Atlantic Airways

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Atlantic Airways
IATA
ICAO
Callsign
RC[1] FLI FAROELINE
Founded1987; 37 years ago (1987)
HubsVágar Airport
Frequent-flyer programSúlubonus
Fleet size4
Destinations12
HeadquartersSørvágur, Faroe Islands
Key peopleJóhanna á Bergi (CEO)
RevenueDKK 410.2 million (2021)
Websiteatlanticairways.com

Atlantic Airways (Nasdaq IcelandFO-AIR, Faroese: Atlantsflog) is the national airline of the Faroe Islands, operating domestic helicopter services and international passenger services as well as search and rescue responsibilities from its base at Vágar Airport, on the Faroese island of Vágar.[2] Most of its pilots are members of the Faroese Pilot Association. Its 2021 revenue was 410.2mm DKK.[3]

History

Regular air links to the Faroes had been in operation since 1963, between the islands and Denmark. Although the airport at Vágar had been constructed by the British Army during World War II, air traffic to the islands was practically non-existent between the departure of the British and the start of services to Copenhagen. Calls for the creation of a Faroese airline company began in the early 1980s. Passenger numbers were steadily increasing and Danish carrier Maersk Air enjoyed the monopoly as the sole airline to serve the Faroe Islands.

Atlantic Airways Avro RJ aircraft at Vágar Airport

As a result, Atlantic Airways was established in 1987, initially between the

Cimber Air (49%), though the Faroese government would assume full ownership in 1989. Flights commenced between Vágar and Copenhagen on 28 March 1988 using a British Aerospace 146. A hangar was built at Vágar by the Faroese government in order to secure Atlantic Airways' home base in the Faroes, ensuring maintenance
facilities were available on the islands.

The aim of the new airline company was to build up a Faroese aviation industry on a commercial basis and to ensure the Faroe Islands an air connection with the outside world. Flight crews and management were Faroese.

Though load factors were high and the new service was popular, Atlantic Airways had a turbulent beginning economically. The Faroe Islands suffered a severe economic depression in the early 1990s, and at its nadir in 1992, the Faroese government delivered 75 m DKK in aid to the struggling carrier. Atlantic Airways would not become profitable until 1995.

Avro RJ85 at Narsarsuaq Airport, Greenland

Flights were launched to

Air Iceland. The latter half of the 1990s saw Billund in Denmark and Aberdeen
in the UK added to Atlantic Airways' flight schedule.

The growing list of destinations and increasing passenger numbers, together with the stabilisation of the airline's finances, saw a second

London Stansted in England and the Norwegian capital Oslo added to the network. Growth in tourism on the islands has also enabled flights to Aalborg, Stavanger, Stord and Edinburgh. However, for the 2006 season services to Stord have been discontinued, and Edinburgh replaced by the Shetland
Islands. Atlantic Airways also entered the UK domestic market in 2006, becoming the only carrier to offer a direct service between Shetland and London, which it did on a twice weekly basis. The UK domestic operation ceased in 2008.

Atlantic Airways also operates a domestic service by

Bell 222
helicopters.

Barcelona–El Prat Airport
, Spain

Initially, the helicopter service was a standalone company, SL Helicopters, but the decision to concentrate Faroese aviation into one firm led to the helicopter department becoming part of Atlantic Airways in 1994. The helicopters provide a round trip 'hopper' service to each of the islands, which is also ideal for tourists looking for aerial views. The company is required to have at least one helicopter operational and ready for search and rescue duties.

From approximately 2002 to 2007, Atlantic Airways has produced profits of between 8 and 13 million

Iceland Stock Exchange
on 10 December 2007.

The Faroese government has decided on a privatisation process and has sold off 33% of the company in the first bidding round. The first day of trading was 10 December 2007.

The government was planning to sell off 33% more in 2008, but this was cancelled due to the financial crisis.[4][5]

The first

Airbus A320
was delivered.

