Tag Archives: 757-208

Alaska Airlines and Icelandair enter into a codeshare agreement

Alaska Airlines (Seattle/Tacoma) and Icelandair (Keflavik) have entered into a codeshare agreement and frequent flier partnership, which will give customers easier connections and more ways to earn benefits when flying between the U.S. and Europe.

With the new codeshare agreement, to take effect November 1 pending government approval, customers flying on Alaska Airlines and Icelandair will enjoy seamless reservations and ticketing, one-stop check-in, baggage checked to its final destination, coordinated flight schedules, the ability to earn miles and/or points on the reciprocal airline and consistent passenger service standards.

Elite-level members of each airline’s frequent flier program also will receive reciprocal club lounge benefits.

Icelandair operates flights from 16 cities in North America to Iceland with connections to more than 20 destinations in Europe, including Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London and Paris. Travelers can also enjoy an Icelandair stop-over to visit the city of Reykjavik and tour surrounding areas for up to seven nights at no additional airfare charge.

As an added benefit, starting October 1 Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan MVP Gold and Gold 75K members will receive complimentary access to Icelandair’s Saga Lounge at Keflavik International Airport in Reykjavik and Icelandair Saga Gold and Silver members will enjoy complimentary access to Alaska Board Room lounges in Seattle, Portland, Anchorage and Los Angeles.

Members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan can begin earning miles on Icelandair starting October 1, and through December 15, 2015 the airline is offering double miles.* Miles flown will count toward elite status in Alaska’s Mileage Plan. Members of Icelandair’s Saga Club can begin earning Saga Points for flights on Alaska starting October 1. Redemption for award travel will start later this year.

Icelandair has a long history of providing flights from the United States to Europe. The airline offers onboard Wi-Fi access, personal inflight entertainment, three cabins of service and two free checked bags for customers. Icelandair Saga Club, Icelandair´s frequent flier program, offers members multiple options to redeem their Saga Points, whether it is a flight with Icelandair, onboard refreshments and duty free items, hotel accommodations around the world or gift certificates at various retailers in U.S. and Canada. The most frequent fliers with Saga Gold and Silver status enjoy excellent benefits, such as upgrades, lounge access and extra baggage allowance.

Over the last few years Alaska has grown its codeshare and frequent flier partnerships with the world’s best airlines to provide customers with convenient service to most every point on the globe. In July, Alaska added China-based carrier Hainan Airlines as a Mileage Plan partner. Mileage Plan was ranked “Highest in Customer Satisfaction with Airline Loyalty Rewards Programs, Two Years in a Row” in the J.D. Power Airline Loyalty/Rewards Program Satisfaction Report.

Copyright Photo: Ken Petersen/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-208 TF-FIP (msn 30423) of Icelandair touches down in Anchorage, Alaska.

Icelandair aircraft slide show:

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Icelandair to operate two Boeing 767-300s, Air Iceland to become a new Bombardier Q400 operator

Icelandair Group (Icelandair and Air Iceland) (Reykjavik) has announced Icelandair will operate two Boeing 767-300s. The Group has also announced plans to replace Air Iceland’s aging Fokker 50 fleet with newer Bombardier DHC-8-402 (Q400) aircraft. The Group issued this statement:

The Board of Directors of Icelandair Group has decided to update the fleet policies of the subsidiaries Icelandair and Air Iceland.

All five Fokker 50 aircraft that Air Iceland operates will be sold and three Bombardier Dash 8 Q400 will replace it. After that Air Iceland will operate five aircraft, three Bombardier Q400 and two Q200. The Q400 aircraft can seat 74 passengers while the Fokker 50 takes 50 passengers.

The airline’s operations will be simplified and optimised as number of aircraft decrease and synergies will increase as all aircraft will be from the same manufacturer. As the Q400 is faster and has a longer range,

Air Iceland Route Map: Air Iceland flies domestically in Iceland and adjacently to Greenland.

Air Iceland sees opportunities in new markets. The company will be better equipped to service the domestic market as the aircraft are larger and travel time will be shorter. The airline aims to increase the number of foreign tourists on board its aircraft going forward.

In 2015 Icelandair will operate 23 Boeing 757-200 that take 183 passengers and one 757-300 that takes 220 passengers. The company owns 22 of those aircraft and leases two that will be redelivered this autumn.

