Just four months ago, I reported that getting to Greenland from North America was getting easier than ever thanks to a brand new Air Greenland route between Arctic Canada and Nuuk, the capital of the autonomous territory. Back then, I said that the new seasonal route, which has been running since June 16 and will continue until October 23, 2024, was to revolutionize air travel between the North American continent and the largest island in the world. While true, this piece of news feels a lot less relevant since United’s recent big announcement: The airline will soon fly direct to Nuuk, Greenland, from one of the biggest air travel hub in the US.
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The US Is Finally Getting a Direct Flight to Greenland
According to an October 10 press release, starting June 14, 2025, United will operate a non-stop flight from Newark Liberty International Airport to Nuuk twice per week. This new route will be the only direct commercial air link between the US and Greenland. The route will be seasonal as tourism in Greenland is limited to around 4.5 months of the year, between June and October.
The news from United coincides with the launch of Nuuk’s new international airport which is to take place on November 28, 2024. Two more airports are scheduled to open in Greenland in 2026 in Ilulissat and Qaqortoq.
A trending destination for the past few years, Greenland, previously hard to reach, is making itself more easily accessible in order to attract more visitors — and it’s working. According to official statistics, “the number of foreign overnight visitors [in Greenland] has risen by more than 50 % since 2000, and the number of cruise line passengers stopping by Greenland has grown by around 150 % in the same period.”
Greenland is an outdoors adventure-focused destination that’s better suited for hikers, campers, kayakers, wildlife watchers, and the likes. 80 percent of Greenland is covered in snow and ice, and it is inhabited by only 56,000 people.
But Nuuk, Greenland, is only one of eight new exciting international destinations that United will add to its network in 2025. The other seven include:
- Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. United will be the only US airline to fly to Mongolia. The seasonal service will start on May 1, 2025, and will operate from Tokyo-Narita International Airport.
- Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The service will start on July 11, 2025, and will operate from Tokyo-Narita International Airport
- Palermo, Italy. The non-stop seasonal service will start on May 21, 2025, and will operate three times weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport.
- Bilbao, Spain. United will be the only US airline to fly directly to Bilbao, Spain. The non-stop service will start on May 31, 2025, and will operate three times weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport.
- Madeira Island, Portugal. The service will start on June 7, 2025, and will operate three times weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport.
- Faro, Portugal. The service will start on May 16, 2025, and will operate four times weekly from Newark Liberty International Airport.
- Dakar, Senegal. The non-stop service will launch on May 23, 2025, from Washington Dulles Airport and will operate three times per week.
