Icelandair

Keflavík airport

Icelandair is an Icelandic airline based in Keflavík. They operated exclusively for international flights. Your hub is located at Keflavik airport. Icelandair is part of the Icelandair Group Holding, which they virtually controlled the largest company. For this group of companies in addition to Icelandair also include the domestic airline Air Iceland and the cargo airline Bluebird Cargo, as well as several participations in European airlines and smaller companies which are involved in the aviation market is active or in the airport infrastructure.

The history of Icelandair began in 1937 with the founding of the airline Flugfélag Akureyrar. 1973 merged resulting therefrom Flugfélag Íslands with the airline Loftleiðir Icelandic for holding Flugleidir, the name generally used today Icelandair chose for their international flights. Before the construction of the airport Keflavik and its development into an international aviation hub of Luxembourg Airport was until 1999 the most important European airport terminal Icelandair. In the years 2004 to 2011 1.3 to 1.7 million passengers annually transported and 2012 first reached the mark of 2 million. Its fleet consists of 26 aircraft manufacturer Boeing, including 18 of the type 757-200 (October 2012).

• 3.1 Icelandair Saga Class
• 3.2 Icelandair Economy Comfort Class
• 3.3 Icelandair Economy Class

History

The origins of the company go back to 1937. At that time, the airline was founded in Akureyri Akureyri Flugfélag at the nordisländischen coast. It operated a single seaplane type Waco YKS -7 and provided so remote areas in Iceland. The company moved to an accident in 1940 and headquartered name, and changed its name from there on in the capital Reykjavík as Flugfélag Íslands. The early forties then placed them in domestic also several aircraft one, including a Waco seaplane, two de Havilland Rapides, as well as one Beechcraft 18D and a PBY Catalina. From 1945/1946 the so far limited to the domestic market Flugfélag Íslands contributed to destinations in Scotland and Denmark for the first time to international destinations. Almost at the same time also put you look at the imaginary time for the international presence names Icelandair (initially and Air Iceland ), which represented the then domestically still flying as Flugfélag Íslands airline parallel abroad. For international routes you took initial type aircraft Douglas DC -3 and Consolidated B -24, and later Douglas DC- fourth 1967, the first jet was put into operation, a Boeing 727

Parallel was the airline Loftleiðir in their forties. It was founded in 1944 by three pilots who had then just completed their education in Canada. Loftleiðir flew first domestic service with a Stinson Reliant, but was in 1947 in an international market presence. Initially, only to Greenland with a Grumman, and later to North America and Europe. Loftleiðir himself had issued in 1952, domestic services Flugfélag Íslands and was thus in 1952 only internationally active, what the name Loftleiðir Icelandic was gained. Since 1953 it has also offered air services across the North Atlantic in the lower price segment via Reykjavík, which would later serve as an important foothold even with Icelandair. Loftleiðir Icelandic grew rapidly and presented as type aircraft Douglas DC -4 and Vickers Viscount 759 in the service. This was followed by larger aircraft, such as 1959, the Douglas DC -6 and 1964, the Canadair CL- 44D. The Company flottete 1970 with a Douglas DC-8 jet the first one.

In 1973 the two companies merged Loftleiðir Icelandic and Flugfélag Íslands ( Icelandair ) for new holding Flugleidir, and the name was retained Icelandair internationally. The international activities of Icelandair benefited in the seventies, that more and more people could afford air travel and the offer over the North Atlantic was still very high-priced. Icelandair, which positioned itself as a kind of precursor of the low cost airlines, operated so in addition to some airports in the U.S. and in Central Europe, especially some airports with lower fees, of which the passengers had yet well connected to the cities of the region. For this reason, the Luxembourg airport grew to the central European hub of the airline, from where passengers could arrive by train, by car or by free shuttle buses well in the surrounding cities such as Cologne, Frankfurt or Brussels.

The new company decided after further structural reforms in 1979 the name Icelandair for the present worldwide airline and the name to use for their Flugleidir Icelandic domestic airline, both airlines flew as a separate company with its own operating licenses. Flugleidir, in addition to Icelandair and Air Iceland once used the company name, took the name of Air Iceland as a second name in the domestic business, where today Air Iceland (Icelandic: Flugfélag Íslands ) and Flugleidir be used in parallel. The name Air Iceland is aimed at this Doppelnamensgebung especially to international customers.

Further expansion

In the following years Icelandair expanded greatly. The fleet was increased and extended several times the line network with new routes. The fleet was in this period more than half of Douglas DC -8 and Boeing 727 Benefiting the expansion, particularly of the weak supply flight over the North Atlantic at that time; the demand for Iceland was low except in the Scandinavian countries.

