DALLAS — Air Greenland (GL), Greenland's flag carrier, has signed a strategic leasing agreement with Carlyle to acquire an Airbus A320neo aircraft. The aircraft will join the fleet by late 2026 and begin operations in the summer of 2027.

The lease agreement is confirmed to run for six years, with the possibility of an extension. This allows GL to operate the new route between Ilulissat (JAV) and Copenhagen (CPH), complementing the A330neo.

The new airport in Ilulissat, expected to open in late 2026, will feature a 2,200-meter runway. The A320neo will help meet increased capacity demand just in time for the first peak season at the new airport.

"The delivery time for new Airbus aircraft is currently 6-7 years, so we have chosen to lease the aircraft to be ready when the new international airport in Ilulissat opens and to gain financial flexibility as the route is still new," says Jacob Nitter Sørensen, CEO.

Crew, Fleet Strategy

The newly leased A320neo will have its technical maintenance base in Copenhagen, where SAS currently maintains Air Greenland's only A330-800, Tuukkaq.

The GL crew will operate the aircraft and paint it in the airline’s distinctive red livery with its logo. Thanks to Airbus's mixed fleet flying capabilities, the acquisition of the A320neo allows Air Greenland’s current A330neo pilots and cabin crew to operate the aircraft under the same license.

Air Greenland currently operates one A330-800 and eight Dash-8 aircraft, complemented by wet-leased aircraft from Jettime to accommodate additional capacity needs. In connection with the A320neo lease, several of Air Greenland’s Dash-8 pilots will undergo retraining to fly the new aircraft.

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