The latest news on airports globally, with updates on financing, infrastructure expansion and sustainability initiatives.
Ilulissat Airport (JAV), the third of three new airports in Greenland, opened on Oct. 29. Ilulissat is Greenland’s third-largest city. Air Greenland operated the airport’s inaugural flight with an Airbus A330 bound for Copenhagen Airport (CPH). Air Greenland will be the airport’s only carrier initially, operating 1,878 total two-way seats for the week commencing Nov. 1, including 518 two-way seats between JAV and Nuuk Airport (GOH) and 378 two-way seats between JAV and CPH, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. JAV has a 7,200-ft. runway. “The airport will ramp up gradually, with opening hours and activity expanding as operations are phased in,” Greenland Airports, which manages JAV, said. “The goal is for the airport to be fully operational by the summer 2027 season.” Greenland has now opened three new airports this decade. GOH opened in November 2024, while Qaqortoq Airport opened in April 2026. “The three new airports in Ilulissat, Nuuk and Qaqortoq fundamentally change how the country is connected internally and how Greenland is connected to the rest of the world,” Greenland Airports CEO Jens Lauridsen said. “Our task now is to convert that infrastructure into commercially sustainable routes and year-round connectivity.”
Monterrey International Airport (MTY) operator Grupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte (OMA) said it will spend 8 billion Mexican pesos ($427 million) over the next five years to expand the airport. OMA said the MTY’s Terminal A will see its surface area grow from 40,000 m2 (430,000 ft.2) to 100,000 m2 by 2030. Modernization projects will include a new domestic baggage claim area with five carousels capable of handling between 2,500 and 3,000 pieces of luggage per hour from up to 10 simultaneous flights.
Swedish airports operator Swedavia said airlines offering “frequent services” between Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) and smaller airports “will receive substantial discounts on landing and passenger charges” starting in 2027. “These discounts will apply to both domestic routes, such as Gothenburg, Malmo and Lulea, and international routes to destinations” such as Gdansk, Poland and Bergen, Norway, according to Swedavia. “With the new model, we can create stronger incentives for airlines investing in frequent connections to and from Arlanda,” Swedavia said. “This will improve accessibility across Sweden and enhance opportunities for onward travel to destinations around the world.” The total amount of discounts provided to airlines through the policy over the next five years is expected to be nearly 1 billion Swedish kronor ($103 million).
Hawaiian Airlines has started construction of a premium lounge at Honolulu's Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL). The lounge will span 13,000 ft.2 and is scheduled to open in the first half of 2028. The space will have capacity for around 200 passengers. It will be located at the entrance of HNL’s Mauka Concourse.
Washington Manassas Airport (HEF) broke ground on a new 145-ft. air traffic control tower as it seeks to attract passenger airline service. The airport, located in Virginia around 20 mi. from Washington Dulles International Airport, gained Part 139 certification from the FAA in August, allowing it to handle commercial flights. The airport aims to have scheduled airline service by the end of 2027.
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