Kangerlussuaq Airport - Spotting Guide

Kangerlussuaq Airport – Spotting Guide

January 17, 2023 - last modified on May 18, 2024

Kangerlussuaq Airport (SFJ/BGSF), also known as Sondre Strømfjord in Danish, is the biggest in Greenland, located in Kangerlussuaq, which can be found in central-western Greenland. Alongside Narsarsuaq Airport, it is one of only two civilian airports in Greenland large enough to handle jet airliners, including Air Greenland’s only A330. The airport therefore serves as Air Greenland’s international hub. As the airport is located away from the coast, it is less prone to fog and high winds than most other airports in Greenland. However, with only about 500 inhabitants, and with very little else in Kangerlussuaq apart from the airport, it means that most passengers here will be changing planes to travel elsewhere in Greenland.

The airport was originally built in 1941 as a military air base during US occupation, but transatlantic civilian airliners started using the airport as a refuelling stop in the mid 1950s. The airport was eventually handed over to civilian Greenlandic control in 1992.

The runway at Nuuk Airport, Greenland’s capital, is being extended to be able to accept narrowbody jet airliners and also, with the runway at Kangerlussuaq requiring expensive renovation due to the permafrost underneath it starting to melt, the future of Kangerlussuaq Airport is somewhat uncertain.

Kangerlussuaq Airport’s terminal is open for 24 hours a day during the summer, and a restaurant and a seventy room hotel are located within the terminal building.

Written by Clive Grant, Christian Gimmler and Tim Nicolausen. Last Change: April 2024 (Spot 8 added)

Rating
Movements
Airline Variety
Photo Locations
Weather
Airport Information
Runways
09/27	2,810m (9,219ft)
Terminals	The airport has one passenger terminal serving all traffic.
Spotting Information
Ladder	1-2 steps would be useful for spots
Car/Public Transport	Not necessary, spots are within walking distance of the terminal. On weekdays and saturday mornings there is one public bus line available from the terminal to west side of Meyer Avenue every 30 minutes.
Drinks/Food/Restrooms	Available in the airport terminal.
Hotels	The Hotel Kangerlussuaq is located in the airport terminal but be aware it can get booked up for months in advance. There is also limited simpler accommodation in Kangerlussuaq.
Season	With few daylight hours, temperatures in Greenland are likely to be unbearably cold between November and April, though April is historically the sunniest month. For the combination of daylight hours, sunshine and reasonable temperatures, the best time to visit Kangerlussuaq is probably between May and September, with July having up to twenty hours of daylight.
Runway Usage
09/27	Due to the geographical conditions and terminal positions runway 09 is used for arrivals whilst 27 is used for departures. Having said that, smaller aircraft (including all DHC-8 flights) may also be seen using 27 for arrivals or 09 for departures from time to time.

	Spot #1 – Airport Terminal – Apron and 27 movements
WHERE	Immediately in front of the terminal; use the door to the right of the restaurant to gain access outside.

WHAT	Traffic arriving and departing on Runway 27 and traffic utilising the terminal apron.

TIME	Early mornings and evenings in the summer.

MISC.	Just outside the airport terminal, so all facilities are available there.

FOCAL LENGTH	Dash 8-200: from 65mm (on apron); A330-200: 190mm (on runway)

	Spot #2 – Perimeter Road – 27 movements and 09 arrivals
WHERE	From Spot #1, walk eastwards along the front of the terminal buildings and around the eastern airport perimeter for about ten to fifteen minutes to the touchdown point of Runway 27.

WHAT	All traffic on Runway 27 and traffic exiting Runway 09 for the terminal apron.

TIME	From mid morning to mid afternoon in the summer.

MISC.	You’ll need to take photos through the mesh of the fence. All facilities are available in the terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	ATR42: 230mm

	Spot #3 – Picnic Area – Apron south, all runway movements
WHERE	From Spot #2, walk westwards for about ten minutes towards the large hangars. Take the path between the second and third hangars to find the picnic and viewing area behind.

