NEWARK— United Airlines (UA) will resume flights to Nuuk, Greenland (GOH) in the summer of 2026. The airline first launched this route in 2025, marking the first-ever nonstop service between the United States and Greenland operated by a U.S. carrier.
The Newark-to-Nuuk connection was a milestone for United Airlines (UA), linking the New York City area (EWR) with Greenland’s capital (GOH) in under four hours. Until this route was established, travelers had to connect via Iceland or Europe to reach Greenland.
Photo: Clément AlloingUnited Extends Greenland Flights
United confirmed the seasonal return through Patrick Quayle, its senior vice president of global network planning, who shared the update on social media. He described Greenland as a unique addition to United’s expanding international network.
The service to Nuuk was originally launched in June 2025 and operated by the Boeing 737 MAX 8. For travelers, it provided a direct link to a destination that had not seen scheduled U.S. service since 2007.
The new route was possible thanks to Greenland’s investments in airport infrastructure, including a newly built terminal and extended runway at Nuuk International Airport (GOH).
Flights cover a distance of roughly four hours from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). For passengers, the contrast is striking—leaving behind New York’s summer heat for Greenland’s cool climate, with average summer temperatures around 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Excursions from Nuuk also offer stunning views of icebergs and fjords, providing travelers with a glimpse of the Arctic’s dramatic landscape, TPG reported.
Photo: Clément AlloingWhy United Is Returning?
The decision to bring back the Nuuk flights reflects United’s push into niche, underserved international destinations.
Greenland stood out in 2025 as one of several high-profile new routes, alongside Dakar (DSS), Ulaanbaatar (ULN), Bilbao (BIO), and Palermo (PMO).
For United, adding Greenland was both a strategic and symbolic move. The service tapped into growing traveler interest in off-the-beaten-path destinations, while also demonstrating the operational capabilities of modern narrow-body aircraft like the 737 MAX 8 on transatlantic routes.
Photo: Clément AlloingSeasonal Operations and Schedule
United’s Greenland flights are designed as a summer-only operation. The inaugural 2025 season is scheduled to conclude with the final Newark-to-Nuuk service on September 23, followed by the last Nuuk-to-Newark return on September 24.
In 2026, the airline plans to resume the route for a second summer season, though specific start dates and frequencies have not yet been published.
A spokesperson confirmed that decisions on United’s other recent international additions will be announced separately.
Photo: By © Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons), CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=36767130Greenland’s Growing Appeal
Greenland’s investments in airport modernization are part of a broader effort to make the country more accessible to international travelers.
The new Nuuk facilities allowed United to operate nonstop from the U.S., creating new opportunities for tourism and cultural exchange.
For visitors, the route offers a convenient gateway to one of the world’s most remote regions, where Arctic landscapes and Indigenous heritage attract a mix of adventure travelers and curious tourists.
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