Iceland Express

Iceland Express was a low-fare airline headquartered in Reykjavík, Iceland that was acquired by WOW air.[1] It operated services to several destinations in Europe[2] using wet-leased aircraft. Its main base was Keflavík International Airport.

Iceland Express
IATA ICAO Callsign
HC — FLY STAR
Founded2002
Ceased operations2012
HubsKeflavík International Airport
Fleet size2
Destinations17
Parent companyFengur
HeadquartersReykjavík, Iceland
Key peopleSkarphéðinn Berg Steinarsson, Managing Director
Websitehttp://www.icelandexpress.com

History

The airline was established in 2002 and began operations on 27 February 2003 with daily flights to London Stansted and Copenhagen using Boeing 737-300 aircraft wet leased from Astraeus Airlines. This contract was taken over by JetX Airlines and then by Hello. In the Autumn of 2008, Astraeus Airlines resumed operating all flights on behalf of Iceland Express with two Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

The airline was owned by Icelandic investment group, Northern Travel Holding. Northern Travel Holding was acquired in full by Fons in September 2008. It silently changed hands to sister company Fengur before the bankruptcy of Fons. Fons was established by the two main owners of Fengur.

Fengur acquired 100% of Astraeus Airlines. This helped the Icelandic group support its Iceland Express subsidiary to begin low-fare transatlantic services. The two airlines continued to operate as separate entities. The company started trans-Atlantic flights to Newark Liberty International Airport, four times a week and Winnipeg James Armstrong Richardson International Airport, two times a week, in June 2010, with a mix of 737s and two Boeing 757s operated by Astraeus. In late summer 2010, the airline published its winter schedule with the Newark flights year-round, as well as seasonal destinations such as Orlando.

The airline announced that it would fly to Chicago, Boston, Miami, Belfast and Orlando in June 2011, although the Belfast and Miami services never eventuated. As of 2012 though, the airline did not offer flights to or from the United States.[3]

On 21 November 2011, Astraeus, the sole operator of all Iceland Express flights, suddenly ceased operations with immediate effect. As a result, Iceland Express began leasing two Airbus A320s from Holidays Czech Airlines, a Czech Airlines subsidiary.[4]

On 24 October 2012, WOW air acquired Iceland Express' operations and network.[5]

An Iceland Express Boeing 737-700 operated by Astraeus

Fleet

As of November 2011, Iceland Express operated the following aircraft:

Iceland Express Fleet[6]
Aircraft Total Passengers Notes
Airbus A320-214 2 180 Operated by Holidays Czech Airlines

Former fleet
Iceland Express McDonnell Douglas MD-90

References
  1. "The Company Archived 2010-11-24 at the Wayback Machine." Iceland Express. Retrieved on December 29, 2010. "Head Office: Ármúli 7, IS-108 Reykjavik"
  2. "Route Map Archived 2012-03-18 at the Wayback Machine." Iceland Express. Retrieved on December 29, 2010.
  3. "Iceland Express Schedule and Route Map". icelandexpress.com. Archived from the original on 18 March 2012. Retrieved 19 March 2012.
  4. "Iceland Express launching newer planes". Travelbite.co.uk. 22 November 2011. Archived from the original on 23 November 2011. Retrieved 23 November 2011.
  5. "WOW air Acquires Iceland Express".
  6. "Jethros » Kredītu reģistrs". jethros.eu.

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