RE: Back from the North

Icelandair scare the **** out of me. I used to go to Iceland every year for my holidays, I flew Icelandair every time and had some domestic flights with them as well. You want to thank your lucky stars that they no longer operate the 737-400 because they were simply dreadful. My last flight with them was on a 737-400 (TF-FIC). The aircraft developed engine problems and the take off was aborted. For half an hour we had to sit in the aircraft while it was checked over. The stewardesses were in tears and the passengers were scared, especially when the damned thing took off. We were relieved to see Glasgow, but alarmed when the fire engines were all there to meet us. I have read other reports about Icelandair’s “safety”. Last year at Heathrow pasengers had to sleep in the check in area as the 757 they were due to fly out on had a complete systems failure and no replacement aircraft were available. On another occasion passengers refused to reboard an aircraft which had had problems because they did not feel safe flying with Icelandair (a decision I applaud!) I first visited Iceland in 1983 and last visited in 1993. The first time it was quiet, not full of pubs and nightclubs as I’ve heard it is now. Last time I visited, the unspoilt places of my first visit had been decimated with ice cream parlours (Thingvellir), car parks and restaurants (Geysir area) and the Blue Lagoon is the most over rated attraction on the island. Those who have their first visits this year and think it is unspoiled should have gone back in the early 1980s, when it really WAS unspoiled.