Just curious but with the growth of the lo-cost airlines it is becoming noticable that any European city that is not served by a lo-co is in danger of becoming a bit of a secondary location for visitors.
One such place is Reykjavik. Several years ago this was one of the trendy places to visit and I think Reykjavik was the Cultural City of the Year or something like that. Not now it isn’t!
I few with Go from STN to Reykjavik (KEF to be accurate) about three or four years ago. The flight left STN about 22.00 and arrived KEF 01.00 (ish), the return departed 01.30 and arrived back STN about 06.30 – just nice for driving round the M25 after having no sleep 🙂 Seemed weird flying that far over water in an old B.733 but compared to the Icelandair fares the Go fares were considerably cheaper. Unfortunately the route only lasted two seasons though I understand that Go hung onto the right to fly the route after this.
So can anyone here give me an insiders view of why Go pulled out of the route? And is there any possibility that one of the lo-cos might consider this route in the future?
Thanks
PS: Simon Calder in his book “No Frills” suggests it was the high cost of de-icing fluid at KEF!
PPS: I really miss Go 🙁
By: EGNM - 25th January 2004 at 00:53
Originally posted by Jeanske_SN
Iceland Express is now flying with one plane for Ryanair. Is it returned yet?
I think you are getting a little cofused – The Ryanairs are being operated by Islandsflug (Galdri’s airline) and there are actually 2 i believe, not 1 aircraft.
By: Comet - 24th January 2004 at 14:23
Originally posted by Mike1087
Thanks Galdri, that all makes sense. Shame if Iceland Express pull the route though.I have been to Iceland four times now and it is the country I would live in if I had the choice :-))
Icelandair isn’t too bad actually but last time I flew over we came back on one of the 757-300’s and I found it *very* uncomfortable indeed. Have also flown on one of the Fokker 50’s from Akureyri to Reykjavik City which was fun. The most amazing airfield that I saw had to be Isafjordur where the runway is at the end of a fjord and the planes have to fly in close to the sides, would not want to do that in marginal weather.
Might get over for a few days at Christmas.
Ah – I remember Akureyri, and the Isafjordur approach (and climb away) is something else. I visited Iceland six times over a ten year period (1983-1993) and I witnessed the ruination of the place! When we went for the first few times, there were hardly any nightclubs or pubs, and it certainly wasn’t “trendy”. I liked it because it was free of the kind of yobbish trash which made my life hell at school, I felt safe there. Now I read it is the “in” destination for all night clubbing and pubbing (when I went, there were extremely strict laws on the sale of alcohol) There certainly weren’t hotels and restaurants near Geysir like there is now, there was no hotel or ice cream parlour at Thingvellir like there was when I last went. Tourism has destroyed alot of the charm that made Iceland the special place that it was (and I remember when we were there in 1983 there was no television on a Thursday, but that doesn’t happen now!)
By: andrewm - 24th January 2004 at 03:22
easyJet and Ryanair both fly to Keflavilk.
All be it on aircraft positioning flights from Seattle!
By: mongu - 23rd January 2004 at 20:42
I’d hazard a guess that the Icelandic government is being protectionist.
It seems odd that only Icelandair operate there, apart from the two loco’s mentioned.
Disregarding code shares, not even SAS fly there do they?
By: Mike1087 - 23rd January 2004 at 20:32
Thanks Galdri, that all makes sense. Shame if Iceland Express pull the route though.
I have been to Iceland four times now and it is the country I would live in if I had the choice :-))
Icelandair isn’t too bad actually but last time I flew over we came back on one of the 757-300’s and I found it *very* uncomfortable indeed. Have also flown on one of the Fokker 50’s from Akureyri to Reykjavik City which was fun. The most amazing airfield that I saw had to be Isafjordur where the runway is at the end of a fjord and the planes have to fly in close to the sides, would not want to do that in marginal weather.
Might get over for a few days at Christmas.
By: Jeanske_SN - 23rd January 2004 at 19:29
Iceland Express is now flying with one plane for Ryanair. Is it returned yet?
By: galdri - 23rd January 2004 at 18:40
I think there is no one reason for GO pulling out of the KEF route. The handling costs at KEF were certainly a factor, I think they are among the highest in Europe. Another thing is, that I dont think the load factors were all that great, too low to make sense in the long run.
Now another lo-co is operating into KEF. it is called Iceland Express and operates 737s, ACMI leased from Astreus. They have been flying for one year now, but from what I gather, the going is fairly rough financially. Not surprising mabe when considering their prizes, about £120 return, on a two hour forty leg to STN. To make ends meet they need nearly full aircraft on all flights, which is not happening at the moment.
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January 23, 2004 at 6:20 pm