AIR GREENLAND has signed an agreement with leasing company Carlyle Aviation Partners to lease an Airbus A320neo, which is scheduled to join its fleet in time for the 2027 summer season. The agreement runs for six years with an option to extend and gives Air Greenland the flexibility to operate the new route between Ilulissat and Copenhagen in Denmark, while further complementing its A330neo. The aircraft will be delivered in December 2026 and will then be adapted to Greenlandic conditions, although the airline did not specify what this involved. It is expected to enter service in spring 2027, just in time for the first peak season at North Greenland’s new international airport, which is expected to open in late 2026 with a 2,200m runway. The A320neo will support the increased capacity made possible by the new facility.
CEO Jacob Nitter Sørensen, said: “The delivery time for new Airbus aircraft is currently six to seven 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.” The jet will be maintained in Copenhagen by SAS, which already looks after the carrier’s sole A330-800. It will be flown by Air Greenland’s A330neo pilots, who will receive a dual type rating for both aircraft, supplemented by retrained Dash 8 pilots.