In 1987 the airline a fleet renewal. The first aircraft, the company introduced four factory new Boeing 737-400 in service, which were delivered between 1989 and 1991. To do this, took over parallel in 1990 first Boeing 757-200, which provided the fleet further tapered and older aircraft out of service. In 1991 a chartered Maersk Air Boeing 737-300 was also briefly in the service, which was used as a temporary solution. In 1995, one fifth Boeing 737-400 from the collections of MarkAir, which remained, however, not even a year with Icelandair and was leased out already in early 1996 to Maersk Air and in the summer of 1996 the fleet left for good. Between 1997 and 1998 we again had two Boeing 737-300 for a short time in use, one of which was leased. Both aircraft did not remain very long in the fleet

The 1990s

1997 wanted to gradually complement the mainly existing at the time of Boeing jets fleet by more Boeing 757. At the Paris Air Show 1997 per one ordered from Boeing, two Boeing 757 -300 and -200 versions. The first aircraft of this order, which had a value of approximately 272 million U.S. dollars, was taken in the spring of the following year. The order for the Boeing 757 has been supplemented by an order on two planes with a list price of 131 million U.S. dollars of the Boeing 757 -200 version in 1998.

Thus Icelandair operation for the year 1998/1999 a fleet of five Boeing 737 and Boeing 757-200 aircraft, which was at that time the youngest among all international airlines. In addition, we had available in the order books of three Boeing 757-200 and two Boeing 757-300.

The new deliveries arriving at Icelandair were associated with the decommissioning of the Boeing 737, the 757 gradually left the fleet with the Boeing located in extradition and were sold. The result was that Icelandair decreed in 2003 on a fleet consisting exclusively of Boeing 757, which greatly lowered the operating costs and therefore was also popular with low cost. However, the fleet system with only one type of aircraft did not last long.

On January 9, 1999 Icelandair stopped the operation of the airport Luxembourg after 43 years, who served previously as a hub in Central Europe. However, since the flight range was much higher in North America and also to Icelandair 's hub in Reykjavik Keflavik - to use fewer and fewer passengers, the route via Luxembourg and the route was unprofitable.

The 2000s

In 2000, the time in which some 757 were in the delivery, set Icelandair on April 24, the world's first Boeing 757-200 with a revised cabin, which by elements of the cabins of the then-new Boeing 777 and Boeing 737 Next generation had been inspired, in service. The same cabin had anticipated a year in the newly delivered Boeing 757-300 to bear and became standard in all from March 2000 ordered and completed in the seating planning Boeing 757-200 built.

By 2003 Flugleidir was restructured and expanded into a holding company with eleven operating in the travel and tourism industry subcontractors. Among the domestically by Air Iceland ( Flugfélag Íslands ) and internationally performed by Icelandair flight social activities were part of the holding, among other things Icelandair Hotels, Icelandair Cargo and Ground Services Icelandic. The company group but was still largely determined by Icelandair, the largest company in the group.

At the beginning of 2005, the Icelandair Group ordered ten Boeing Boeing 737-800 with an option for another five aircraft of the same model. The contract had a total volume of 650 million U.S. dollars. The aircraft will be used but not with Icelandair but at the subsidiary Icelease which leased the aircraft in the long term to other airlines.

In February 2005, the Icelandair Group for Icelandair orders for two Boeing 787-8 placed (also known as Dreamliner known). In the summer of 2006 two more Boeing 787-8 were ordered from the manufacturer Boeing. The first two aircraft on order are scheduled to arrive in 2010 should at Icelandair, which is followed by two further 2012. Due to the problems with the Boeing 787, the delivery dates were pushed further back so that Icelandair has to wait for their Dreamliner a few years longer. Through a 2011 deal closed only two aircraft in Icelandair be used, the two remaining ones will be delivered by delivery to Norwegian.

2005, the Company took over the Icelandic cargo plane Bluebird Cargo, which, however, still flies under the old name, along with the associated with Bluebird Cargo freight companies Flugflutningar. At the time of acquisition Bluebird Cargo operated a fleet of five Boeing 737 freighters and stood before the commissioning of first cargo versions of the Boeing 757, both companies had been profitable at this time and had together in the past two years, a growth of 37 percent completed. The purchase price for both companies totaled 3.8 trillion Icelandic crowns for Icelandair Group. The acquisition should allow the group a better entry into the freight business. So far, only Beifracht was common in persons with Icelandair aircraft and their active domestically sister company.

