First direct flight from US to Greenland since 2008 lands on Trump's birthday

NUUK, Greenland -- The archetypal nonstop formation from the U.S. to Greenland by an American hose landed successful the superior metropolis of Nuuk connected Saturday.

The United Airlines-operated Boeing 737 Max 8 departed from Newark International Airport successful New Jersey astatine 11:31 a.m. EDT (1531 GMT) and arrived a small implicit 4 hours later, astatine 6:39 p.m. section clip (1939 GMT), according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.

A spot outgo astir $1,200.

Saturday's formation marks the archetypal nonstop transition betwixt the U.S. and the Arctic Island for astir 20 years. In 2007, Air Greenland launched a way betwixt Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport and Kangerlussuaq Airport, immoderate 315 kilometers (196 miles) northbound of Nuuk. It was scrapped the pursuing twelvemonth owed to cost.

The United Airlines formation took spot connected U.S. President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, which was being celebrated successful Washington with a arguable subject parade that’s portion of the Army’s long-planned 250th day celebration.

Trump has repeatedly said helium seeks power of Greenland, a strategical Arctic land that’s a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark, and has not ruled retired subject force.

The governments of Denmark, a NATO ally, and Greenland person said it is not for sale and condemned reports of the U.S. stepping up quality gathering connected the mineral-rich island.

United announced the formation successful October, earlier Trump was re-elected. It was scheduled for 2025 to instrumentality vantage of the caller Nuuk airport, which opened successful precocious November and features a larger runway for bigger jets.

“United volition beryllium the lone bearer to link the U.S. straight to Nuuk — the northernmost superior successful the world, providing a gateway to world-class hiking and fascinating wildlife nether the summer’s midnight sun,” the institution said successful a connection astatine the time.

Saturday's formation kicked disconnected the airline’s doubly play seasonal service, from June to September, betwixt Newark and Nuuk. The level has astir 165 seats.

Previously, travelers had to instrumentality a layover successful Iceland oregon Copenhagen, Denmark, earlier flying to Greenland.

The caller formation is beneficial for the island's concern and residents, according to Greenland authorities curate Naaja Nathanielsen.

Tourists volition walk wealth astatine section businesses, and Greenlanders themselves volition present beryllium capable to question to the U.S. much easily, Nathanielsen, the curate for business, mineral resources, energy, justness and sex equality, told Danish broadcaster DR. The way is besides an important portion of diversifying the island's economy, she said. Fishing produces astir 90% of Greenland’s exports.

Tourism is progressively important. More than 96,000 planetary passengers traveled done the country’s airports successful 2023, up 28% from 2015.

Visit Greenland echoed Nathanielsen's comments. The government's tourism bureau did not person projections connected however overmuch wealth the caller flights would bring to the island.

“We bash cognize that flights tin bring successful overmuch much than conscionable dollars, and we expect it to person a affirmative interaction -- some for the nine and travellers,” Tanny Por, Visit Greenland's caput of planetary relations, told The Associated Press successful an email.

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Associated Press writer Stefanie Dazio successful Berlin contributed to this report.