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Thursday, October 17, 2024


Air Greenland and Icelandair sign a partnership agreement

Air Greenland signs an agreement with Icelandair which will improve Greenland's connectivity with North America and the Faroe Islands.

Air Greenland CEO Jacob Nitter Sørensen and Icelandair CEO Bogi Nils Bogason signed the codeshare agreement in Reykjavik shortly before the opening of the Arctic Circle Assembly conference.

 

At the same time, Icelandair also signed a codeshare agreement with the Faroese airline, Atlantic Atlantic Airways, strengthening its connections in the West Nordic region and with the international destinations

Jacob Nitter Soersensen CEO Air Greenland

"With this landmark codeshare agreement, Air Greenland is thrilled to enhance connectivity across the Nordics and the Arctic. By collaborating with Icelandair and Atlantic Airways, we're bridging our communities and opening new doors for travelers, making it easier than ever to explore the rich cultures and breathtaking landscapes of our northern regions, said Air Greenland CEO Jacob Nitter Sørensen at the signing of the agreement, which is expected to take effect in summer 2025.

A codeshare agreement means, among other things, that the airlines' routes become available on each other's sales channels, giving the traveller a coherent itinerary from the point of departure to the final destination.

 

“With Icelandair's route network and now also their agreement with Atlantic Airways we're creating seamless travel opportunities and strengthening ties throughout the in the Westnordic region and the Arctic, from the Faroe Islands and Iceland to Greenland and beyond to Nunavut, Arctic Canada. This partnership marks an exciting chapter in our mission to connect the North like never before, he also stated.

 

Icelandair has a wide route network connecting destinations in North America and Europe with Keflavik as its hub. Connecting Greenland and the Faroe Islands to this route network creates great opportunities for the region, addressed Icelandair's CEO, Bogi Nils Bogason at the signing ceremony today.

 

"What we have in common is that we are all island nations that rely on efficient air transport to connect with the world and for the prosperity of our countries. By joining forces and formalizing our partnerships, we will further strengthen air connectivity in the West Nordic region and in the Arctic, which is an important foundation for future development in this part of the world. We are also pleased to connect Greenland and the Faroe Islands to our extensive sales and distribution networks in North America, Europe, and in other global markets, such as Asia, and thereby further promoting these great tourist destinations" said Bogi Nils Bogason.

 

The CEO of Atlantic Airways, Jóhanna á Bergi, also emphasised the opportunities that the collaboration will bring to the Faroe Islands.

"This agreement is vital both commercially and for our countries, fostering deeper connections and mutual growth. Joining Icelandair's diverse route network offers significant advantages, enabling us to collectively provide better and more flexible services to our passengers. By linking our air routes, we enhance our visibility and work towards establishing our North-Western nations as prominent travel destinations in the international market" said, Jóhanna á Bergi. 

Here the three CEOs of the respective flag carriers after signing the agreements at the opening of this year's Arctic Circle Assembly in Reykjavik, together with official representatives from Greenland, Iceland and the Faroe Islands.
From the left: Kalistat Lund, Minister of Agriculture, Self-sufficiency, Energy and Environment - Greenland, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir - Iceland, CEO of Air Greenland, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, CEO of Atlantic Airways ,Jóhanna á Bergi, CEO of Icelandair, Bogi Nils Bogason and to the right is Hanna í Horni, Head of the Faroe Islands representation in Reykjavik. Foto: Arctic Circle Assembly

Facts:


Air Greenland and Icelandair signed a letter of intent to reach a codeshare agreement in September 2022. Read more here The codeshare agreement signed with Icelandair today will come into full effect when Air Greenland is certified according to the IOSA standard, which is a quality stamp for airlines that maintain a high level of safety and comply with best practices within this standard.


The first route to be added to the route network on both airlines' bookingsystems is the route between Billund - Keflavik and further between Nuuk. It will be operated by Air Greenland from March 18 - October 23 2025.