Sisimiut Airport
Encyclopedia
Sisimiut Airport is an airport
located 2.2 NM northwest of Sisimiut
, a town in the Qeqqata
municipality in central-western Greenland
. The airport has a single runway designated 14/32 which measures 799 by, built on the northern shore of Kangerluarsunnguaq Bay
.
For scheduled flights, the airport is served exclusively by Air Greenland
, serving as a fly-through destination with no aircraft stationed onsite. Operated by Mittarfeqarfiit
, it is also used for general aviation
purposes.
.
The construction of Sisimiut Airport was part of the regional airport network extension in Greenland, with several airports built to serve STOL
aircraft of Air Greenland − the venerable De Havilland Canada Dash-7
s acquired in the preceding decade − planes particularly suited to the often severe weather conditions in Greenland. The other new additions were Maniitsoq Airport
in the southern part of the Qeqqata municipality, Aasiaat Airport
in western Greenland; Qaarsut Airport
and Upernavik Airport
in northwestern Greenland.
Roads in Sisimiut, including the road to the airport, are surfaced, but there is no road linking Sisimiut to any other settlement. In the 2000s construction of the 170 km (105.6 mi) road to Kangerlussuaq
was discussed for several years without resolution. The road would have been the first of its kind in Greenland, connecting two settlements, and reducing the need for passenger exchange at Kangerlussuaq Airport
, the airline hub.
With 5,460 inhabitants as of 2010, Sisimiut is the second-largest town in Greenland, one of the few towns in the country exhibiting growth patterns, with corresponding increasing passenger traffic at Sisimiut Airport. Air Greenland pledges to maintain a relatively high number of flights at the airport even should the construction of the road to Kangerlussuaq commence. Apart from the connecting flights to Kangerlussuaq, the busiest routes are the routes to Nuuk
, the capital of Greenland, and to Ilulissat
, the cultural and business center of Qaasuitsup
, the northernmost and largest municipality in the country.
equipment at the airport, which is costly and problematic in Greenlandic winter. All passengers connecting through the airport and continuing with the same plane to another destination are required to disembark and undergo regular boarding process checks before they can re-board and continue the flight.
At the terminal there is a Post Greenland
box, a soft drink machine and television, and a small exhibition from the Sisimiut Museum. A workstation in kiosk mode
provides tourist, municipal and airport related information. Taxis as well as an infrequent town bus service connect the airport with the center of Sisimiut.
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
located 2.2 NM northwest of Sisimiut
Sisimiut
Sisimiut is a town in central-western Greenland, located on the coast of Davis Strait, approximately north of Nuuk. It is the administrative center of the Qeqqata Municipality and the second-largest town in Greenland, with a population of 5,460 people as of 2010. The site of the present-day town...
, a town in the Qeqqata
Qeqqata
Qeqqata is a new municipality in western Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. The municipality was named after its location in central-western part of the country. Its population is 9,677 as of January 2010. The administrative center of the municipality is in Sisimiut...
municipality in central-western Greenland
Greenland
Greenland is an autonomous country within the Kingdom of Denmark, located between the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans, east of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago. Though physiographically a part of the continent of North America, Greenland has been politically and culturally associated with Europe for...
. The airport has a single runway designated 14/32 which measures 799 by, built on the northern shore of Kangerluarsunnguaq Bay
Kangerluarsunnguaq Bay
Kangerluarsunnguaq Bay is a bay of Davis Strait in the Qeqqata municipality on the western coast of Greenland. It is located directly to the north of Sisimiut.- Geography :...
.
For scheduled flights, the airport is served exclusively by Air Greenland
Air Greenland
Air Greenland A/S is the flag carrier airline of Greenland, jointly owned by the government of Greenland, the SAS Group, and the government of Denmark...
, serving as a fly-through destination with no aircraft stationed onsite. Operated by Mittarfeqarfiit
Mittarfeqarfiit
The Greenland Airport Authority is the national airport operator of the airports in Greenland, in charge of airport upgrades and associated fees and taxes in all airports in Greenland....
, it is also used for general aviation
General aviation
General aviation is one of the two categories of civil aviation. It refers to all flights other than military and scheduled airline and regular cargo flights, both private and commercial. General aviation flights range from gliders and powered parachutes to large, non-scheduled cargo jet flights...
purposes.
Airlines and destinations
History
Before the airport was opened in the 1990s, Sisimiut had been served by the now-closed heliport, located on the eastern outskirts of the town, in Sisimiut valleyAlanngorsuaq
Alanngorsuaq is a high mountain in the Qeqqata municipality in western Greenland. It is located on the mainland of Greenland in Sisimiut valley, approximately east of the town.- Geography :...
.