Above Copyright Photo: Boeing 757-208 TF-FIN (msn 28989) taxies at London (Heathrow). LHR is a likely place where the larger Boeing 767-300 would be utilized along with New York (JFK).

It has been decided that they will be replaced with two Boeing 767-300 aircraft that take 260 passengers that will be added to the route network as of the spring of 2016. Larger aircraft are more feasible due to high load factors on many routes all year round and limited number of landing slots on certain airports. The increase of the fleet in the last few years has made it more economical to have more than one size of aircraft in the fleet. The Boeing 767 aircraft is similar to the 757 in terms of maintenance and crew training and the airline has experience in operating that type.

Above Copyright Photo: Daniel White – Bruce Drum Collection. Icelandair is very familiar with the Boeing 767-300 as subsidiary Loftleidir Icelandic has been a past operator of the type. Boeing 767-3Y0 ER TF-FIA (msn 24953) taxies at Sanford (SFB).

Icelandair Group’s subsidiary, Loftleidir Icelandic, has operated 767 aircraft in leasing projects that have been maintained by Icelandair. The aircraft has longer range than the 757 which will create new opportunities for the route network.

It has not been decided whether the new aircraft will be purchased or leased.

Bjorgolfur Johannsson, President and CEO of Icelandair Group: “Operating one type of aircraft has been very economical for Icelandair but when the route network and the fleet reaches a certain size it becomes more feasible to have a broader range of aircraft in the fleet. High load factors all year round and limited number of landing slots on certain airports also support this decision. In terms of Air Iceland a simpler and more economical fleet will make the operations better as crew training will be simpler.

We foresee further growth opportunities in the coming years with these changes to the fleet policy for passenger aircraft. Both the Boeing 767 and Q400 aircraft can service markets that the current fleet cannot, which will enable us to go into new markets and connect them to the current route network.”

Top Copyright Photo: Wingnut/AirlinersGallery.com. The five Fokker F.27 Mk. 050s (Fokker 50s) will be sold. Flugfelag Islands-Air Iceland Fokker F.27 Mk. 050 TF-JMO (msn 20205) lands at the Reykjavik (RKV) base.

Air Iceland aircraft slide show:

Icelandair aircraft slide show:

Air Iceland video:

Icelandair Group’s 2014 net profit increases 18% to $66.5 million

Icelandair Group (Icelandair, Air Iceland and Loftleidir) (Reykjavik) reported a 2014 net profit of $66.5 million, up 18% from the previous year. The airline issued this statement:

Björgólfur Jóhannsson, President and CEO commented:

“The Group’s performance in 2014 exceeded management projections from the beginning of the year, with EBITDA at the upper limits of the Company’s most recent earnings estimate. Net profit amounted to $66.5 million, up by 18% from last year. EBITDA amounted to $154.3 million, up by 7% between years. Results for the fourth quarter were in line with the earnings estimate published at the end of last October. The strong performance was the result of a number of interacting positive factors, including falling fuel prices, increased demand in the North Atlantic market – which was met by increased supply – and good results from charter operations. The depreciation of the euro against the US dollar had a negative impact on the Group’s operations, and in addition the maintenance cost of cargo aircraft was significantly higher than anticipated.

As of 2010 Icelandair Group’s operations have shown growing momentum. Income has grown by $395 million, amounting to $1.1 billion in 2014. In recent years we have continued to close the ranks of our staff and secured a steady growth of our infrastructure in preparation for the future. Prudence is and will continue to be the key to long-term profitable growth for the Company. A strong equity position and underlying cash flow will underpin our ability to undertake profitable investments to improve our competitiveness for the long term. We have a clear future vision and an outstanding staff, to whom I attribute first and foremost the good results we achieved last year.

We are assuming continued profitable organic growth in Icelandair Group’s operations in 2015. The Group’s international flight schedule will be 14% larger than in 2014, and a significant development in the Company’s hotel operations in Central Reykjavik is foreseeable. On the whole, prospects in the Icelandic tourist industry are positive, and we also believe that the outlook for cargo and charter operations in 2015 is encouraging.

The EBITDA forecast for 2015 has been raised in comparison with 2014, with EBITDA now projected in the range of $160-165 million. The fall in fuel prices is the single cost item most responsible for the rise in EBITDA. It should be noted, however, that external factors, like fluctuations in fuel price and on FX markets along with the outcome of collective-bargaining agreements in the labour market can affect the Company’s performance significantly.”

