LONDON – Icelandair and Air Greenland representatives have signed a Letter of Intent to increase their networking and enhance connectivity.
Present at the ceremony were Tomas Leth Jørgensen, Manager Network & Revenue Management, Tómas Ingason Icelandair Chief Revenue Officer, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, CEO, Helgi Már Björgvinsson, Icelandair Director Partnerships and Corporate affairs ,and CFO Mogens E. Jensen.
The two airlines are seeking an agreement to work closely together by looking at the two companies networks, which form a very strategic route network at both hubs at Nuuk International Airport (Greenland) and Keflavik International Airport (Iceland).
The two airlines will surely benefit from this mutual agreement. Moreover, customers will also gain from the increased connectivity in the markets covered by both national carriers. The connectivity thereof between Greenland and Iceland will increase exponentially.
The national carrier of Iceland has already joined its regional operations with its international network by moving services to destinations in Greenland from Reykjavik Airport to Keflavik International Airport.
This shift will provide a more seamless connection to and from Air Greenland’s rich and strategic network in Greenland to Iceland and Icelandair’s well-established route network in Europe and North America.
Icelandair statement
The airlines’ CEOs look forward to increased cooperation. Icelandair’s CEO, Bogi Nils Bogason, states: “We are very pleased to increase the cooperation with Air Greenland. We focus on partnering with like-minded airlines that share our passion and commitment toward excellent customer experience and sustainability.”
“With better connectivity to Air Greenland’s comprehensive route network in Greenland and to Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport, we will be able to offer seamless connections between Greenland and our extensive network in Europe and North America.”
“We will benefit from Air Greenland’s local knowledge and investment in infrastructure in Greenland and Air Greenland will benefit from our comprehensive sales and distribution network in Europe and North America”
Air Greenland statement
Air Greenland’s CEO, Jacob Nitter Sørensen, states: “We see increased cooperation as strategically beneficial for Greenland, as the connection to Icelandair’s many international routes will create better accessibility for Greenland and provide better opportunities for business and leisure travellers to easily reach Greenland.”
“We will thus ensure that residents will find it easier to get out into the world, and the world will find it easier to get to Greenland. In addition, tourists coming to Iceland will have better opportunities to visit Greenland.”
“Finally, increased cooperation will mean that our customers will be able to buy a trip via our website, which will also feature Icelandair’s extensive route network. Icelandair’s customers will be able to do the same, making it easier to get a coherent itinerary to and from Greenland.”
Summary
The forging of the partnership, with both airlines being located in the North Atlantic is a viable proposition. Iceland mainly serves the connectivity between the continents of Europe and North America, whilst Air Greenland focuses on domestic flights.
The prospect of enhanced connectivity means more passenger spill over to Greenland, benefiting the Danish offshoot Kingdom massively. This deal largely benefits Air Greenland and Greenland more than it does Iceland after all.