The construction of Sisimiut Airport was part of the regional airport network extension in Greenland, with several airports built to serve STOL
STOL
STOL is an acronym for short take-off and landing, a term used to describe aircraft with very short runway requirements.-Definitions:There is no one accepted definition of STOL and many different definitions have been used by different authorities and nations at various times and for a myriad of...
aircraft of Air Greenland − the venerable De Havilland Canada Dash-7
De Havilland Canada Dash 7
The de Havilland Canada DHC-7, popularly known as the Dash 7, is a turboprop-powered regional airliner with STOL capabilities. It first flew in 1975 and remained in production until 1988 when the parent company, de Havilland Canada, was purchased by Boeing and was later sold to Bombardier...
s acquired in the preceding decade − planes particularly suited to the often severe weather conditions in Greenland. The other new additions were Maniitsoq Airport
Maniitsoq Airport
Maniitsoq Airport is an airport located northwest of Maniitsoq, a town in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland. It can serve STOL aircraft, although there is no deicing equipment at the airport, which is costly and problematic in Greenlandic winter.-Airlines and destinations:...
in the southern part of the Qeqqata municipality, Aasiaat Airport
Aasiaat Airport
Aasiaat Airport is an airport located northeast of Aasiaat, a town in the Qaasuitsup municipality in western Greenland. It can serve STOL aircraft, although there is no deicing equipment at the airport, which is costly and problematic in Greenlandic winter....
in western Greenland; Qaarsut Airport
Qaarsut Airport
Qaarsut Airport is an airport in Qaarsut, a settlement on the Nuussuaq Peninsula in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland. It is a primary airport with a gravel runway, capable of serving STOL aircraft of Air Greenland in all seasons...
and Upernavik Airport
Upernavik Airport
Upernavik Airport is an airport located northeast of Upernavik, a town in the Qaasuitsup municipality in northwestern Greenland, capable of serving STOL aircraft...
in northwestern Greenland.
Roads in Sisimiut, including the road to the airport, are surfaced, but there is no road linking Sisimiut to any other settlement. In the 2000s construction of the 170 km (105.6 mi) road to Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq
Kangerlussuaq is a settlement in western Greenland in the Qeqqata municipality, located at the head of a fjord of the same name. It is Greenland's main air transport hub, being the site of Greenland's largest commercial airport....
was discussed for several years without resolution. The road would have been the first of its kind in Greenland, connecting two settlements, and reducing the need for passenger exchange at Kangerlussuaq Airport
Kangerlussuaq Airport
Kangerlussuaq Airport is an airport in Kangerlussuaq, a settlement in the Qeqqata municipality in central-western Greenland. Alongside Narsarsuaq Airport, it is one of only two civilian airports in Greenland large enough to handle large airliners, having more stable weather, being located further...
, the airline hub.
With 5,460 inhabitants as of 2010, Sisimiut is the second-largest town in Greenland, one of the few towns in the country exhibiting growth patterns, with corresponding increasing passenger traffic at Sisimiut Airport. Air Greenland pledges to maintain a relatively high number of flights at the airport even should the construction of the road to Kangerlussuaq commence. Apart from the connecting flights to Kangerlussuaq, the busiest routes are the routes to Nuuk
Nuuk
Nuuk, is the capital of Greenland, the northernmost capital in North America and the largest city in Greenland. Located in the Nuup Kangerlua fjord, the city lies on the eastern shore of the Labrador Sea and on the west coast of Sermersooq. Nuuk is the largest cultural and economic center in...
, the capital of Greenland, and to Ilulissat
Ilulissat
Ilulissat is a town in the Qaasuitsup municipality in western Greenland, located approximately north of the Arctic Circle. With the population of 4,546 as of 2010, it is the third-largest settlement in Greenland, after Nuuk and Sisimiut....
, the cultural and business center of Qaasuitsup
Qaasuitsup
Qaasuitsup is a new municipality in Greenland, operational from 1 January 2009. As of January 2010 its population is 17,749. The administrative center of the municipality is in Ilulissat...
, the northernmost and largest municipality in the country.
Facilities
There is no deicingDeicing
For snow and ice control on roadways and similar facilities, see Snow removalDe-icing is defined as removal of snow, ice or frost from a surface...
equipment at the airport, which is costly and problematic in Greenlandic winter. All passengers connecting through the airport and continuing with the same plane to another destination are required to disembark and undergo regular boarding process checks before they can re-board and continue the flight.
At the terminal there is a Post Greenland
Post Greenland
Post Greenland is the company responsible for postal service in Greenland. The company is wholly owned by Tele Greenland A/S, operating under Greenland Home Rule...
box, a soft drink machine and television, and a small exhibition from the Sisimiut Museum. A workstation in kiosk mode
Kiosk software
Kiosk software is the system and user interface software designed for a kiosk or Internet kiosk. Kiosk software locks down the application in order to protect the kiosk from users. Kiosk software may offer remote monitoring to manage multiple kiosks from another location...
provides tourist, municipal and airport related information. Taxis as well as an infrequent town bus service connect the airport with the center of Sisimiut.