Air Greenland leases Airbus A320neo ahead of Ilulissat Airport expansion

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Air Greenland leases Airbus A320neo ahead of Ilulissat Airport expansion

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Air Greenland Airbus A320neo | Wikipedia

By Sky Industry News

Feb 25, 2025

Air Greenland has revealed plans to lease an Airbus A320neo as part of its strategy to expand services ahead of the opening of a new international airport in 2026. The aircraft, set for delivery at the end of next year, will strengthen connections to Copenhagen, Denmark's capital.

The airline has entered into a six-year lease agreement with Carlyle Aviation Partners. This marks Air Greenland’s return to narrowbody jets since retiring its Boeing 757-200 in 2010. The A320neo is expected to join the fleet in December 2026 and will be "adapted to Greenlandic conditions" before entering commercial service by spring 2027.

The decision aligns with discussions from late-2022 when the introduction of an A320 family aircraft was considered. The CEO at Air Greenland expressed that it was "something we are discussing."

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Air Greenland intends to use the new jet on a route from Ilulissat Airport, which is undergoing significant expansion. This includes a new terminal and runway extension set for completion in late-2026. Currently, Icelandair offers seasonal flights from Ilulissat to Reykjavik.

Jacob Nitter Sørensen, CEO at Air Greenland, stated: "The delivery time for new Airbus aircraft is currently 6-7 years, so we have chosen to lease the aircraft to be ready when the new international airport in Ilulissat opens and to gain financial flexibility as the route is still new."

Sørensen added: "We have high hopes for the new route to Ilulissat and see the lease agreement as a catalyst for exciting opportunities on our route network." Currently, Air Greenland operates direct flights between Nuuk and Copenhagen using an Airbus A330-800.

The airline's pilots will undergo retraining programs for operating the A320neo alongside existing crew members from their Airbus A330neo fleet. According to Air Greenland: “Tuukkaq crews will therefore also be able to fly the new A320neo aircraft, supplemented by retrained Dash-8 pilots.”

Maintenance operations for the A320neo will be based in Copenhagen under an arrangement with SAS, which already maintains Air Greenland's A330-800 Neo.