Joint venture combines local market expertise with international airline representation to strengthen Iceland–China cargo links
Kales Iceland has been appointed to support Air China’s cargo operations in Iceland, marking the first announced airline representation agreement for the newly established joint venture between TVG-Zimsen and Kales Group B.V.
The appointment comes ahead of Air China’s planned launch of a three-times-weekly service linking Beijing and Keflavík via Copenhagen from 26 October 2026. The route will be operated using Airbus A330-300 aircraft carrying both passengers and cargo, creating an additional air freight connection between Iceland and China.
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Kales Iceland will provide general sales and service agent (GSSA) support, including cargo sales, customer service and operational coordination. The company will work with freight forwarders, exporters and importers to develop Air China’s cargo business in the Icelandic market.
Combining local knowledge with international reach
The joint venture brings together the Icelandic market expertise and customer relationships of TVG-Zimsen, a subsidiary of Eimskip, with Kales Group’s international airline representation experience and network.
The partners aim to provide independent commercial and operational support to airlines seeking to expand their cargo business in Iceland. By connecting carriers with local exporters, importers and logistics providers, Kales Iceland intends to help develop new cargo opportunities and strengthen links between Iceland and international markets.
Raffaele Manna, managing director of TVG-Zimsen, said the establishment of Kales Iceland represented a new stage in airline representation in the country. He highlighted the combination of local knowledge and international GSSA expertise as a foundation for helping airlines develop their business.
Sebastiaan Scholte, chief executive officer of Kales Group B.V., said the ambition was to build an independent, commercially focused organisation that creates value for airline partners and the wider Icelandic cargo community.
New opportunities for Icelandic exporters
Air China’s new service is expected to create additional options for businesses trading between Iceland and China. Icelandic exporters, particularly those shipping fresh seafood and other time-sensitive products, could benefit from improved access to the Chinese market through the scheduled connection.
Importers may also gain another air transport option for goods sourced from China, while freight forwarders will have an additional carrier to consider when planning shipments between the two countries.
The service will operate via Copenhagen, connecting Keflavík with Air China’s Beijing network. Its passenger-and-cargo configuration provides capacity for air freight alongside passenger traffic, although the amount of cargo capacity available will depend on operational and commercial requirements.
Adam Gunnarsson, vice-president at Kales Group, said the appointment builds on the group’s relationship with Air China and reflects a shared commitment to service quality and long-term cooperation.
Strengthening Iceland’s cargo connectivity
The launch of Kales Iceland comes as Air China prepares to establish a scheduled connection between Iceland and its Beijing hub. The new representation arrangement is intended to support the airline’s commercial development locally and improve access to its cargo services for Icelandic customers.
By combining local customer relationships with international airline expertise, Kales Iceland aims to help airlines develop sustainable cargo business in the market and create additional opportunities for Icelandic exporters and importers.
