Atlantica - 01.03.2002, Page 78

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Fleet of Aircraft
Number of seats 176–189
Average cargo capacity 4,000 kg 8,800 lb
Length 47.3 m 155' 3''
Wing span 38.1 m 124' 10''
Cruising speed 876 km/h 544 mph
Maximum range 6,300 km 3,900 mi
Maximum take-off weight 113,400 kg 250,000 lb
Engines (two) RB211-535E4
Total take-off thrust 358 kN 80,400 lb
Maximum range based on full passenger load.
Number of seats 50
Average cargo capacity 500 kg 1,100 lb
Length 25.3 m 82' 10''
Wing span 29.0 m 95' 2''
Cruising speed 490 km/h 304 mph
Maximum range 1,770 km 1,100 mi
Gross weight 20,820 kg 45,900 lb
Engines (two) PW 125B turboprops
Total take-off power 3,728 kW 5,000 shp
Maximum range based on full passenger load.
Number of seats 215–228
Average cargo capacity 5400 kg 11,900 lb
Length 54.4 m 178' 7''
Wing span 38.1 m 124' 10''
Cruising speed 876 km/h 544 mph
Maximum range 5,100 km 3,200 mi
Maximum take-off weight 123,800 kg 273,000 lb
Engines (two) RB211-535E4-B
Total take-off thrust 387 kN 87,000 lb
Maximum range based on full passenger load.
BOEING 757-200 (Icelandair)
BOEING 757-300 (Icelandair)
FOKKER 50 (Air Iceland)
The History of Icelandair
THE HISTORY OF ICELANDAIR extends
far back beyond its formation in 1973 by the
merger of Flugfélag Íslands (Icelandair), estab-
lished in 1937, and Loftleidir (Icelandic Airlines),
founded in 1944. Its staff can draw on a vast
experience of international air transport, dating
from 1945 on European routes, and from 1952 in
the North American skyways.
FLUGFÉLAG ÍSLANDS operated an exten-
sive routes system within Iceland, and served
destinations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway,
Scotland and England as well. The first interna-
tional passenger flight was made on 11 July 1945
when a Catalina seaplane took off from Reykjavík
and landed in Largs Bay in Scotland.
LOFTLEIDIR ceased domestic flying in 1952,
concentrating instead on international services
to countries on both sides of the Atlantic and
earning worldwide recognition as a pioneer of
low fares on its transatlantic routes.Transatlantic
passengers were soon offered the option of
stopping over for a day or more in Iceland. To
meet demand for this popular innovation, the
airline built Hótel Loftleidir in Reykjavík and
later set up a car rental service. An Icelandair
subsidiary today operates seven first-class, year-
round hotels located across Iceland. Two of
them, Hótel Loftleidir and Hótel Esja, are in
Reykjavík; the other hotels are in Keflavík, Flúdir,
Kirkjubæjarklaustur, Rangá and Egilsstadir. This
summer another hotel at Selfoss will be added
to the operation. The subsidiary also runs the
Edda Summer Hotel Chain. Another Icelandair
subsidiary operates the Icelandair/Hertz car
rental today.
Icelandair introduced a new generation of
Boeing jets over the period 1989–1993.Another
brand new Boeing 757-200 was delivered to
Icelandair in March 2001, and now the company
operates 11 Boeing 757-200/300. Today,
Icelandair’s route network of 16 international
destinations includes five North American and
11 European gateways. With additional services
through its subsidiary to Iceland’s closest neigh-
bours, the Faroe Islands and Greenland,
Icelandair can justifiably claim to link the West
Nordic countries both with each other and with
the rest of the world.
Icelandair’s route network is based on a hub-and-
spoke system with Reykjavík’s airport, Keflavík
International, as the nerve centre. Fourteen
flights departing from five North American cities
arrive in Iceland 60–90 minutes before depar-
tures to 14 destinations in Scandinavia, the UK
and Central Europe.The procedure is reversed in
the afternoon, with flights arriving from Europe
at Keflavík International shortly before the
Icelandair fleet takes off for North America. In
2001, Icelandair carried a total of 1,358,000 pas-
sengers.
Air Iceland is an Icelandair subsidiary airline
operating a domestic service to five destinations
from Reykjavík and three destinations from
Akureyri.The airline also operates flights to Vágar
in the Faroe Islands and to two destinations in
Greenland: Nerlerit Inaat/Constable Point and
Kulusuk.
In 2001, Air Iceland carried a total of 295,000
passengers. Air Iceland’s fleet was renewed in
1992 with new Fokker 50 prop jets, each with 50
seats. The airline also operates 19-seater Twin-
Otter and Metro prop jets.
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