Read the full report presentation: CLICK HERE

Copyright Photo: SPA/AirlinersGallery.com. This summer Icelandair will operate 24 Boeing 757 aircraft, one aircraft more than was previously announced. Boeing 757-208 TF-FIN (msn 28989) climbs away from London (Heathrow) bound for Keflavik near Reykjavik.

Icelandair aircraft slide show:

Icelandair increases Washington Dulles to year-round service

Icelandair (Keflavik) due to increased demand, will move from seasonal to year-round service from Washington Dulles International Airport to Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport.

Additional flights will begin in January 2015 on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, providing the Mid-Atlantic region year-round, nonstop access to Iceland for the first time since 2006.

With this announcement of their seventh year-round gateway, Icelandair now offers service from 13 North American cities, making their 2015 route network the largest in its history.

Icelandair provides service to Iceland from Boston, New York (JFK and Newark), Seattle/Tacoma, Denver, Washington, D.C., Toronto (Pearson) and Edmonton, with seasonal service from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Sanford (near Orlando), Anchorage, Halifax, and Vancouver. Connections through Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport are available to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the U.K. and Continental Europe.

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough/AirlinersGallery.com. Boeing 757-208 TF-FIJ (msn 25085) prepares to land at Washington’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).

Icelandair:

Route Map:

Icelandair has a better than expected year in 2013, reporting a pretax profit of $71 million

Icelandair Group (Icelandair) (Keflavik) reported its financial results for 2013 (all dollar figures in US dollars):

Profit before taxes amounted to $71.0 million, up by $13.6 million or 24% between years
Income rose between years by 13.8%
EBITDA in the fourth quarter amounted $6.8 million, up by $0.9 million between years
The equity ratio at year-end 2013 was 42%, as compared to 39% at year-end 2012
Net interest-bearing debts were reduced by $95.6 million over the year and were negative at year-end in the amount of $77.5 million
The Board of Directors has proposed a dividend payment of ISK 2,150 million to shareholders in 2014, which corresponds ISK 0.43 per share.

Björgólfur Jóhannsson, President and CEO

“The Company’s performance in 2013 is good and considerably better than our budget projected in the beginning of the year. Profit before taxes amounted to $71.0 million, up by $13.6 million between years. Like recent years, last year was characterised by profitable organic growth, which is in line with our strategy. Capacity in our route network was increased by 16% from last year, and the number of passengers increased by 12%. The Company’s largest market in international flight services is the market between Europe and North-America, which has been the principal driving force of our growth in recent years. The tourist market to Iceland has also shown significant growth, and the demand for domestic tourist services has increased rapidly. Concurrently with this expansion, companies within Icelandair Group have found opportunities for profitable growth.

The rapid growth of recent years has tested the Company’s infrastructure, which is now stronger than ever before. The main reasons for the good performance of the year include favourable external conditions, increase in tourism in Iceland and last but not the least our strong team of employees which are a very important factor in what we have achieved. It is always satisfying when things are going well, but there is no room for complacency. There are various challenges ahead that we need to address. The principal challenge is the increasing competition, and in addition our contracts with some of our classes of employees have expired, which creates some uncertainty. Nevertheless, the Company’s business model has proven sound, our finances are solid and our cash position is strong. Icelandair Group is therefore well positioned to take on the future. The Company’s budget for 2014 projects EBITDA at $145-150 million.”

Trip Report on Icelandair by the Sydney Morning Herald on a London-Halifax trip: CLICK HERE

Icelandair:

Icelandair to fly to Washington Dulles

Icelandair Boeing 757-208 WL TF-FIN (msn 28989) LHR (Keith Burton), originally uploaded by Airliners Gallery.

Icelandair (Keflavik) will begin seasonal service from Washington Dulles International Airport with four flights a week starting on May 17, 2011 through September 13, 2011.

In addition to Washington, D.C. Icelandair, offers non-stop service to Iceland from Boston, New York-JFK, Seattle/Tacoma, and seasonal service from Minneapolis/St. Paul, Orlando (Sanford), Halifax and Toronto (Pearson).

Icelandair to add Seattle/Tacoma on July 22

Please click on photo for full view and caption.

Icelandair (Reykjavik) will add the Reykjavik (Keflavik)-Seattle/Tacoma route (four times weekly) for the summer season starting on July 22. The new route will be operated with 183-seat Boeing 757-200s.