Icelandair starts process to divest tour operator unit

Icelandair to resume B737 MAX ops in late 1Q21

Icelandair (FI, Reykjavik Keflavik) has announced it will resume B737-8 operations on March 8, 2021, becoming the third European airline to do so after TUI fly (Belgium) and Smartwings (Czechia).

Ahead of the planned restart, the Icelandic flag carrier ferried two of its B737-8s, TF-ICN (msn 44356) and TF-ICO (msn 44358), back to Reykjavik Keflavik from storage at Lleida. It initially plans to use just two aircraft on its scheduled network, with the first flight slated for Copenhagen Kastrup.

A further two B737-8s and Icelandair's only B737-9 remain in storage at Lleida. Its fifth B737-8s has been stored at Reykjavik Keflavik airport.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, besides the six B737 MAX already delivered, Icelandair expects a further six units (three -8s and three -9s) on order from lessors with deliveries scheduled between March 2021 and February 2022. It leases all of its already delivered B737 MAX from SMBC Aviation Capital (three -8s), Bocomm Leasing (two -8s), and BOC Aviation (the -9).

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Icelandair mulls replacing B757s with A321neo(LR)s

Icelandair (FI, Reykjavik Keflavik) is considering several scenarios as it searches for a long-term solution to replace its ageing B757 equipment, among them the acquisition of A321-200NX(LR)s, CEO Bogi Nils Bogason has told Simple Flying.

The extended-range A321-200neo variant is “a very good replacement candidate” that the Icelandic flag carrier is comprehensively reviewing, he said.

According to the ch-aviation fleets advanced module, Icelandair currently operates fifteen B757-200s, which have an average age of 23.6 years, and two B757-300s with an average age of 19.9 years, plus one 30.8-year-old B757-200(PCF) and one 31.5-year-old B757-200(PF).

“We have had our long-term fleet strategy under review since 2019, analysing which aircraft would be the most suitable replacement for the B757 within the 2025-2027 timeframe. We already see opportunities for our network with aircraft types that can replace it going forward and we have been reviewing a few different scenarios for our future fleet,” Bogason said.

“Although we have put this project on hold during the Covid period, we will resume...

Icelandair signs sales/lease-backs on two B737-9s and office