Iceland Express
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| Founded | 2002 | |||
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| Hubs | Keflavík International Airport | |||
| Fleet size | 2 | |||
| Destinations | 17 | |||
| Parent company | Fengur | |||
| Headquarters | Reykjavík, Iceland | |||
| Key people | Skarphéðinn Berg Steinarsson, Managing Director | |||
| Website | http://www.icelandexpress.com | |||
Iceland Express is a low-fare airline headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland.[1] It operates services to several destinations in Europe[2] using wet-leased aircraft. Its main base is Keflavík International Airport.
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[edit] History
The airline was established in 2002 and began operations on February 27, 2003 with daily flights to London Stansted and Copenhagen using Boeing 737-300 aircraft wet leased from Astraeus. This contract was taken over by JetX Airlines and then by Hello.
In the fall of 2008, Astraeus resumed operating all flights on behalf of Iceland Express with two Boeing 737-700 aircraft. The airline was owned by Icelandic investment group, Northern Travel Holding. Northern Travel Holding was acquired in full by Fons in September 2008. It silently changed hands before the bankruptcy of Fons to sister company Fengur. Fons was established by the two main owners of Fengur.
Fengur acquired 100% of Astraeus. This helped the Icelandic group support their Iceland Express subsidiary to begin low-fare transatlantic services. The two airlines continue to operate as separate entities. It was previously understood that Astraeus could have supplied Iceland Express with Boeing 757-200 aircraft to start flights from Iceland to New York and Boston in spring 2007, yet trans-Atlantic service did not commence until summer 2010.
The company started trans-Atlantic flights to Newark Liberty International Airport, four times a week and Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, two times a week, in June 2010 with a mix of 737s and two Boeing 757s operated by Astraeus. In late summer 2010, the airline published the winter schedule with the Newark flights year-round, as well as seasonal destinations like Orlando.
The airline announced that it will begin flights to Chicago, Boston, Miami, Belfast and Orlando in June 2011, although the Belfast and Miami routes ended up not happening. The airline hopes to have the Belfast route start in 2012.
On 21 November 2011, Astraeus, the sole operator of all Iceland Express flights, suddenly ceased operations with immediate effect. As a result, Iceland Express began leasing two Airbus A320s from CSA Holidays, a Czech Airlines subsidiary.[3]
[edit] Destinations
[edit] Service
Iceland Express does not generally offer complementary in-flight meals or refreshments, which is to be expected from a low-fare airline. Instead, these products may be purchased at a fee. Tap water however, is provided free of charge upon request. [4]
[edit] Fleet
As of November 22,2011
| Aircraft | Total | Passengers | Notes | Registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320-214 | 2 | 180 | Operated by Holidays Czech Airlines | OK-HCA and OK-HCB |
Iceland previously operated these following aircrafts :
- Boeing 737-300 operated by Astraeus
- Boeing 737-500 operated by Astraeus
- Boeing 737-700 operated by Astraeus
- Boeing 757-200 operated by Astraeus
- McDonnell Douglas MD-82
- McDonnell Douglas MD-90
[edit] References
- ^ "The Company." Iceland Express. Retrieved on December 29, 2010. "Head Office: Ármúli 7, IS-108 Reykjavik"
- ^ "Route Map." Iceland Express. Retrieved on December 29, 2010.
- ^ "Iceland Express launching newer planes". Travelbite.co.uk. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. http://www.webcitation.org/63Pod3fn0. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
- ^ "Being Healthy Isn't that Hard." A Health Concept. Retrieved on November 14, 2011.
- ^ http://jethros.eu/fleets/fleet_listings/astraeus.htm Iceland Express Fleet
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Iceland Express |
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