In 1928 Greenland's first airstrip was marked out on the clay plain at the end of Kangerlussuaq fjord to pave the way for two daredevils, Bert Hassel and Parker Cramer, who attempted to fly from the US to Sweden with a refueling stopover in Greenland. Their first flight failed when a strong wind pushed them off course, forcing them to make an emergency landing on the ice cap.

During World War II a northern air route was desperately needed to ferry planes from the US to Britain. Denmark was occupied by Germany, and the Americans were responsible for the defense of Greenland. A survey of Greenland found two locations suitable for an airfield, one of which was at Kangerlussuaq. In September 1941, work began on the airbase, code named "Bluie West Eight". This was the beginning of the airport as we know it today.