2005, another Boeing 757-200 was acquired, which originated and held by Phuket Air. In addition, the Flugleidir Icelandair Group was planning to take over in the same year the Danish Sterling Airlines, which was already at this time in talks about a takeover by Maersk Air. These plans were not realized.

Also in 2005 there was a fundamental Neuausrichting the holding Flugleidir, which renamed itself in FL Group, and from then on focused on international investment. As part of the restructuring in an investment undertaking of the air transport sector was regarded as unattractive, and attempts were made by the sale of this division to obtain foreign exchange for future investments. 2006 Icelandair then was outsourced together in conjunction with Air Iceland and the other companies in the new holding Iclandair Group, sold to domestic investors and is also listed on the Iceland Stock Exchange ICEX since 2007. The sales amounted to more than half a billion U.S. dollars ( 35 billion ISK) and the FL Group was later a profit of over 390 million U.S. dollars in the capital ( 26.5 billion ISK). Furthermore, the 17 -percent share of UK low cost airline easyJet has been associated with the restructuring sold .. Icelandair himself led in 2006 hardly fleet changes and enhanced contrast its activities in the leasing of aircraft to other airlines.

In 2007, the Icelandair Group, the Czech airline Travel Service with her daughter Smart Wings. The goal was a profitable sale of a half of the company in the same year and a sale of the remaining half of the following year. The aim of the manager to generate money through this blitz but was missed. It was also advised to purchase the loss-making airline Jat Airways from Serbia in 2007, but this was ultimately rejected. The fleet was supplemented in 2007 with two Boeing 757-200 aircraft, which were taken over by IBERIA.

In 2008, another leased Icelandair aircraft to other airlines, mainly from Europe and Africa. In addition, one could agree codeshare arrangements with the Finnish Finnair and Austrian Austrian Airlines. The fleet was supplemented by a hand of All Nippon Airways acquired Boeing 767 -300ER. The airline began during the economic crisis, however, like many other airlines in this period to be in deficit.

At the end led Icelandair new uniforms for its cabin crew, which were designed by Icelandic designer Steinunn Sigurdardottir.

In 2009, took over or turned Icelandair no planes in, or out of service. However, were again numerous aircraft, mostly from other tenants returned machines leased to other airlines. In addition, the state held Íslandsbanki took over 47 percent of the shares in Icelandair. The controlled Icelandair Icelandair Group itself also took over the shares of the Latvian SmartLynx Airlines. The break -even point was not reached.

Since 2010

2010 Icelandair received 25 million euros from the Pension Fund of Commerce of the Icelandic government to restructure itself, the Pension Fund of Commerce in return received 12 percent of the shares in Icelandair. Icelandair suffered like many other airlines also in the past two years significant deficiencies and had until then in the first half of 2010 to announce a loss of the equivalent of 13.4 million euros. The restructuring plan was to focus exclusively on the already heavily operated by Icelandair wet-lease segment and to the services from Keflavik Airport. The wet-lease segment was therefore deepened and closed new contracts, or modified existing ones. We have also discussed a fleet rejuvenation, in which the order of Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 were in conversation. Furthermore, the Icelandair Group sold its shares in various non- Icelandic airlines that are now being sold gradually to create capital. This entertained the Icelandair Group to the beginning of the year 2010, only investments in SmartLynx Airlines, Travel Service, Smart Wings and Bluebird Cargo.

The eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010 presented a major problem for air traffic dar. In the days where most air spaces were blocked in Europe, air traffic to Europe had to be stopped altogether. The flights in the U.S., however, were as unaffected as most domestic flights, which are carried out by our sister company Flugfélag Íslands, internationally known as Air Iceland. To do this was with the location of Eyjafjallajökull in the south east of the island and the wind direction, which could carry the ashes to Europe. As revolved around the 20th of April, the wind direction to the west and the western Atlantic from ash particles was not spared, even partially USA flights as well as domestic services Flugfélag Íslands were a little, especially in the route guidance, impaired. Because of the posthumous eruption strength but remained major problems in America from traffic. The guests and with flights could not be carried out, were housed in Icelandair Reykjavík Hotels Reykjavík Welcome Card and issued them for the additional stay, with which they had free access to many public institutions of Reykjavík.

In May 2011 it was announced that Icelandair delivers an open order for three Boeing 787-8 at Norwegian Air Shuttle, who wants to get into the long-haul segment with the aircraft. Norwegian Air Shuttle closed the deal to put the aircraft into service as quickly as possible. If she had the aircraft directly from the manufacturer, would be their delivery position years behind Icelandair.

