Review: Air Greenland Premium Class Copenhagen to Nuuk on the Airbus A330neo

Greenland‘s capital, Nuuk, has boasted a modern, significantly larger airport for the past two years. This transformed Nuuk into the new hub for Air Greenland. Travelers visiting the capital no longer need to connect in Kangerlussuaq and can instead fly non-stop from Copenhagen.

Through a fortunate series of events, I recently had the opportunity to test the premium cabin aboard the flag carrier’s sole Airbus A330neo. This came after SAS unexpectedly cancelled its own connection to Nuuk. Here is my report on what passengers can expect aboard the bright red widebody.

Air Greenland offers two travel classes: Standard corresponds to regular Economy Class, while Premium Class features wider seats, upgraded dining, and additional amenities. On long-haul routes, it aligns closely with Premium Economy, whereas within Europe, travelers would gladly welcome such seating comfort.

First, the flight details:

• Flight: GL779 Copenhagen CPH – Nuuk GOH
• Seat: 4A (Premium Class, Window)
• Aircraft: Airbus A330neo OY-GKN (Delivered December 2020)
• Scheduled Departure: 09:00
• Scheduled Arrival: 11:00
• Block Time: 5 hours
• Travel Date: July 2026

Booking (and Rebooking) with SAS

Originally, flying with Air Greenland was not part of the plan. I had booked a ticket with SAS: a one-way from Copenhagen to Nuuk in SAS “Business Class” for 25,000 points + €36 in taxes and fees (prior to the EuroBonus program devaluation). “Business Class” was primarily a label, as SAS intended to operate the flight using an Airbus A320 with Euro-Business (a blocked middle seat).

It turned out to be beneficial when SAS cancelled all flights to Greenland for the season. Under passenger rights regulations, they were required to rebook me onto an alternative connection. The only operating carriers were Air Greenland and Icelandair, both of which offer a superior hard product.

Initial interactions with SAS customer support were challenging. Live chat representatives insisted that rebooking onto another airline was impossible and that self-booked tickets would not be reimbursed. Reaching out via the phone hotline took roughly five attempts before connecting with a knowledgeable agent on the Diamond support line. Within a few minutes, an e-ticket for Air Greenland was issued at no extra cost.

From Nuuk, my journey continued with United Airlines to New York, a redemption booked via Aegean Miles+Bonus for 12,500 miles + €87 in taxes, representing a notable sweet spot. Consequently, cancelling the Copenhagen-to-Nuuk segment was not an option I wanted to consider.

Standard Pricing with Air Greenland

Under normal circumstances, tickets are booked directly with Air Greenland. A one-way fare from Copenhagen to Nuuk in Premium Class typically costs around €660 (compared to €400 in economy). Short-notice bookings can exceed €1,000.

Booking Management & Check-In

Likely due to the rebooking processed by SAS, managing the reservation on Air Greenland’s website was not possible. However, an email request for a window seat assignment was handled and confirmed within 24 hours.

Online check-in functioned smoothly. Seat changes were permitted, and a mobile boarding pass was generated, which saved directly into Google Wallet.

Economy Class passengers can bid for an upgrade to Premium Class during online check-in, with bidding starting at DKK 490 (~€66).

Counter Check-In

As I had a bag to check, I visited the check-in counters in Copenhagen. The standard economy line was substantial, but Premium Class includes dedicated Priority Check-in.

A brief wait occurred while the passenger ahead purchased an airport upgrade to Premium Class, which cost US$525 (~€454) at the counter. Standard economy tickets include a 20 kg checked baggage allowance, while Premium Class permits 30 kg. Carry-on luggage is weighed at check-in, with an 8 kg limit strictly enforced across 1 or 2 items.

Premium Class tickets also include Fast Track security access at Copenhagen Airport.

Lounge

Nuuk Airport does not feature a lounge. Departures from Copenhagen include access to the Aspire or Carlsberg Lounge (both accessible via Priority Pass as well).

I visited the Aspire Lounge. It is relatively compact and busy during morning hours, but provided a reasonable breakfast selection including scrambled eggs, hash browns, sausage, and mushrooms.

