Iceland Express proposes new low-cost airport in Reyjavik

Low-cost airline, Iceland Express has applied for permission to construct a new airport close to the city centre of the capital, Reykjavik. The application, submitted to Reykjavik city council is for a new 6500 square metre airport and includes its use for both domestic and international flights.

The intended site is close the established city centre airport which currently only allows domestic services.

Managing Director, Matthias Imsland said, "Iceland Express are the airline which broke the monopoly of Icelandair on international flights into Iceland; fares tumbled and many more tourists have now visited Iceland.

With the same entrepreneurial spirit, we now want to break the near monopoly of Air Iceland on domestic services within Iceland. To do this, we need to bring our brand of low cost operating economics to airport operations and it is essential that we get a new airport terminal to make this possible."

Within the plan, Iceland Express have also suggested that the current daily service between London Stansted and Reykjavik's international airport at nearby Keflavik, could be transferred to operate from the new airport.

Iceland Express is owned by Icelandic investment group, Northern Travel Holding,which also owns 100% of Sterling Airways of Scandinavia, 51% Astraeus (Flystar) of the UK and has large stakes in other Scandinvaian travel organisations.

Iceland media reports have quoted the CEO of Airport operator ISAVIA, Thorgier Palsson as saying that he was positive towards improvements in domestic air transport And that this application would be taken seriously.

The main domestic aiports in Iceland are at Akureyri, Egilstaoir, Isafjorour, Porshofn and Vestmanneyjar.

For reservations, visit Icelandexpress.com.