restationing troops in Iceland
Air Iceland is a regional airline serving domestic destinations in Iceland and a subsidiary of Icelandair. Its main hub is the downtown Reykjavík Airport from where airline flies to domestic destinations as well as the Faroe Islands and four in Greenland. Kangerlussuaq would be the fifth destination in Greenland.
