Icelandic airline opens link to US from capital

THE first flights between Edinburgh and Iceland will be launched next summer as part of no-frills airline Iceland Express's move to lure transatlantic passengers via its Reykjavik hub.

Twice-weekly services will operate between June and August, which will connect with the carrier's flights to New York, Boston and Chicago.

Return fares to the United States from Edinburgh will start at 410, including taxes.

The move will provide competition for Icelandair, which has provided Scotland's sole link with Iceland for 65 years and also operates a transatlantic hub at Reykjavik.

The Icelandic flag carrier resumed flights four times a week from Glasgow last year after they were suspended because of the recession.

Iceland Express chief executive Matthias Imsland said of its new Edinburgh route, which will operate on Mondays and Fridays: "No other airline offers direct flights between these destinations and Reykjavik, so we are delighted to fill this gap."

Iceland Express operates single-aisle Boeing 757-200s on its transatlantic routes, with Boeing 737-700s on connecting routes, such as to Edinburgh.

Edinburgh airport managing director Kevin Brown said: "This is an exciting new route for Edinburgh. It not only links Scotland to Iceland's capital but allows hub opportunities to a range of Iceland Express's North American destinations including Boston, Chicago, New York, Orlando and Winnipeg."