Niceair, Iceland’s new start-up airline, has revealed that its first routes from Akureyri (AEY) airport in the north of the island, are going to be to London, Copenhagen, and Tenerife. The company expects to start ticket sales in the next few days through its website: www.niceair.is, and to begin flights in June 2022.
The company is aiming to meet the growing demand for the north of Iceland from both locals who want to travel abroad, and foreign tourists who want to visit. For this, the airline has secured a 150-passenger Airbus A319, an aircraft that is capable of operating out of Akureyri’s small airport.
“We are very happy to have our own airline at Akureyri Airport. Here in the north, there is a rapidly growing urban community that must have regular inter-country flights to major destinations for people and cargo,” said Hjördís Þórhallsdóttir, manager of Akureyri Airport in the announcement.
“The launch of Niceair follows two years of research work in collaboration with domestic and foreign stakeholders. The company’s intention is to establish regular year-round flights to foreign destinations from Akureyri Airport,” added Þorvaldur Lúðvík Sigurjónsson, CEO of Niceair.
The UK and Denmark have been the biggest tourist markets for Iceland, but Tenerife was a bit of a surprise addition to the initial schedule. However, this is in line with the increase in flights between Iceland and Spain over the last few months.
For the northern summer season, Icelandair, PLAY, and Vueling will all fly to Alicante, Barcelona, Gran Canaria, Madrid, Malaga, Mallorca, and Tenerife, so the inclusion for Niceair made sense.
About Akureyi:
Akureyri is a city at the base of Eyjafjörður Fjord in northern Iceland, which has a relatively mild climate because of geographical factors, and the town's ice-free harbour has played a significant role in its history. It is also a good place to access the Northern Lights visible in Iceland between August and April.
With outdoor tourism booming, the city offers museums, the world’s northernmost botanical garden, the country’s best ski area, and good hiking trails.
The city is also a good base for many of Iceland’s natural wonders such as waterfalls, volcanic areas, and canyons. It offers activities like rafting, hiking, fishing, whale watching and horse riding.
The city is also the departure point for Grimsey, Iceland’s northernmost island, where visitors can pass the Arctic Circle and discover the area’s birdlife, including the rare Atlantic puffins.
