Every 2 years, Icelandair hosts the Midatlantic traveling trade convention in Reykjavik, allowing travel suppliers from the areas that the airline serves to unite and present and promote their offerings to take a trip buyers, travel journalists, and to connect with one another.
It’s constantly a wonderful event, and this avgeek traveling press reporter constantly finds plenty of sources and story ideas there.
We were also provided opportunities to see some very great behind-the-scenes things at Icelandair. The airline company lately completed an addition to their existing training facility in Hafnarfjörður, which is located between the country’s main airport terminal in Keflavik and the main city, Reykvavik.
The brand-new building is rather contemportary and really European in its style; it’s a lovely enhancement.
But we existed mostly to see the airplane things, and we weren’t let down. I was permitted to fly their 767 – 300 full-motion simulator, and the teacher set in a couple approaches to a tricky Icelandic landing field as well as to JFK airport terminal in New york city City. I didn’t do also terribly, all things thought about, specifically taking into consideration that a 767 takes care of a fair little bit in different ways than the Cessna 172 s I’m utilized to flying back home.
Updates on the Jet transition
We likewise reached have lunch with the airline company’s C-suite folks and ask whatever questions we had concerning the airline company.
One of one of the most significant growths for Icelandair is the unification of Airbus airplane right into its fleet. Generally an all-Boeing airline company for its international procedures (they do have a half-dozen Bombardier De Havilland Canada DHC- 8 s for their residential, Greenland, and Faroe Islands solution), Icelandair’s decision to add Airbus airplanes indicated a profound shift in approach. The airline company’s management has been evaluating the Airplane’ gas effectiveness, functional variety, and traveler comfort, and appear pleased with the brand-new jets thus far.
Mentioning that, you can review our testimonial of their new A 321 LR right here; it’s absolutely an excellent airplane.
Icelandair is still greatly invested in Boeing, having 21 737 MAX, 11 757 s, and three 767 s in their existing fleet. They presently have two A 321 LRs, with five more on order, in addition to 13 A 321 XLRs on order, and it’s those jets that will ultimately change the 757 s.
The airline is evaluating its long-lasting dedication to Boeing against a possible complete shift to Airbus. Aspects affecting this decision consist of expense effectiveness, aircraft performance, and overall fleet uniformity. While Boeing airplane have long been the backbone of Icelandair’s procedures, the intro of Plane jets raises questions about a prospective gradual phase-out of the 737 MAX in favor of an extra consistent Airbus fleet. However, in the meantime, Bogason claimed the airline mores than happy with limit fleet and remains dedicated to making best use of the advantages of its existing Boeing airplane, all the while keeping future fleet choices open.
Greenland tourist
Asked about the potential for expanding its service to Greenland, which is poised to end up being a desired vacationer location now that the country has opened up a new airport that’s far better with the ability of taking care of huge industrial airplane and bigger passenger tons, Bogason offered a wait-and-see mindset.
Icelandair offers Greenland via the previous Icelandair Connect routes, which it incorporated right into its very own routine in 2021 after both consolidated. There are 4 destinations, presently served by those abovementioned three DHC- 8 – 200 and three DHC- 8 – 400 aircraft.
With Greenland having actually opened its increased major airport terminal at Nuuk in October 2024, that includes a brand-new terminal building and a new 7, 200 -foot path, together with both SAS and United introducing seasonal service, tourist is expected to considerably raise for the arctic country. Icelandair and Air Greenland are currently the only carriers providing year-round solution.
“Greenland is unique. I mean, Iceland is one-of-a-kind, however Greenland is truly, actually special. It’s a complex market right now, and what makes it complicated is that it’s not nearly enough to construct the runway. You have to build the resorts and the needed facilities,” said Bogason.
He attracted comparisons between Greenland’s current framework and Iceland’s of 20 -plus years earlier, when the country had plenty of site visitors however inadequate tourism framework to sustain them.
“I imply, look, just take a look at the firms that remain in below (in Iceland) today. I mean, think about every one of the business that require to be here to offer a good experience to big volumes of travelers. So this will have to be a slow course. I believe we might be getting a little bit ahead of ourselves with the huge aircraft can be found in from the united state, etc, this summer season into into Nuuk,” he stated, clarifying his care in broadening as well promptly right into a market that’s not yet prepared for an assault of vacationers.
“We’ll see just how it turns out, but it’s a big shock to a very, extremely little market, so it’s a difficult market, I think,” he added.
Getting to be a traveler in Iceland
We were treated several traditional visitor stops throughout our check out, consisting of the Lava Show , the only area worldwide that makes lava daily for an academic experience; the relatively new Sky Lagoon hot-spring medspa, in addition to a bus excursion of the Reykjanes Peninsula, which included the Friðheimar tomato farm , the geysir, which is the namesake hot spring and is the only Icelandic word taken on right into the English language. We additionally paused at Þingvellir national forest, an additional geologic wonder and a UNESCO World Heritage Website. It’s a rift valley where the North American and European plates are separating, gradually building new land.
Finally, we had a most remarkable meal at Sümac Grill + Drinks in midtown Reykjavik. I’m not generally one to point out dining establishments, yet this location was something special, specifically how with dignity they handled my strange food allergic reactions by really custom-making what I ‘d ordered to match– even the sauces, which are normally premade in resaurants as hectic as this set. Stop in and reveal them some AvGeek love if you remain in town.
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