WHAT	All traffic on the runway and traffic exiting for the south apron.

TIME	From mid morning to mid afternoon in the summer.

MISC.	You’ll need to take photos through the mesh of the fence. All facilities are available in the terminal.

FOCAL LENGTH	B734 = 300mm

	Spot #4 – Cargo Camp – Ramp + 27 Departures
WHERE	From spot #2 and #3 walk further to the west for another 10 Minutes. Total walking 30 Minutes from the terminal. After passing the tower on the street ‘North avenue” you will reach a gate in the fence to the apron. Public transport: on weekdays and saturday mornings there is one public bus line available from the terminal to west side of Meyer Avenue every 30 minutes.

WHAT	Departures of DHC-8 (and similar) from runway 27. But departure of A330 should not be possible as it is still on the gorund here.

TIME	From mid morning to mid afternoon in the summer.

MISC.	Nothing nearby, nothing needed. The area is a bit elevated so no ladder is needed for aircrafts in the air. Maybe it helps to climb on some pallets or other stuff laying around to get a little higher.

FOCAL LENGTH	150-400mm DHC8 = 380mm

	Spot #5 – Mound – 27 Departures + 09 Arrivals
WHERE	From spot #2 and #3 follow the road down to Myers Avenue. Walk down Myers Avenue further to the west to the last buildings. At the last building a little road to the left will follow up the hill to the radar station on top. Total walking duration from the terminal: 40 Minutes Public transport: on weekdays and saturday mornings there is one public bus line available from the terminal to west side of Meyer Avenue every 30 minutes.

WHAT	All 27 departures and 09 arrivals.

TIME	From mid morning to mid afternoon in the summer.

MISC.	All facilities are available in the terminal. No ladder needed. Heat haze might be a problem on warmer days as the distance to the runway is 630m from this spot.

FOCAL LENGTH	150-400mm DHC8 = 400mm / A338 = 200mm

	Spot #6 – Fencecorner – Ramp + Runway movements
WHERE	From spot #2 and #3 follow the road down to Myers Avenue. Walk down Myers Avenue further to the west to the last buildings. After passing the fuel storage area climb up the hill to the fence and walk forward to the corner where the fence turns back to the east at the apron edge. Public transport: on weekdays and saturday mornings there is one public bus line available from the terminal to west side of Meyer Avenue every 30 minutes.

WHAT	Aircraft on the apron in front and most runway movements.

TIME	From mid morning to mid afternoon in the summer.

MISC.	All facilities are available in the terminal. No ladder needed for the runway, ramp is visible thru the mesh.

FOCAL LENGTH	70-300mm A338 = 90mm / DHC8 = 200mm

	Spot #7 – 09 Short final – 09 Arrivals
WHERE	From spot #2 and #3 follow the road down to Myers Avenue. Walk down Myers Avenue further to the west to the last buildings. After passing the fire department training area the road will turn to the right through a little valley and will reach the airport fence. (Total walking from the terminal 45 minutes)

WHAT	09 arrivals, but this position is a bit tricky as aircraft are coming in on different elevations as some like to touch down further down the runway as the terminal is at the far end.

TIME	From mid morning to mid afternoon in the summer.

MISC.	Nothing around at all!

FOCAL LENGTH	DHC8: 85mm

	Spot #8 – Oil Tanks – 09 arrivals
WHERE	If you follow the (only) road out of the village/terminal facing west, towards the sea, there is some high ground, next to some kind of oil tanks. Walking time is about 30 minutes from the terminal. There is a path leading around the threshold, so it is possible to walk around the airport and reach the other side. Just make sure to stay away from the swamp/quicksands which are dangerous.

WHAT	From here you can easily take pictures of planes approaching runway 09.

TIME	Just be aware that you will facing the sun most of the day. During mid summer you have fantastic light here in the morning and afternoon hours.

MISC.	Nothing around at all! There ist even a bench to sit on, apart from this, there are no facilities.

FOCAL LENGTH	737 = 300mm; Dash 8 = 600mm