The Danish Transport Agency has approved that the new Ilulissat Airport can open on Thursday. The authority states that the approval has been granted with a number of temporary conditions, which in a start-up phase entail some restrictions until the airport is fully in place.
The night of Thursday the final approvals have been put in place so that the new airport in Ilulissat can celebrate its opening today.
The Swedish Transport Agency states in a press release that the agency’s inspection team has reviewed and tested all aviation safety conditions at the airport in recent months, before Greenland Airports received the final approval last night.
Deputy director of the Swedish Transport Agency, Lars Korsholm, elaborates:
– After a long series of inspections and a test flight, we have approved that the airport meets the necessary level of security required to operate a modern, international airport.
– This has happened after a long process, which has demanded a lot from the airport employees and our inspection teams, but where there has always been close and good cooperation between the Swedish Transport Agency and Greenland Airports, says Lars Korsholm.
According to the agency, the approval of the new airport includes not only the new 2,200-metre long runway, but also fire and rescue preparedness, safety procedures, security in the terminal and air traffic services in the tower.
Temporary restrictions
The deputy director explains that the approval has been granted with some temporary restrictions:
– This means, for example, that the airport’s flight capacity will gradually be increased as the airport gains familiarity with air traffic and safety procedures. However, it will hardly affect the planned air traffic, which is already limited outside the tourist season, says Lars Korsholm.
The Danish Transport Agency further informs that in the coming time it will follow up with inspections to ensure that the airport in Ilulissat can carry out the measures required in the approval before the restrictions can be eased.
Director welcomes security clearance
CEO of Greenland Airports, Jens Lauridsen, welcomes the approval:
– We can now welcome the first passengers at the new Ilulissat Airport. We have been looking forward to it for years, and hundreds of people have worked hard so that we can now complete a historic expansion of Greenland’s infrastructure, says Jens Lauridsen in a press release.
The director calls the opening a historic milestone for North Greenland, and with regard to the approval itself, the director places particular emphasis on the fact that the airport’s security has been approved without restrictions:
– It is a big day for all of us, and there is good reason to be proud of what our colleagues have achieved. They have worked very hard and it is great to see the efforts bear fruit. But the work does not stop because we open the doors. We continue to train our procedures, optimize staffing and strengthen cross-functional cooperation, so that we ensure good and smooth operations and give passengers the best possible experience, says Jens Lauridsen.
Security in particular has caused significant problems for Greenland Airports at the new airport in Nuuk.
