It says bad to with air freight to and from Sisimiut, says the business institution Arctic Circle Business. A number of the association's members depend on regular and fast delivery by air.
But we won't get that, say several of the city's business operators - and Air Greenland itself acknowledges that it has to get better.
One of Arctic Circle Business' examples is Sisimiut Fresh Farm. The company supplies raw materials to, among other things, hotels and cafes, which expect quality.
- When we work for more self-sufficiency in Greenland, it is very frustrating that the goods cannot be delivered. They must arrive fresh - otherwise they cannot be used, says the company's owner, Palli Fleischer Lyberth.
Another example from Sisimiut is the florist Paarna. Owner Kamilla Jensen says that her flowers are often delayed, sometimes completely destroyed along the way. It has gotten worse after the Atlantic traffic moved to Nuuk, she says.
- We have repeatedly wanted the flowers to be prioritized, and Air Greenland has previously promised us this.
- The many delays make us consider whether it is even worthwhile to continue importing flowers. If too many must be discarded, it is not financially sustainable, points out Kamilla Jensen.
Significant challenges
Air Greenland states that the complainants from Sisimiut have received a response to their criticism. Air Greenland has also chosen to send a general reply to Sermitsiaq, recognizing that the problem has also affected places other than Sisimiut.
- In recent months, we have experienced significant challenges with postal and freight shipments, which have affected both private and business life. We understand the frustration this has caused and want to give a clear status of the situation and inform about the measures we have taken.
According to Air Greenland, the delays are a combination of several factors. Air Greenland mentions increasing volumes of cargo, challenges with restrictions and cancellations at Nuuk Airport as well as the implementation of a new cargo system.
- Therefore, we are working purposefully to improve the situation through a number of measures, writes the company.
This involves adding ad hoc capacity and extra freight flights, optimizing processes in the terminals for faster handling of goods and mail and stabilizing the freight system.
- We expect that these measures will lead to noticeable improvements in the near future, and our goal is to restore trust in the supply chain and create a solution that supports both private and business life in Greenland, writes Air Greenland.
- We apologize for any inconvenience the delays have caused, and thank you for the patience and understanding we have encountered.
