British tour company Discover the World has announced plans to offer weekly flights to Egilsstaðir in East Iceland from next year.
The director and owner of the company says the goal is to provide foreign tourists with trips directly into the Icelandic countryside.
The idea is to fly every Sunday from May 22 until September 2 next year and Clive Stacey, director and owner, told Túristi.is that for the service to succeed it is important for East Icelanders, and Icelanders generally, to make use of the flights. If all goes according to plan, preparations for the new flight service will be complete before the end of this month.
The flights will connect Egilsstaðir with London Gatwick airport, the UK’s second-biggest airport.
Ticket prices have not yet been released, but Stacey says they will be “reasonable” and that the service will serve to expand the market for trips to Iceland.
The plan will be well-received by the Icelandic authorities, which are planning to encourage international flights through Egilsstaðir and Akureyri airports—most likely by canceling airport fees for airlines for the first two years and by contributing financially to the regions’ marketing efforts.
