Non-stop flights from U.S. to Greenland announced
October 16th by Chad Shmukler
United Airlines has announced that it will begin direct service from the United States to Greenland beginning in June 2025. United will offer twice–weekly flights from New York (EWR/Newark International Airport) to Nuuk, Greenland (GOH), serving the Greenlandic capital’s brand new international airport slated to open this November. For both tourists and tour operators, this is big and welcome news, as North American travelers have long had to deal with complex and lengthy flight itineraries routing through either Copenhagen, Denmark or Reykjavik, Iceland.
For most U.S.-based travelers, the new route will reduce international air travel times from around 15 hours, often requiring overnight stays between flights, to one direct flight of just over 4 hours. This will render once cumbersome travel plans a relative breeze, greatly increasing the attractiveness of Greenland travel for North American clients.
“We are excited to announce our first-ever nonstop service between Greenland and the U.S.,” said Marcel Fuchs, Managing Director of International Sales at United Airlines, said. “For summer 2025, travelers from Greenland will for the first time benefit from a direct service from Nuuk Airport to the United States … whilst U.S. travelers will now be able to fly non-stop in just over four hours to the northernmost capital in the world, providing a gateway to world-class hiking and fascinating wildlife under the summer’s midnight sun.”
A Greenland sea-run Arctic char (photo: Josh Hutchins).
For anglers headed to Greenland, the immediate impact of the new United Airlines flights to Nuuk remains a bit of a grey area. The proposed flight schedules, currently pending government approvals, don’t align advantageously with schedules at some fishing destinations. However, should the proposed schedules change before meeting approval, or for anglers looking to enjoy a few days of exploration in Greenland in conjunction with their trip, the new flights offer an extremely alluring opportunity to embark one of the planet’s greatest adventures with ease.
| FLIGHT | ROUTE | DEPART | ARRIVE | FREQUENCY |
| UA 81 | GOH to EWR | 08:00 | 09:30 | Wed + Sun |
| UA 80 | EWR to GOH | 11:30 | 18:45 | Tue + Sat |
Currently proposed 2025 United Airlines flights between Greenland and the U.S.
Even if only some U.S. travelers take advantage of these routes during 2025, the newly offered flights are sure to have a big impact on travel during 2026 and beyond, as Greenland’s angling and other destinations, tours, and more adapt their schedules to align with United’s new offerings, allowing them to welcome more U.S.-based clientele.
Casting over a pool of Arctic char on the Kangia River (photo: Earl Harper).
One thing which seems certain however, is that the new flights are sure to increase already significant demand for all Greenland-based tourism. Greenland’s sea-run arctic char fishing lodges and camps operate short seasons that cater to a limited number of guests, making it very likely that anglers hoping to fly fish in Greenland will need to plan farther in advance to find vacancies. To learn more about fly fishing in Greenland or inquire about booking a 2025 or 2026 trip, explore Kangia River Lodge, send us an email, or call us at +1 (253)-780-1530.
Fly direct from the U.S.
Qeqqata
Kangia River Lodge
Is Greenland the angling world's newest frontier? Some think so. In fact, many anglers aren't even aware that it is possible to travel to Greenland to fish. Thanks to remaining out of the spotlight, as well as to Greenland's remote location and lack of development, many of the island's rivers remain unexplored. Of those that have been scouted by anglers, the Kangia is king. As the seasonal home to an uncharacteristically large population of powerful, sea-run Arctic char, there may be no river in all of Greenland that offers the bounty of the Kangia.