On 3 June 2015, Jóhanna á Bergi became CEO of the company.[6] She is the first woman to become CEO of a Nordic airline.[7]

In December 2018, the airline submitted an application for commercial services to the United States.[8]

On 13 March 2020, Atlantic Airways announced the suspension of all routes until 13 April 2020 except the route to Copenhagen due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[9]

On 22 August 2023, Atlantic Airways started to operate seven-hour flight weekly scheduled nonstop service between the U.S. and the Faroe Islands with service to the Faroe Islands on Wednesdays and flights to Stewart International Airport on Tuesdays.[10] The carrier, which operates the route with Airbus A320neo, is the only one to use the aircraft type on transatlantic flights.[11]

Former US President Bill Clinton and former Atlantic Airways President Magni Arge at Vágar Airport, before flying to Copenhagen

Destinations

International services

As of March 2024, Atlantic Airways serves the following scheduled destinations:[12]

Country City Airport Notes
Denmark Aalborg Aalborg Airport Seasonal
Aarhus Aarhus Airport Terminated
Billund Billund Airport
Copenhagen Copenhagen Airport
Faroe Islands Vágar Vágar Airport Base
France Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport Seasonal
Greenland Narsarsuaq Narsarsuaq Airport Terminated
Iceland Reykjavík Keflavík International Airport
Reykjavík Airport Terminated
Italy Milan
Malpensa Airport
Terminated
Rome
Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport
Terminated
Norway Bergen Bergen Airport, Flesland Terminated
Oslo Oslo Airport, Gardermoen
Stavanger
Stavanger Airport, Sola
Terminated
Trondheim
Trondheim Airport, Værnes
Terminated
Portugal Lisbon Lisbon Airport Terminated
Spain Barcelona Josep Tarradellas Barcelona–El Prat Airport Seasonal
Gran Canaria Gran Canaria Airport Seasonal
Mallorca Palma de Mallorca Airport Seasonal
Tenerife Tenerife South Airport Terminated
Sweden Stockholm Stockholm Arlanda Airport Terminated
United Kingdom Aberdeen Aberdeen Airport Terminated
Edinburgh Edinburgh Airport Seasonal[13]
London Gatwick Airport Resumes 1 June 2024[14]
Stansted Airport
Terminated
Sumburgh Sumburgh Airport Terminated
United States
Newburgh
Stewart International Airport Seasonal

Charter operations

Atlantic Airways also operates charters for Danish tour operators to destinations such as Italy, Croatia, Greece, Bulgaria, France, Scotland, Norway and the Czech Republic, out of Copenhagen Kastrup and Billund airports.

Domestic services

There is domestic helicopter service[15] to the islands. The helicopters depart from Vágar Airport on Sunday, Monday (only in June, July, & August), Wednesday, and Friday.

The flights visit the capital Tórshavn and second largest town Klaksvík, the southern islands Skúvoy, Stóra Dímun, Suðuroy (Froðba), the northern islands Svínoy and Fugloy (Hattarvík and Kirkja), the western island Mykines, and the island Koltur.

Codeshare agreements

Atlantic Airways currently has codeshare agreements with Air France and KLM.[16]

Fleet

As of July 2023, with the addition of an A320-214 previously operated by Air France and delivered June 3, 2023,[17] the Atlantic Airways fleet consists of the following aircraft:[18]

Fixed-Wing Fleet

An Atlantic Airways Airbus A319 at Vágar Airport
Atlantic Airways Fixed-Wing Fleet
Aircraft In Service Orders Passengers Refs Notes
Y
Airbus A320-200 2 174 [17][19]
Airbus A320neo 2 2 174 [17][19]
Total 4 2

Former fleet

British Aerospace 146 5

Helicopter Fleet

An Atlantic Airways helicopter landing at Tórshavn helipad on its way to Klaksvik, Svínoy, and Kirkja

The AgustaWestland AW139 is the only primary helicopter used for flights to district villages. With a capacity to seat 15 passengers, the helicopter is used to shuttle passengers in the Faroe Islands.

