In 1941, the United States built an air base at Narssarssuaq, which had previously had little to no habitation. Airplanes at the locale typically were assigned to escort duties or U-boat hunting duty during World War II. After the end of the war, the air base continued to be developed, and began to be used for both civil and military purposes. In 1951, it was agreed that Denmark and the U.S. would jointly oversee the airbase; in 1958, the U.S. abandoned the air base (called Bluie West One), but it was reopened in 1959 by the Danish government after the loss of the vessel Hans Hedtoft with all souls south of Cape Farewell.
Ever since, the area has been used for civil air traffic and the thriving tourism industry in and around Narssarssuaq, whose attractions include its great diversity of wildlife and the first Christian church on the American continent.