As of February 2012 are part of the Icelandair Group in addition to the Icelandair Airlines Travel Service, SmartLynx, Bluebird Cargo and Air Iceland. In addition, the Holding is also the mother of Icelandair Ground Services, Icelandair Cargo, Iceland Travel and Icelandair Hotels and leasing companies Loftleidir Icelandic and Icelease.

Passenger statistics

For years, Icelandair has a growing passenger numbers. 2006 already flown over 1.5 million people with Icelandair and in the following year already 1.6 million. During the financial crisis of 2008, passenger numbers declined until 2009 and Icelandair saw himself forced to cut capacity. After the crisis was again followed a further increase in capacity and the rising trend in passenger numbers sat down again from 2010 on. Due to the volcanic eruption of Eyjafjallajökull in April 2010, it was due to the temporary relocation of a large part of the fleet to Glasgow Airport and the continuing growth in the full year no relevant impairment in passenger numbers. The following year, 2011, the mark of 1.74 million and 2.02 million in 2012 even transported passengers could be achieved.

Due to the main travel or vacation time during the summer months there are significant seasonal fluctuations in passenger numbers and therefore also in the utilization of passenger capacity ( load factor ), which is an example given below for the strong growth in 2011:

Cabin classes

Icelandair has their aircraft equipped with three different classes of service, which were introduced in 2008. Travelers in business class carriage in the Icelandair Saga Class; Travelers in Economy Class can choose between the Icelandair Economy Comfort Class and Economy Class Icelandair, the latter are inter lower in price and service segment. In all three booking classes can be found at places an in-flight entertaiment system, by which all passengers can watch or listen to movies, TV programs and music for entertainment for free.

Icelandair Saga Class

The seats in the Business Class Icelandair Saga Class are arranged in a 2 2 configuration. They are covered with leather, have a seat pitch of 99 inches and are located in the front part of the aircraft. Passengers are offered free meals on board. The program traditionally stand Icelandic dishes such as lamb or fish. The free baggage allowance is on flights to / from Iceland 30 kg and two times 32 to / from the USA or Canada kilograms. In addition, access to business lounges and the passenger gets on all destination airports Icelandair and must to save time to separate check- in counters to check.

Icelandair Economy Comfort Class

The Icelandair Economy Comfort Class is normal ( 3 3 ) configured, applied between the Saga and Economy Class and has a relation to the Economy by two centimeters to 84 centimeters extended legroom. In addition, in the class of each of the middle seat remains free. The passengers get as the passengers of the saga class access to business lounges at the airport and permission to check in at separate check- in counters, and can also choose when booking their desire seat. The Economy Comfort customers also get free hot meals on board, but they are less expensive than those in the Saga Class offered. Passengers will be able to choose between numerous alcoholic and non- alcoholic beverages. Also, the baggage regulations are identical to those of the saga class.

The travel magazine Clever travel! rated early 2010, the Economy Comfort classes on various airlines and evaluated the Icelandair with a score of 3.2 as satisfactory.

Icelandair Economy Class

The seats in the Economy class occupies the bulk of the passenger compartment and are located at the rear of the aircraft, in a classic 3 3 configuration with a seat pitch of 82 inches. Passengers can take (after Iceland ) free checked baggage allowance of up to two pieces of baggage á 23 kg ( to North America ) or 20 kg. You can select as catering only between different soft drinks such as tea, soft drinks or coffee. Alcoholic drinks must as well as the food (there are snacks and refreshments to choose from) commercially purchased on board.

Frequent Flyer Program

Icelandair has a frequent flyer program named Saga Club. It is based as usual on the collecting points at the airlines Icelandair and its partners Air Iceland, Alaska Airlines and Finnair. In addition, points are to be collected by the use of some hotels such as the Hilton HHonors program, Icelandair Hotels, Park Plaza, Radisson Blu and Park Inn hotels. Even with some car rental companies there is the possibility to collect points.

The points can be redeemed for free flights with Icelandair and its partner airlines, as well as in the hotel and car rental partners to appropriate services (rental car or nights) or with the Online store Points.com. It can also be purchased with acquired before the flight points on board (including food and drinks).

For customers who use the frequent flyer program strong, there Saga Silver and Saga Gold. The status upgrade is required for Saga Silver at 40,000 and at Saga gold for 80,000 points earned within 12 months. Passengers with Saga Silver and Saga Gold collect 10%, and 20% more points at the benefits of services. In addition, there is also depending on the state, inter alia, extra baggage allowance, as well as the possibility of the use of lounges or extra- check- in desk.

