According to a market analysis conducted by Icelandair, it is not feasible to operate flights to Ísafjörður on a commercial basis. Meanwhile, Vegagerðin (Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration), which commissioned the survey, confirms that the route is not viable on its own.
Icelandair announced this spring that flights to Ísafjörður would be discontinued in the fall of 2026. As RÚV reports, Bergþóra Kristinsdóttir, director of services at the Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration, stated that this decision cannot result in government subsidies. Iceland is bound by European regulations and international conventions that set strict conditions for state subsidies for air routes. The companies must demonstrate that it is not possible to operate the route any other way.
The director of services at Vegagerðin also added that the final results of the market analysis will be available within a few weeks. They will reveal how much government funding is needed to operate the route, as well as the best ways to make it possible.
Ísafjörður is the largest town in the Westfjords region of northwest Iceland. It is 413.8 km away from the Icelandic capital, which is equivalent to a nearly five-hour drive.
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