Sky Greenland

Sky Greenland, formerly known as Greenland Express, was a virtual airline headquartered in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. It was established to provide air links between Greenland, Denmark, Iceland, and potentially other European destinations. The carrier began operating on 17 June 2014, using aircraft supplied through an ACMI or wet-lease arrangement rather than operating a substantial independently owned fleet. Its initial service concept centered on a route linking Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq in Greenland with Keflavik in Iceland and Aalborg and Copenhagen in Denmark. The airline's operating model relied on leased aircraft and external operational support. It initially used Fokker 100 aircraft supplied by Denim Air ACMI. Two aircraft were associated with the launch plan, although one was held in storage for possible future routes and charter work. Sky Greenland promoted a broader network concept than the limited service it actually operated, including possible flights from Akureyri in northern Iceland to European destinations. The proposed Akureyri operation was intended to reduce total journey time for some travelers by avoiding connections through Reykjavík and associated ground transfers. Sky Greenland's scheduled operation was short-lived. Services were suspended in September 2014, approximately three months after the carrier began flying. The suspension prevented the airline from establishing a durable presence on the Greenland–Denmark market. In early 2015, the company announced plans to restart operations through a three-year wet-lease agreement involving two Airbus A319 aircraft. It also sought to broaden its authority: in April 2015, it received permission to operate domestic services in Greenland, with flights expected to begin before August of that year. The planned restart was not achieved. Proposed relaunches for July and August 2015 were abandoned, and a contemplated Airbus A319-100 lease from BH Air was not completed because of payment-related problems. Planned services from Billund and Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq therefore did not enter regular operation. Sky Greenland is consequently best understood as a short-lived regional aviation venture whose commercial identity was built around connecting Greenland with Scandinavian and Icelandic gateways, but whose dependence on leased capacity and unresolved financing or contracting issues prevented sustained operations.

Sky Greenland was a short-lived Greenlandic virtual airline formerly known as Greenland Express. The business was headquartered in Kangerlussuaq and was designed to improve air connectivity between Greenland and European destinations, particularly Denmark and Iceland. Rather than operating a large independent fleet, it depended on leased aircraft and third-party operational arrangements. The carrier started flying on 17 June 2014. Its initial service pattern connected Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq in Greenland with Keflavik in Iceland and Aalborg and Copenhagen in Denmark. The service was operated with Fokker 100 aircraft obtained through Denim Air ACMI. Two aircraft were associated with the launch plan, though one was retained in storage for possible future routes and charter operations. The airline also considered an expanded network from Akureyri in Iceland to destinations elsewhere in Europe. The proposed Akureyri flights were marketed as a way to reduce travel time by avoiding connections through Reykjavík and the related ground transfer. The initial operation did not continue for long. Services were suspended in September 2014, approximately three months after the launch. The company nevertheless attempted to develop a restart plan. In early 2015, it announced that it expected to conclude a three-year wet-lease arrangement for two Airbus A319 aircraft. The proposed fleet would have provided greater capacity and potentially supported a broader scheduled network. Sky Greenland also pursued authorization to operate within Greenland. In April 2015, it received permission for domestic services, which were expected to begin before August. The carrier's proposed network included flights from Billund and Copenhagen to Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq. It also explored an Airbus A319-100 lease from BH Air. That contract was not completed because of payment-related difficulties, and the planned aircraft deployment did not occur. Attempts to restart regular services in July and August 2015 were abandoned. As a result, Sky Greenland never established sustained scheduled operations after its initial 2014 activity. Its history illustrates the challenges faced by small regional airline ventures operating in geographically remote markets, especially when their business model relies heavily on wet-leased aircraft, external operators, regulatory approvals, and the successful completion of financing and aircraft contracts. The available reference material does not document later commercial operations, a completed relaunch, or a continuing corporate presence.

• 2015

  Domestic operating permission granted

  [1]Sky Greenlanden.wikipedia.org

  Sky Greenland received permission in April to operate domestic services in Greenland.

• 2015

  Relaunch plans abandoned

  [1]Sky Greenlanden.wikipedia.org

  Planned restarts in July and August did not occur, and the proposed Airbus A319 lease from BH Air was not completed.

• 2014

  Operations begin

  [1]Sky Greenlanden.wikipedia.org

  Sky Greenland began operations on 17 June with Fokker 100 aircraft supplied through Denim Air ACMI.

• 2014

  Operations suspended

  [1]Sky Greenlanden.wikipedia.org

  The airline suspended operations in September, about three months after entering service.

A Greenland-focused regional airline concept aimed at improving direct connectivity between Greenland, Denmark, Iceland, and selected European destinations.

• Scheduled passenger aviation · 2014

  Fokker 100 passenger services

  Sky Greenland's initial operating proposition used Fokker 100 aircraft supplied through Denim Air ACMI. The aircraft supported the carrier's short-lived international and regional service concept between Greenland, Iceland, and Denmark. One additional aircraft was associated with the plan for possible future routes and charter operations, but the available material does not establish sustained use across a broad network.

• Planned passenger aviation · 2015

  Planned Airbus A319 services

  The airline planned to restart operations with two Airbus A319 aircraft under a proposed three-year wet-lease arrangement. A separate plan to lease an Airbus A319-100 from BH Air was not completed because of payment-related problems, so the intended higher-capacity service offering never entered regular operation.

• Domestic passenger aviation · 2015

  Domestic Greenland services

  After receiving permission to operate domestic services in April 2015, Sky Greenland planned to add flights within Greenland, including service involving Kangerlussuaq and Narsarsuaq. The proposed domestic operation was expected to begin before August 2015, but the planned relaunch was abandoned.

• 2015

  Plan to restart with wet-leased Airbus A319 aircraftStrategy

  Background

  Following the suspension of operations in 2014, Sky Greenland sought to resume scheduled flying with a larger aircraft arrangement.

  Action taken

  The airline announced plans for a three-year wet lease involving two Airbus A319 aircraft and considered an A319-100 lease from BH Air.

  Aftermath

  The restart did not take place. The contemplated BH Air lease was not completed because of payment problems, and the planned July and August relaunches were abandoned.

  Source

• 2015

  Pursuit of domestic operating authorityOther

  Background

  Sky Greenland sought to broaden its role beyond international links between Greenland, Denmark, and Iceland.

  Action taken

  The carrier obtained permission in April 2015 to operate domestic services in Greenland.

  Aftermath

  The authorization did not lead to a sustained domestic service launch because the airline's wider restart plans were abandoned.

  Source

1. 1Sky Greenlanden.wikipedia.org