Icelandair Cargo has taken delivery of the company’s first Boeing 767 widebody cargo aircraft. The aircraft arrived in Iceland recently and took off for the first scheduled cargo flight to Liège Belgium on the evening of Thursday 8th December.
Additionally to Liège, the 767’s schedule will include cargo flights to New York and Chicago, three times a week to each destination. In the first quarter of 2023, Icelandair will add a second 767 to the fleet and start direct service to Los Angeles as well as increase frequency to other destinations.
Icelandair Cargo has operated cargo flights on two Boeing 757’s in addition to utilizing Icelandair’s extensive international route network for freight. The 767s will create new opportunities for import and export, with more than double capacity in terms of volume compared to the 757 and a considerably longer range. This opens opportunities for new markets outside Icelandair’s route network.
Direct cargo flights to Los Angeles to commence in 2023
Longer range aircraft open the opportunity to add new destinations to the cargo flight network and Icelandair Cargo will start direct flights to Los Angeles at the beginning of 2023. The company will then cover three of the most important cargo markets in the US, Los Angeles on the West Coast, New York on the East Coast and Chicago in the Midwest.
California is one of the world’s largest producers of fruit and vegetables. Direct cargo connection to the area can greatly reduce transport time of these products to Iceland. Icelandic seafood exporters have built a strong market on the east coast of the United States. With regular flights to California and the Midwest, new and exciting opportunities are created.
In addition, Icelandair sees great opportunity in increasingly using Keflavik Airport as a cargo hub between continents. The transport market between Europe and North America is the largest in the world and Icelandair Cargo sees great potential for expansion in that market.
Gunnar Már Sigurfinnsson, Managing Director, Icelandair Cargo:
“We are excited to start our widebody operations. In recent years, we have been increasing our operations and the new aircraft will create even more room for growth. We have a clear vision of building a cargo hub at Keflavik Airport, for air transport between Europe and North America, with the future possibility of adding connections to Asia. New connections open new and exciting opportunities, and we are excited to continue our cooperation with Icelandic import and export, especially in terms of transporting fresh products.”
