Nonstop: New York to Nuuk, Greenland on United Airlines
April 6, 2025 | Tim Haig
United Airlines is the first North American airline to offer service to Nuuk, Greenland, flying to the new international airport which opened on November 28, 2024.
Apart from refueling stopovers made in the 1950s, no North American commercial airline has served Greenland before. Currently, passengers from the US and Canada must fly to Iceland or Denmark and then backtrack if they want to visit Greenland.
United’s jet service on B737-MAX 8 aircraft will take just 4 hours and 15 minutes and be operated in daylight hours, saving passengers almost 13 hours of travel time versus connecting via Iceland.
The inaugural flight will take off from New York-Newark on June 14, 2025, and operate twice a week until September 23, 2025.
| United Airlines | UA 80 | UA 81 |
|---|---|---|
| Route | EWR-GOH | GOH-EWR |
| Departs | 11:30am EDT | 9:00am WGST |
| Arrives | 6:45pm WGST | 10:30am EDT |
| Duration | 4h15 | 4h30 |
| Natutical Miles | 1616nm | 1616nm |
| Equipment | B737-MAX 8 | B737-MAX 8 |
| Frequency | Tue, Sat | Sun, Wed |
| Season | Summer | Summer |
| Inaugural Flight | June 14, 2025 | June 15, 2025 |
| Last Flight | Sep 23, 2025 | Sep 24, 2025 |
CABIN COMFORT (ECONOMY CABIN)
MEAL SERVICE (ECONOMY CABIN)
JET LAG MINIMIZER (EWR-GOH)
JET LAG MINIMIZER (GOH-EWR)
10 reasons why we like United Airlines’ route from New York to Nuuk, Greenland
1. The only route from the US to Greenland
Greenland is a hot travel destination and United Airlines moved swiftly to become the first US airline to take advantage of Nuuk’s new international airport. We expect more US airlines to try and get in on the action in 2026.
Nuuk’s new International Airport opened on November 28, 2024 (photo: Oscar Scott Carl, Visit Greenland)
2. Less jet lag
East coast USA passengers will barely feel the 3-hour time change and can enjoy flying to and from Greenland in daylight hours. This beats taking a red-eye to Reykjavik and waiting hours for a connecting flight to Greenland.
3. Comfortable jet aircraft
United will use a Boeing 737-MAX 8 on this 4-hour-and-15-minute flight to Nuuk. Seat maps show 166 seats: a 3-3 configuration in United Economy (150 seats) and a 2-2 configuration in United Premium Plus (16 seats). No United Business or United First is offered on this route.
United Airlines flies the Boeing 737-MAX 8 on UA 80 and UA 81, its nonstop route between New York and Nuuk, Greenland (photo: United Airlines)
4. Use United MileagePlus or Air Canada Aeroplan miles
United MileagePlus members can redeem miles on this Newark to Nuuk flight. When we searched on April 6, 2025 for travel in September 2025, redemption started at 40,000 miles one way (+$6).
Air Canada Aeroplan offered the same 40,000-mile redemption (+CA$80) for travel from Newark to Nuuk in September 2025, with lower mileage redemption found for Toronto to Nuuk via Newark (35,000 miles +CA$149).
40,000 miles in Economy (EWR-GOH)
United Airlines MileagePlus: 40,000 miles one way +$6 (subject to change and availability)
40,000 miles in Economy (EWR-GOH)
Air Canada Aeroplan: 40,000 miles one way +CA$80 (subject to change and availability)
Colorful houses dot the coastline of Nuuk (photo: Stine Selmer Andersen, Visit Greenland)
5. Short trip friendly
Formerly a long overnight trip via Iceland, United’s nonstop flight to Greenland makes a short getaway possible. East coast passengers could take a Tuesday morning connecting flight to Newark and be in Greenland later that afternoon, then leave Greenland on a Sunday morning and be home by mid-afternoon. Visit Nuuk offers two sample four-day itineraries: nature and culture, or food and culture.
6. Explore the largest island in the world
Nuuk is the perfect jumping off point for travelers looking to explore more of Greenland. Air Greenland offers service from Nuuk to destinations like Narsarsuaq, Ilulissat, Upernavik and Qaanaaq.
7. An interesting way to get to Denmark
North American passengers traveling to Denmark this summer could take United’s flight to Greenland, spend a few days in Nuuk, then continue on to Copenhagen. We found one-way nonstop fares from Nuuk to Copenhagen on Air Greenland for $406 on various dates in September 2025 (searched on April 6, 2025). Passengers would have the advantage of two daytime flights to Europe (roughly 4 hours each), with a three-hour time change on each flight.
8. An interesting way to get to Iceland
Even though Iceland is a straight shot from most of the US and Canada, Greenland would make a great stopover if passengers take advantage of United’s New York-Nuuk or Nuuk-New York flight in one direction. Icelandair and Air Greenland both offer nonstop flights between Reykjavik (KEF) and Nuuk (GOH).
9. Nuuk is perfect for rambling
An ideal destination for those looking to escape from city stress, Visit Nuuk encourages free wandering: “Nuuk is one of the few places in the world where you can actually hike from one city area to another. So if you see a nature spot that you want to explore then go for it (unless of course there are barriers).”
There are three recommended hikes within close proximity of the city — from beginner and child-friendly to challenging.
10. An affordable introduction to Greenlandic culture
United’s flight makes it possible for travelers to get a taste of Greenland without breaking the bank on a multi-week expedition. In addition to exploring Nuuk’s natural beauty, visit the Greenland National Museum, Nuuk Art Museum and Katuaq cultural center.
Katuaq cultural center in Nuuk (photo: Peter Lindstrom, Visit Greenland)
Nuuk in late summer (photo: Peter Lindstrom, Visit Greenland)
Can I earn and redeem miles when traveling from New York to Greenland?
Yes — United is a founding member of Star Alliance. United MileagePlus members as well as Star Alliance frequent flyer program members (such as Air Canada’s Aeroplan or Lufthansa’s Miles & More) can earn or redeem miles when traveling on UA 80 and UA 81 between New York and Nuuk.
Sermitsiaq mountain rises above Nuuk, Greenland (photo: Aningaaq Rosing Carlsen)
Alternate routes from New York to Nuuk, Greenland
Greenland is part of North America yet is notoriously hard to get to for North Americans. The only viable alternative to United’s nonstop would be to fly overnight to Reykjavik (KEF) and connect on Icelandair or Air Greenland to Nuuk. Icelandair’s summer service to Nuuk is in the evening, so this would require a long layover in Keflavik.
What is the best credit card bonus if you want to fly from New York to Greenland for free?
The New United Explorer Card from Chase is currently offering 80,000 United MileagePlus bonus miles after qualifying purchases for new approved applicants (conditions and exclusions apply; limited time offer; $150 annual fee waived for the first year). This bonus would cover the lowest round-trip Economy reward redemption we found on United MileagePlus from New York-Newark to Nuuk (80,000 miles plus fees*).
The Aeroplan Card from Chase is also offering a decent sign-up bonus: 70,000 Air Canada Aeroplan bonus miles for new approved applicants after qualifying purchases and payment of the $95 annual fee (conditions and exclusions apply; limited time offer). This would cover the lowest round-trip Economy reward redemption we found on Aeroplan from Toronto to Nuuk via Newark (70,000 miles plus fees*).
* searched on April 6, 2025 for travel in September 2025
Hiking near Nuuk, Greenland (photo: Rebecca Gustafsson, Visit Greenland)
Tim Haig was the Asia Product and Marketing Manager for Goway Travel, and has written for BC Living, SharedVISION and Globetrotting. He is based in California.
