Icelandair began regular scheduled service between Edmonton, Canada and Reykjavik, Iceland

Edmonton, Canada, 2014-03-12 — /Travel PR News/ — Prime Minister of Iceland celebrates start of Icelandair five-times-weekly service to Reykjavik and beyond (Edmonton) – Icelandair began regular scheduled service between Edmonton and Reykjavik today, allowing northwestern Canadians a new way to discover more than 20 destinations in Europe fast.

Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Prime Minister of Iceland flew to Edmonton to celebrate the launch of the new service and attend related community celebrations of the new Edmonton-Reykjavic connection.

The Prime Minister was joined by a host of dignitaries, including:
• The Honourable Dave Hancock, Deputy Premier of Alberta
• James Rajotte, Member of Parliament, Edmonton-Leduc
• His Worship Don Iveson, Mayor of Edmonton
• Birkir Hólm Guðnason, CEO, Icelandair
• Tom Ruth, President and CEO, Edmonton International Airport
• Brad Ferguson, President and CEO, Edmonton Economic Development Corporation
• James Cumming, President and CEO, Edmonton Chamber of Commerce

This non-stop flight also sets the foundation for expanded inbound connections from Europe to northwestern Canada. Travellers from a wide variety of European destinations now have a new opportunity to travel to Edmonton for business and leisure.

Quick Facts
This new service operates on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays on an Icelandair Boeing 757 seating 183 passengers in a three-class layout. The eastbound flight departs EIA at 5:25 p.m. and arrives in Reykjavik at 6:40 a.m. the next morning. The westbound flight leaves Reykjavik at 4:45 p.m. and arrives at EIA at 4:25 p.m. the same day. Flying time is approximately six-and-a-half-hours each way.

Quotes
“Icelandic explorers were among the first Europeans to journey to what is now Canada more than 1,000 years ago, and for all time, our peoples have built links to connect our great nations. I am pleased to be able to use the start of this important new air link between two thriving cities of Reykjavik and Edmonton as an opportunity to strengthen business, social and cultural links between us,”says Sigmundur Davíð Gunnlaugsson, Prime Minister of Iceland.

“Opening new markets is a key part of our government’s Building Alberta Plan because we know being open to the world means more opportunities for all Albertans. We are excited to promote this route as an important economic gateway to Edmonton and Northern Alberta for our European friends and partners. I’m thrilled that our guests will have the opportunity to experience Edmonton and Alberta’s world-class hospitality and the many unique experiences our province has to offer,“ says Dave Hancock, Deputy Premier of Alberta.

“This new route extends the strong relationship between Iceland and Canada. We know through our active engagement with Iceland through initiatives like the Arctic Council, that we share a fundamental passion, as northern nations, for advancing the significant economic and cultural potential of our Northern countries.

This is Iceland’s first direct connection to Canada’s West, which we know will be a basis for growing trade and connections, a major priority for the Government of Canada,” says James Rajotte, Member of Parliament for Edmonton-Leduc.

“Icelandair’s new service adds to Edmonton’s connectivity with the world. It also gives visitors and businesses from our region, Europe and points beyond a new choice. Edmontonians have already started embracing this new service, and we look forward to showing off the city to our Icelandic visitors,” says Mayor Don Iveson, City of Edmonton.

“Our service from Edmonton International Airport will be Icelandair’s first link into western Canada. We see this as an amazing opportunity to open the skies between Edmonton and Reykjavik and further build on our respective networks. We have seen the incredible potential of this market and have already increased our service to meet demands and expectations. Icelandair provides a refreshing alternative for passengers travelling both to and from Europe and we look forward to welcoming you aboard,” says Birkir Hólm Guðnason, Icelandair CEO.

“I want to thank the teams at Icelandair and EIA who have worked so hard, along with our respective communities, to secure this new route and to ensure that it is kicked off appropriately with celebrations in both communities. EIA’s vision of more flights to more places is absolutely community-driven, underlined by a strong effort to build fast, efficient and direct links between our people and products and the world. As our trade routes with the European Union grow through expanded free trade, the need for these links will be more important than ever, not just for Edmonton and Reykjavik as host communities, but for the extended networks and regions we serve,” says Tom Ruth, EIA President and CEO.

About Edmonton International Airport:
Edmonton International Airport (EIA) is Canada’s fifth busiest airport by passenger traffic and the largest major Canadian airport by land area. Canada’s fastest growing major airport over the last decade, EIA serves 7 million passengers per year and offers non-stop connections to more than 60 destinations across Canada, the United States, Mexico, the Caribbean and Europe. For more information about Edmonton International Airport, visit flyeia.com.

About Icelandair:
Icelandair, the flag carrier of Iceland since 1937, offers year-round service to Iceland from Boston, New York-JFK, Seattle, Denver, Toronto and Edmonton with seasonal service from Newark, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando Sanford, Halifax, and Anchorage. Connections through Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport are available to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the U.K. and Continental Europe. Only Icelandair allows passengers to stopover in Iceland at no additional airfare.

To book a flight with Icelandair, visit icelandair.ca.

Icelandair’s agreement with WestJet means passengers connecting to Icelandair flights from WestJet locations can book a single combined e-ticket for both airlines, and enjoy the convenience of a single check-in for all flights, with baggage sent through to the final destination.

Additional Information:
Michael Raucheisen Marketing & Communications the Americas, Icelandair c: (1) 443 417 5718 e: raucheisen@icelandair.is w: www.icelandair.ca<

Media Contact
Heather Hamilton
Director of Communications
Edmonton International Airport
780 884 2966
Email: hhamilton@flyeia.com

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