New flights between Aberdeen and Iceland are expected to bring hordes of North American tourists into the north-east, helping the region’s economy shake off its oil and gas woes.
A plane bound for Keflavik – Iceland’s main international airport – took off yesterday.
The new service is operated by Icelandair subsidiary Air Iceland and operates four times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.
Tourism is one of the industries new economic development body Opportunity North East has identified as key to helping the region recover from its current plight.
The air link with Iceland gives north-east travellers connections to Icelandair’s 16 gateways in North America and reduces current travel times for transatlantic travel by several hours.
Destinations such as New York, Orlando and Seattle can be reached without having to go by car, bus, train or plane to another UK airport, only to then fly over Scotland.
It also puts the glaciers, hot springs and other attractions of Iceland within easier reach.
But perhaps more importantly for the north-east’s ailing economy is the opportunity for Americans and Canadians to fly into the region more directly than before, without having to go elsewhere in the UK first.
Steve Harris is heading up efforts to get more North American golfers, whisky-lovers and others into the area.
Mr Harris is currently chief executive of VisitAberdeen, which is about to become part of a new and bigger tourism body, VisitAberdeenshire, which he will lead.
He said: “Getting people over from North America to visit the north-east has always been a big challenge, so this is a major breakthrough.”
Aberdeen Lord Provost George Adam added: “This is a great opportunity for our city. Now we have to turn it into real business through Icelandair’s connections.”
Mr Adam’s Aberdeenshire counterpart, Provost Hamish Vernal, said: “These new flights are very timely. Whether it is for visitors wanting golfing, hillwalking, food and drink or whatever, the opportunity to use Iceland as a hub between North America and Aberdeen is so important.”
Icelandair general manager Andres Jonsson, who flew into Aberdeen yesterday from Orlando via Keflavik, said Iceland would be an attractive stopover for many transatlantic passengers.
But Aberdeen and the surrounding area was also likely to attract Icelanders wanting to take advantage of favourable currency rates, he added.
Air Iceland chief executive Arni Gunnarsson said bookings were good for all three markets served by the new flights – Scots wanting to explore Iceland, Icelanders looking to visit the north-east and people taking advantage of the North American connections.
The frequency of the service could be increased later if there is enough demand, he added.
Aberdeen International Airport managing director Carol Benzie said the flights, which use 78-seater Bombadier Q400 aircraft, were the “fantastic” result of five years of talks.
Air Iceland invested in three Q400s only recently, paving the way for Aberdeen to become its first new destination for the smaller-sized planes.
