United Airlines will bring back one of its boldest network expansions for a second season, confirming it will return to Greenland in summer 2026.
The Chicago-based carrier first made history in June 2025 by launching nonstop flights from Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Nuuk (GOH), the capital of Greenland. The route was the first scheduled nonstop service between the U.S. and Greenland since 2007 – and the first ever operated by a U.S. airline.
Patrick Quayle, United’s Senior Vice President of Global Network Planning and Alliances, described Greenland as a “gem of the Arctic,” announcing via Instagram that the airline would resume the service in 2026.
United’s Nuuk flights, operated by Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, run roughly four hours from the New York area. The route was made possible thanks to Greenland’s recent airport upgrades, including a new terminal and extended runway at Nuuk International, which opened shortly before United’s inaugural landing.
During the 2025 season, the carrier’s summer-only schedule gave U.S. travellers direct access to Greenland’s landscapes of icebergs, fjords and Arctic wildlife – a stark contrast to the heat of East Coast summers.
Quayle said earlier this year: “I think what we’re building at United is an airline that is aspirational and inspirational, and I think Greenland fits that designation.”
Prior to United’s arrival, travellers from the U.S. could only reach Greenland via connections through Iceland or mainland Europe.
Greenland was one of several high-profile destinations United added in 2025 as part of its push into off-the-beaten-path international markets. Other launches included Dakar (Senegal), Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia), Bilbao (Spain) and Palermo (Italy). The airline has not yet confirmed whether those other routes will also return in 2026.
United’s current Nuuk flights will finish their inaugural season on 23 September 2025, with the final southbound flight to the U.S. operating on 24 September.
The decision to return in 2026 signals strong early demand for the Arctic route and underlines United’s strategy of pairing major global hubs with unique, aspirational destinations.