Icelandair will stop flying Vestmannaeyjar at the end of August and end its summer schedule a month earlier than planned. This is due to declining demand and it is uncertain whether the company will resume the connection next summer. The information was confirmed by Ásdís Ýr Pétursdóttir, Icelandair’s spokesman.
In an interview with the Eyjar.net website, Ásdís Ýr said flights were successful this summer, but more demand was expected. Tourism started later due to the effects of the coronavirus epidemic. In turn, the nice weather in the north and east of Iceland encouraged the inhabitants of the island to travel in that direction. While no decision has been made for next summer, the company generally sees Vestmannaeyjar’s long-term potential as a travel destination for both domestic and international tourists that could pay off in the longer term.
Ernir airline previously operated on Vestmannaeyjar, but stopped two years ago. Hörður Guðmundsson, CEO of Ernir, told Radio Bylgjan that the domestic flight market is tough and it is difficult to compete with subsidized modes of transport. He meant the Herjólfur ferry.
Source: Yle