DATA SPOTLIGHT: Kangerlussuaq Airport

15 April, 2020

This year The Blue Swan Daily will feature some of the leading airlines, airports and country markets for air travel. Here, using the extensive profile insights available to CAPA - Centre for Aviation members, we deliver a data snapshot on Kangerlussuaq Airport, the main gateway to Greenland, one of only a few countries across the world that does not currently have any active COVID-19 cases.

It may have limited global connectivity, but COVID-19 still reached Greenland, with its first of eleven confirmed cases being recorded on 16-Mar-2020. The last was on 04-Apr-2020 and since 08-Apr-2020 has recorded no active cases. The spread has seemingly been well controlled in a country with a population of just 56,000 across an area of around 2.1 square kilometres.

The transportation system in Greenland is very unusual in that it has no railways, no inland waterways, and virtually no roads between towns. Historically the major means of transportation has been by boat around the coast in summer and by dog sled in winter, particularly in the north and east.

The former US air base Bluie West Eight, now Kangerlussuaq Airport, is the largest airport in the country and remains its international hub as it is the only facility that has a long enough runway to service larger widebodied jets. Its background as an airbase actually means it is not near any settlements - in fact the Kangerlussuaq area has very few inhabitants - but, it is located away from the coast and hence less prone to fog and wind in comparison with other airports in Greenland.

ABOUT
Kangerlussuaq Airport is a public airport serving the city of Kangerlussuaq, in the Qeqqata Municipality. The aiprort is a hub for Air Greenland, and is operated by the Mittarfeqarfiit (Greenland Airport Authority).

NETWORK MAP (as at 13-Apr-2020)

GLOBAL RANKING (as at 13-Apr-2020)

DESTINATIONS (as at 13-Apr-2020)

ANNUAL CAPACITY (2012-2020*)(NOTE:The values for this year are at least partly predictive up to 6 months and may be subject to change)

WEEKLY DOMESTIC CAPACITY (2017 - 2020*)NOTE:*the values for this year are at least partly predictive up to six months and may be subject to change.

WEEKLY INTERNATIONAL CAPACITY (2017-2020*)NOTE:*the values for this year are at least partly predictive up to six months and may be subject to change.