As Greenland moves into the next stage of its airport expansion, Greenland Airports is seeking AFIS operator trainees, with applications due by June 7, 2026.
The recruitment comes as Qaqortoq Airport is set to open on April 16 and Ilulissat is due to follow in October. Greenland Airports says, however, that the AFIS intake itself is part of the company’s normal training cycle rather than a recruitment round created specifically for the two new airports.
AFIS, or Aerodrome Flight Information Service, sits close to the center of day-to-day airport operations at smaller airports. Greenland Airports says AFIS operators provide pilots with information on weather, visibility, runway conditions, and local air traffic, while also carrying out weather observations and operating tower communications equipment.
The company describes the program as one of the most specialized training paths in Greenland.
According to Greenland Airports, the training route includes about 11 weeks of theory and basic instruction in Kangerlussuaq, followed by simulator training, weather observation, AFIS theory, and on-the-job training at airports including Nuuk, Ilulissat, Narsarsuaq, and others. The full program runs for about 11 to 13 months.
In a response to GreenlandEnergy.com, Christoph of Greenland Airports said the company normally inducts around four to five AFIS trainees per cycle. He added that once trainees receive their certificate, they are guaranteed a position as AFIS operators within the organization, with final placement based on available vacancies across the airport network.
That gives a clearer view of the specialist skills Greenland Airports needs across its system as the country moves through a period of airport expansion and operational transition.
Recent updates from Greenland Airports also show how closely staffing and operations are being managed during this phase. In one post, the company said colleagues from other airports are helping support operations in Narsarsuaq while staff connected to the Qaqortoq transition move into new roles. Greenland Airports said rotational staffing arrangements are being used to maintain continuity during the changeover.
The company has separately said both Qaqortoq and Ilulissat are in their final phases, including equipment installation, testing, training, and work tied to operational approval.
Christoph said safe operations remain Greenland Airports’ highest priority and that airport operations in Greenland depend on people who are prepared to work safely in demanding conditions. He added that local knowledge is valuable in day-to-day operations and that experience, training, and education are all central to running airports safely and reliably.
Where possible, Greenland Airports says it aims to recruit locally across its training programmes, including AFIS. At the same time, the company stressed that staffing needs extend across the organization, including roles such as security personnel, mechanics, and terminal workers.
Nuuk Airport officially opened on November 28, 2024. Greenland Airports says it operates 13 airports and 46 heliports across the country. Christoph added that the organization has more than 500 employees spread across all of its locations..
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