Atlantic Airways Helicopter Fleet
Aircraft In Fleet Orders Passengers Routes
Economy
AgustaWestland AW139 2 15 Domestic
Charter
SAR[20]
Total 2

Accidents and incidents

  • 1989: an Atlantic Airways BAe 146–200 (registration OY-CRG) aircraft failed to stop at the end of the runway and was subsequently out of service for 3 weeks.
  • On the night 16–17 December 1992, a Bell 212 helicopter being used as an air ambulance crashed due to poor visibility. All five people on board were killed.[21][22]
  • On 10 October 2006,
    Molde via Stord. The aircraft appears to have been unable to stop on the runway when its spoilers failed to extend during landing. The aircraft crossed the threshold and continued down a slope before coming to rest and catching fire.[23][24]

References

  1. ^ "IATA – Airline and Airport Search". iata.org. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
  2. ^ Flight International, 27 March 2007
  3. ^ "Group Consolidated Annual Report 2021" (PDF). Atlantic Airways. 1 (1) (1st ed.): 1–60. 7 November 2021.
  4. ^ "Atlantic Airways". Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 5 December 2007.
  5. ^ "Atlantic Airways". 13 December 2007. Archived from the original on 13 December 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  6. ^ "Jóhanna á Bergi nýggjur stjóri í Atlantic Airways | Kringvarp Føroya". Kvf.fo (in Faroese). 7 March 2014.
  7. ^ Baumgarten, Henrik (3 June 2015). "Kvinde i spidsen for Atlantic Airways | Stand By - Morgennyheder til rejse-, hotel- og turistbranchen". Standby.dk. Retrieved 17 September 2016.
  8. ^ Nick Wenzel (15 December 2018). "Atlantic Airways applies for Faroe-US flights = International Flight Network".
  9. ^ "Flogferðslan munandi skerd". Kringvarp Føroya. Retrieved 15 March 2020.
  10. ^ "Atlantic Airways is launching nonstop U.S.-Faroe Islands service". www.travelweekly.com. Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  11. ^ Miguens, Agustín (18 May 2023). "Atlantic Airways is now marketing its flights between the Faroe Islands and New York". Aviacionline.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Routes". Atlantic Airways. Retrieved 22 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Routemap 2023".
  14. ^ https://italiavola.com/2024/01/08/atlantic-airways-apre-i-voli-tra-londra-gatwick-e-faroe-vagar/
  15. ^ "Timetable - Atlantic Airways". Archived from the original on 14 June 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  16. ^ "Súlubonus - Atlantic Airways". www.atlanticairways.com. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  17. ^ a b c "AIRBUS A320 - MSN 5084 OY-RCM - Atlantic Airways". Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  18. ^ "Global Airline Guide 2019 (Part One)". Airliner World (October 2019): 13.
  19. ^ a b "Atlantic Airways Fleet". Atlantic Airways Fleet (Press release).
  20. ^ "Search & Rescue - Atlantic Airways". 2 December 2020. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  21. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Bell 212 OY-HEA, 16 Dec 1992". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Rapport om Uddannelser og Udstyr indenfor det Færøske Præhospitalsberedskab" (PDF) (in Danish). Almanna- Heilsumálaráđiđ. 15 March 2007. Retrieved 7 May 2020. I forbindelse hermed må der nævnes den tragiske helikopterulykke ved Klaksvík i 1992, hvor helikopterne efter en patienttrasnport til Landssygehuset styrter på en fjeldside i en snebye. (In connection with this, the tragic helicopter accident at Klaksvík in 1992 must be mentioned, where the helicopters crashed on a mountain side in a snowstorm after a patient transport to the National Hostital.)
  23. ^ "Norway runway blaze kills three". BBC News. 10 October 2006. p. 1. Retrieved 7 November 2022.
  24. ^ Ranter, Harro. "ASN Aircraft accident British Aerospace BAe-146-200A OY-CRG Stord-Sørstokken Airport (SRP)". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 7 November 2022.

External links

Media related to Atlantic Airways at Wikimedia Commons