Carbon Offset

Icelandair offers customers the opportunity to offset the emissions from their air travel. When booking the flight is an option, as with many other airlines also to compensate for the corresponding carbon dioxide emissions by an additional fee. The fee depends on the length of the route flown and will be forwarded to Kolviður. Kolviður is held by the Government of Iceland, Reykjavík Energy and Kaupthing Bank organization that cares about the carbon offset. With the money Kolviður also offers an air-condition, for example, for cars and companies that are then mainly restoration programs carried out. So far, only forests in Iceland were afforested, but there are plans to also start programs in the tropics.

Shareholder

As of August 31, 2011 are the biggest shareholders of Icelandair Group:

• Investment funds Framtakssjóður Íslands ( 19.1%)
• Pension funds Lífeyrissjóður verslunarmanna ( 14.4%)
• Íslandsbanki (11.8%)
• Pension funds Lífeyrissjóðir Bankastræti 7 (7.7%)
• Pension funds Stefnir - ÍS 5 (5.3%)

Overall, there were 2012 17 shareholders with a share of more than one percent, more shares are in free float.

Competition

While Icelandair competes with its offers Europe - North America - Keflavik with a variety of other carriers, which also carry transatlantic routes, the situation in the traffic to and from Iceland looks significantly different.

In Iceland transport, which takes place mainly between Iceland and Europe, and less to North America, Icelandair has held as far as possible only Icelandic airline for decades a monopoly. In addition, only a few other airlines dared to enter the market, so in the end Icelandair could apply higher prices. With the increasing liberalization of air transport and the resulting softening of the monopolies, this supremacy came to falter. The first real low cost carriers, which made Icelandair problems was the newcomer Iceland Express. He rolled 2003 to the start and was by its significantly cheaper deals compared to Icelandair particularly attractive for tourists. In addition, more and more airlines such as Air Berlin came to Iceland, and provide further competition for the flag carrier, which Icelandair forced to cut prices.

In addition, Iceland Express, a new Icelandic budget airlines has gone to the start in June 2012 with Brasileiras also. Pullmantur Air Iceland Express has taken over late 2012 and the company integrated into its own operations. Brasileiras is therefore currently the only domestic competitor in international liner services and at the same time the strongest competitor of Icelandair.

Destinations

In Europe, Icelandair flies to numerous destinations, mainly in Central Europe. There are always the major hubs and not the cheaper secondary airport served. Particularly striking are the many Scandinavian line objectives of Icelandair, especially in Norway, which is related to the close ties between Scandinavia and Iceland. In Germany, in addition to Frankfurt am Main since 2012, Munich served all year round. In America Icelandair operated several large metropolitan areas, where most of them are on the east coast.

Particularly aggravating for Icelandair is the strong seasonal Iceland traffic. Thus, the number of passengers the busiest months will be around three times higher than those of the weak months. Thus, the capacity requirement increases to the year-round existing trails in the summer months strong and numerous routes are therefore included only seasonally. Thus, for example Hamburg - as well as former Munich - served only from June to September from Iceland.

By codeshare agreements with several airlines, Icelandair via distribution networks of other carriers of many of their destinations, or to and from Reykjavík, may offer connecting flights to other cities. Partners include, inter alia, JetBlue Airways and Alaska Airlines.

Fleet

As of December 2013, the fleet of 25 aircraft consists of Icelandair with a mean age of 17.8 years:

The aircraft of the company bear for several years each the name of an Icelandic volcano.

Incidents

In her story had Icelandair and its predecessor companies a few incidents and aircraft losses complain, but where some passengers lost their lives.

• On April 14, 1963, a Vickers 759D Viscount crashed with the registration TF -ISU the predecessor company Flugfélag Islands, which already bore the name Icelandair international at this time. The plane crashed six kilometers away from Oslo's Fornebu Airport from the landing approach. The aircraft was on a flight from Copenhagen, via Oslo and Bergen in Norway to Reykjavik. All twelve occupants were killed, eight passengers and four crew members.

• On September 26, 1970, a Fokker F-27 crashed with the registration TF -FIL Icelandair, respectively Flugfélag Islands, on the flight from Copenhagen, over mountains in Norway and Vágar in the Faeroe Islands to Reykjavík. On the flight segment from Bergen to Vágar the aircraft crashed near the airport Vágar against a mountain and crashed. Of the total of 34 inmates, including four crew members, a member of the crew and seven passengers died.