Iceland Express

Infobox_Airline
airline=Iceland Express
logo=Iceland express NEW logo.pnglogo_size=250
IATA=HW
ICAO=FHE
callsign=FlyHello
parent=Fons Eignarhaldsfélag
founded=2002
headquarters=Reykjavík, Iceland
key_people=Matthías Imsland, Managing Director
Þorsteinn Örn Guðmundsson, Chairman of the board
hubs=Keflavík International Airport
focus_cities=Akureyri Airport
fleet_size=4
destinations=15
website= http://www.icelandexpress.com

Iceland Express is a low-fare airline based in Reykjavík, Iceland. It operates services to 14 destinations in Europe using leased aircraft. Its main base is Keflavík International Airport.cite news | title= Directory: World Airlines | work= Flight International | page= 92 | date= 2007-04-03]

History

The airline was established in 2002 and began operations on February 27, 2003 with daily flights to London and Copenhagen using Boeing 737-300 aircraft wet leased from Astraeus. This contract was taken over by JetX Airlines and then by Hello which now operates all services on behalf of Iceland Express. The airline is owned by Icelandic investment group, Northern Travel Holding. [ [http://www.flyastraeus.com/news.asp?ID=1 Astraeus Airlines . Flystar . Scheduled & Charter flights from London and Manchester ] ]

Fons Eignarhaldsfelag has agreed to acquire a majority 51% stake in Astraeus, reportedly for £5m. The move would help the Icelandic group support their Iceland Express subsidiary to begin low-fare transatlantic services. The two airlines would continue to operate as separate entities and it is understood that Astraeus could have supplied Iceland Express with Boeing 757-200 aircraft to start flights from Iceland to New York and Boston in spring 2007 [Airliner World January 2007] .

Destinations

Fleet

The Iceland Express fleet consists of the following aircraft (as of September 16, 2008):

*2 Boeing 737-76N (G-STRF & G-STRH) (Operated by Astraeus)

Since Iceland Express does not operate these aircraft itself, but under wet-lease, the airline uses Astraeus's IATA and ICAO codes and is heard using Astraeus's callsign "FlyStar". [ [http://www.eurocontrol.int/icaoref/icao_8585_aircraft_operators_browse.jsp Eurocontrol] ] [ [http://icelandexpress.com/com/about_us/the_company/ Iceland Express: The Company ] ]

External links

* [http://www.icelandexpress.com/ Iceland Express]
* [http://www.ch-aviation.ch/aircraft.php?search=set&airline=ICE&al_op=1 Iceland Express Fleet]

References