United Airlines Resumes Greenland Service After Airport Security Hiccups

United Airlines

United Airlines is set to resume its flights to Nuuk, Greenland, on Saturday after a brief disruption caused by security personnel training issues at Nuuk International Airport. The problem led to the cancellation of several international flights, stranding passengers and impacting travel plans to the remote Arctic destination.

Key Takeaways

  • United Airlines flights to Nuuk, Greenland, are expected to resume on Saturday.
  • The disruption was caused by security personnel training concerns at Nuuk International Airport.
  • Several international flights were canceled, affecting passengers.
  • Greenland Airports announced international departures would resume Thursday with additional security personnel from Denmark.

Airport Operations Restored

Nuuk International Airport (GOH) temporarily halted all international flights on Wednesday due to concerns regarding the training of its security personnel. This led to United Airlines turning back an inbound flight and canceling both that flight and its scheduled return service to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR).

Other airlines, including Scandinavian Airlines, also suspended midweek flights, leaving travelers in Greenland with limited options for departure. However, Greenland Airports announced that international departures would resume on Thursday, bolstered by the arrival of extra security personnel from Danish airports.

United’s Response and Passenger Assistance

United Airlines confirmed its plan to proceed with its scheduled Saturday service to Nuuk. The airline has implemented a travel waiver for its Greenland flights, allowing customers to reschedule their trips or rebook to Keflavik Airport (KEF) in Iceland. Passengers unable to rebook are eligible for a refund under the U.S. Department of Transportation’s flight refund policy.

The carrier is actively assisting passengers currently in Greenland, working on a case-by-case basis to help them rebook, potentially via connections through Iceland or Europe. The disruption, while impacting only one round trip for United which operates the route twice weekly, highlights the challenges of limited infrastructure in Greenland, especially for international travel.

Greenland’s Growing Tourism

United launched its service to Nuuk in June, marking the first time an airline has operated regularly scheduled flights between the U.S. and Greenland since a previous route in the late 2000s. The recent opening of a new terminal and runway at Nuuk International Airport last November was intended to facilitate increased international commercial air service.

Greenland’s tourism officials have noted that the surge in tourism this summer has presented a learning curve due to the region’s remote nature and developing infrastructure. Despite these challenges, the increased international connectivity is seen as a significant milestone for Greenland’s tourism sector. United recently announced its intention to continue nonstop service to Greenland for a second summer season in 2026.

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