Before discussing domestic flights within Iceland, one must learn why a country in the middle of the North Atlantic has become such a popular travel destination. Linked culturally with Europe, Iceland is a Nordic nation of just 380,000 people, of which 122,000 live in the capital city of Reykjavík.
Despite being located just south of the Arctic Circle, Iceland has a temperate climate thanks to the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. A land of volcanoes, glaciers, and fjords, Iceland became a popular stopover spot on transatlantic trips and a hot destination in itself for the adventurous and culture-hungry.
Icelandic national flag carrier Icelandair has been offering stopovers since the 1960s, and pushed this campaign even harder in 2014 with the launch of the #MyStopover campaign. It was the airline’s first major global campaign and solidified its position as an airline of choice for flying between North America and Europe. Others have joined the fold too, such as now-defunct WOW and newcomer PLAY.
For passengers taking advantage of the stopover programs offered by Icelandic carriers, flying domestically can open up more of the country for their adventure. Icelandair operates a robust domestic route network, making it easy to explore the less-touristed areas rather than staying in the capital.
Travel to, from, and within Iceland
Most international flights to and from Iceland use Keflavík International Airport (KEF), located 30 miles southwest of the Icelandic capital Reykjavik. To fly domestically within Iceland, people must travel to Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV). Located just a mile and a quarter from the city center, Reykjavik Airport has a much shorter runway than Keflavík, but because of its proximity to the capital, it is the airport of choice for short-haul domestic flights.
Image: Icelandair
To get between the two airports, passengers should give themselves 90 minutes for a bus transfer or 60 minutes if traveling by private car or taxi.
Icelandair
Iceland’s flag carrier operates a Boeing 757, 767, and 737 MAX aircraft fleet for international flights while using three de Havilland Canada DHC-8-Q200s and three DHC-8-Q400s for its domestic network. Icelandair offers domestic flights within the country from Reykjavík Airport to the following airports:
Akureyri Airport (AEY) Egilsstaðir Airport (EGS) Ísafjörður Airport (IFJ)
Icelandair domestic destinations
Akureyri
Nicknamed “The Capital of the North,” Iceland’s second-largest city is home to 18,000 people. Situated at the end of the country’s longest fjord, Akureyri’s ice-free harbor has made it an important center for the nation’s fishing industry. Tourists can take a 40-minute flight to Akureyri and use the town as a base to explore many of Iceland’s natural wonders, including the Goðafoss waterfall.
Egilsstaðir
Located 400 miles from the capital Reykjavík, beside the Lagarfljót River, Egilsstaðir is the largest town in Eastern Iceland, with around 2,500 inhabitants. Tourists visit the area for its vast network of hiking trails that offer amazing views and lead to lakes, waterfalls, canyons, caves, and inlets by the sea.
Ísafjörður
Ísafjörður is located in Iceland’s northwest and has a population of around 2,700. Once a former Danish trading post, the town is famous for its 18th-century timber-framed houses. With a tundra climate, the area known as Westfjords is freezing in the winter and has the coolest summer temperatures in Iceland. Less frequented by tourists than other parts of Iceland, visitors can marvel at the spectacular scenery in relative solitude. One of the area’s main attractions is the 328-foot-high Dynjandi waterfall.
Iceland’s other domestic airlines
Besides Icelandair, the country has two other air carriers that offer domestic flights. The largest is Norlandair which operates out of Akureyri Airport and Reykjavík Airport.
With its fleet of de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, Norlandair flies to the following destination airports:
Grímsey Airport (GRY) Vopnafjörður Airport (VPN) Þórshöfn Airport (THO) Gjögur Airport (GJR) Bíldudalur Airport (BIU) Nerlerit Inaat Airport (CNP) in Greenland
Based at Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RKV), Eagle Air offers flight aboard its British Aerospace Jetstream 32 aircraft to the following destinations:
Westman Islands Höfn in Hornafjördur (Vatnajökull Region) Húsavik (North) Bildudalur (West Fjords) Gjögur (West Fjords)
Sources: ch-aviation
Source link : https://simpleflying.com/icelandair-domestic-network-guide/
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Publish date : 2023-07-27 03:00:00
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