Boarding

Boarding was scheduled for 45 minutes prior to departure, ultimately commencing at 25 minutes prior. Passengers requiring assistance boarded first, followed by Premium Class passengers. Announcements at the gate were made first in Greenlandic, followed by Danish and English.

Pushback experienced a minor 15-minute delay, followed by a brief technical check after a noise was investigated during taxiing. The issue was resolved quickly, and departure proceeded smoothly.

The premium cabin was approximately 80% full. Welcome drinks were served prior to departure, with choices including apple juice and soft drinks.

Cabin

Air Greenland’s single Airbus A330neo features two travel classes: 42 Premium Class seats and 263 Economy Class seats. The premium cabin uses a 2-3-2 seating layout, compared to 2-4-2 in economy. Structurally, the cabin aligns with a traditional Premium Economy product.

Boarding turns left into the dedicated premium cabin, preventing foot traffic from economy passengers and maintaining a quiet environment throughout.

Seat

Air Greenland selected Safran Z535 seats for its A330neo Premium cabin—a model used by carriers like Corsair, Air Tahiti Nui, and Singapore Airlines.

Seat pitch measures 38″ (96 cm), and seat width is 19.5″ (49 cm). Legroom was sufficient for my 1.98m (6’6″) height. An additional mesh pocket above the main seat pocket provides storage for items like glasses or smartphones.

Cushioning remained comfortable over the 5-hour flight. Features include an extendable legrest and a footrest beneath the seat ahead. The in-flight entertainment box mounted in the footwell slightly reduces personal foot space.

Seat recline is generous. When the seat in front reclaims space, it sits close to working laptops, requiring caution when using devices on tray tables during deep recline.

Food & Drinks

Shortly after takeoff, an initial beverage service was offered alongside a hot towel and packaged almonds.

The beverage menu selection is shown below:

Breakfast service consisted of a single standardized meal tray without individual course selection:

The hot omelette was fresh and satisfactory. Subsequent beverage passes included water, coffee, and tea.

Service

The meal service was completed within an hour of takeoff. The onboard crew managed duties efficiently throughout the 5-hour flight.

In-Flight Entertainment

A 13-inch seatback touchscreen provides access to 79 movies, including local Greenlandic titles, along with a broad selection of Greenlandic music tracks.

Aerial views during descent into Nuuk provided exceptional sights of the ice sheet and fjords from lower flight altitudes:

Wi-Fi

The A330neo features satellite Wi-Fi. Access is complimentary for Premium Class passengers (or US$8 (~€7) for a full-flight pass in Economy).

The connection remained active until 15 minutes before landing. Transfer speeds measured approximately 0.3 Mbps:

Other Observations

Premium Class passengers share a single forward lavatory (a ratio of 1:42 passengers). Standard single-use headphones are supplied in a souvenir red Air Greenland pouch. Blankets and pillows are located in overhead bins. Individual seat air vents are not equipped.

The New Nuuk Airport

The airport, featuring a new terminal and an extended runway, reopened in summer 2024 to enable direct international jet flights for the first time. What was intended to be a success story ended up plagued by numerous mishaps, reminiscent of a certain infamous capital airport in Germany. A quick look at the Wikipedia article highlights the main issues:

• The opening was delayed by a year.
• Just two months after opening, the airport’s license for all international flights was temporarily revoked due to security concerns.
• In summer 2025, staffing shortages at security checkpoints caused widespread cancellations and delays.
• In 2025, flight movement caps were imposed so strictly that Air Greenland had to cancel numerous flights.

While the most severe issues have since been resolved, I still associate the airport primarily with negative experiences despite the attractive terminal. That started upon arrival, with a wait of over 30 minutes before the first bag hit the baggage carousel.

Nuuk Airport failed to impress on my departure to New York as well. First, I was nearly denied boarding because the system’s automated ESTA check failed. Then, security screening didn’t open until 60 minutes before departure (just 30 minutes before boarding). To make matters worse, only one of the two scanners was staffed, resulting in a long wait for all passengers to pass through security. Fortunately, the plane waited for everyone, incurring a flight delay as a result:

Conclusion

Note: Lounge access is not included in the rating score as it is operated by third parties.