Air Greenland this week took delivery of its brand new Airbus A330-800neo.
The aircraft, named Tuukkaq (Inuit for harpoon tip), flew its maiden voyage on Wednesday 07 December from Airbus headquarters at Toulouse-Blagnac Airport (TLS) in France to Kangerlussuaq Airport (SFJ) in Greenland.
When Tuukkaq touched down in Kangerlussuaq on Wednesday just after 1300 local time, it marked the end of a years-long journey to replace Air Greenland’s sole long-haul jetliner, an Airbus A330-200, that operates its signature route between Greenland and Denmark.
Its first revenue flight is tentatively set for 27 March for a flight from Greenland’s main international airport in Kangerlussuaq to Copenhagen, Denmark (CPH).
Kangerlussuaq is Greenland’s Main International Airport
Kangerlussuaq is currently one of only two Greenland airports that can handle widebody jetliners. As such, it serves as the hub for Air Greenland. Passengers wishing to visit the capital city of Nuuk (GOH) must connect in Kangerlussuaq and fly the short 35-minute hop to Nuuk via a 37-seat Dash 8-200.
Expansion projects are currently underway in both Nuuk and Ilulissat (JAV). Once complete, both airports will be able to accept widebody aircraft.
Tuukkaq’s Journey Home
Air Greenland placed the order for the new A330-800neo way back in 2019. As with everything in 2020, pandemic-induced slowdowns resulted in a delivery delay for the new $260 million Airbus.
The new Airbus is Air Greenland’s first-ever purchase of a brand new aircraft. The current A330-200, named Norsaq, is a 24-year-old ex-Sabena bird that Air Greenland acquired in 2002.
The carrier and manufacturer Airbus released pictures of Tuukkaq when it left the paint facility in early August.
Tuukkaq, which bears the registration F-WWCR, is significantly more environmentally friendly than its predecessor, emitting at least 25 percent less CO2 per seat.
Air Greenland is One of Just Four Carriers to Operate the Airbus A330-800neo
The new Airbus will feature 305 seats – a nearly ten percent increase in seating capacity over the 278-seat Norsaq. Tuukkaq features 42 seats in its business class cabin and 263 in economy. It is powered by two Rolls-Royce Trent 7000 engines and features a larger wing with “Sharklets.”
Compared to the much more popular Airbus A330-900neo, the -800 variant is extremely rare. Besides Air Greenland, only three other airlines – Garuda Indonesia, Kuwait Airways, and Uganda Airlines – currently operate the type. Only seven -800s have been delivered out of a total of 11 ordered. Conversely, the larger -900 variant has 267 orders, 82 of which are in service.
With a range of 9,300 miles, the Airbus A330-800neo could open up Air Greenland to additional destinations in North America and Europe in the years to come.
