Date :
08/09/2015
Tourism businesses in north-east Scotland could benefit from the new Aberdeen International Airport link to Reykjavik as Icelandair announces direct flight service to the Icelandic capital starting 9th March 2016.
The connection will be the second in Scotland and sixth in the UK and will offer easy connections between Aberdeen and North America. Iceland has 15 gateways to some of North America’s largest cities including Seattle, New York and Toronto with Chicago to be added next year.
Carol Benzie, MD at Aberdeen International Airport said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Icelandair to Aberdeen, our first direct flight to Iceland. The decision to commence the service from the North East is fantastic news for both leisure and business travellers wanting to reach Reykjavik, and of course the extensive number of onward connections to the US and Canada now available. We look forward to working with Icelandair and its subsidiary Air Iceland and wish them every success with the route”.
This year marks the 70th anniversary of Icelandair providing flights to Scotland. In 1945, the airline’s first passenger flight left Reykjavik for Largs Bay with four crew and four passengers on board.
Birkir Holm Gudnason, CEO of Icelandair said: “It is a pleasure to be able to announce Aberdeen on the same year as we celebrate 70 years of flying to Scotland. We see great opportunities in connecting this market to our route network of North American destinations. Travel times will be shortened and we’re confident customers will appreciate the easy connections in our hub in Iceland”
The U.S.A. and Canada represent the first and fifth most valuable tourism markets for Scotland, read our market insights on the U.S.A. and Canada to find out more.