In which Iceland Express announces that it starts operating direct flights between Iceland and Birmingham in the summer of 2010.
A few people (okay, a lot of people) weren’t too happy when we moved our London base from Stansted to Gatwick.
So we decided to do something about that, and called up the nice people at Birmingham Airport. They were happy to hear from us and after a little chit-chat we decided to start direct flights between Birmingham and Reykjavík once a week in the summer of 2010.
So look around you — quick — and if you see anyone who looks like they’re from Birmingham or somewhere north of London, let them know.
Okay? Thanks.
28 Comments
Birmingham is better than Gatwick, still 2 hrs or more if the M6 M42 is bad and only once a week. Heathrow is more frequent than Gatwick and competitive on IA. Its an acknowledgement that the move to Gatwick was not a good move but not that is was a stupid move.
I think it is fantastic news. I try to sell Iceland to my customers a lot as I know it well, my husband is Icelandic! I have found that my clients do not want to travel to London or Manchester so they decide not to got to Reykjavik. This is a good move as a lot of people from the Midlands will travel to Iceland and we are looking forward to the flights as it will be easier for us to visit our family.
Gatwick is much easier to get to than Stansted. I have always flown wit Iceland Air from Heathrow as it is easier to get to so LGW was not a bad move.
I hope you change your mind to atleast twice a week. Maybe Thursday and Sunday? People do like to do weekend breaks so once a week would not be enough.
why not add Liverpool or Manchester for the North West?
This is a very intelligent move by Iceland express and Im sure this service will be hugely popular. Birmingham airport is actually quicker to get to from north London than Gatwick or Heathrow airports during day time hours so Im sure many people from there will use it. Its also good news for Icelanders, visiting Birmingham as it will give them a hughley more pleasant trip then going to London at a fraction of the cost as well.
Good idea to have flights from the centre of England but not sure that a once a week flight will be of much use to most people who will probably prefer 3 or 4 nights.
Flights from Manchester (or Liverpool, or LBA) please. STN is ok to get to by car, from the north of England, althouh not so good by public transport, but Manchester has great public transport links, and good motorway access from most of Northern england. I’d certainly consider flying more often to Iceland if I didn’t have to take so much time off to get to the airport. A mid evening flight from Manchester would allow many people in the north to make a flight after work, and make a long weekend with my friends in Hafnarfjörður easy.
And by the way, thanks for running a low cost airline that treats passengers like they matter, and are not just a inconvenience to flying.
Brilliant news !! as is the return to Stanstead. I agree that once a week seems too little but it adds options. Iceland here I come again.
It is a good idea to move to Birmingham , Stanstead is a difficult airport to get to except for travellers from the south east side of the country and they can use HR. We shall definately use the flight next year to visit my relatives in Keflavik
I hope one day you will fly from the North West of England! However Birmingham is a bit nearer. Thank you
Gatwick is great, much faster and cheaper transport from London, I wish it was Gatwick when I went to Iceland!
Excellent news! I only just found out and I will be one of your new passengers next year. Just returned froma trip to Reykjavik and need to go back!
From Birmingham is great news. As was said earlier – a mid-week flight as well as the Sunday flight would be much better. Stansted must be one of the most awkward airports to get to from anyway who doesn’t live in the south-east of England.
Great news!! will make life very easy from Dublin. Dublin-BHX-Reykjavik
Nice and cheap!
there was supposed to be a flight from Dublin some time ago but it never happened once the recession started and in ireland we can’t even see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. we are trapped like rats so thanks icelandexpress.
Great! BUT – a better option and one bringing more people to Iceland, would be to have flights on Fridays and Sundays – for the weekend, for a week’s holiday – or for 5 nights holiday during the week.
Makes much more sense.
But thanks for this small beginning
Great new about Birmingham, but I agree with others that once a week is prohibitive for short breaks , and we could end up having to return cross country to pick up car etc.
Keep me informed. I’m offering my course ‘Iceland: an Earth Sciences Case Study’ again in the spring term at Warwick Uni. so some of my adult education students may want to check out Iceland for themselves.
Wonderful news that there will be flights from Birmingham to Iceland. I will now plan my next trip to your lovely country. However, like many of your other correspondents, I think at least 2 flights per week are needed, as we like to spend two- four nights in Iceland, as do many others.It’s a great place for a long weekend.
Wow! An airline that listens to its customers! Yes, I was one of those that responded, and having used your Gatwick flights this past summer–every one of them with problems–I can only say a hearty ‘Welcome back to your senses.’ The sooner you get out of the hell-hole that is Gatwick for good, the better for all of us. Stansted and all the people who don’t live in London (quite a few million, you’ll find) applaud you!
At last an airline that recognises just how accessible BHX is from many parts of the country. Weekly flights may well not be enough…..so long as you don’t make passengers eat that shark stuff.
Great news – I’ll be going to Iceland again, and again. Maybe in the future you could consider East Midlands airport. It’s a great venue and very convenient for passengers from Lincolnshire,etc.
I also agree that once a week is probably not enough now that people seem to book short breaks more.
Thanks for taking a listening attitude.
Great news about flights from Birmingham, as I live in Telford. I flew from Gatwick this year and found it very easy to reach from home, but had to use an hotel for long term parking. Using BHX means I can use the train. I agree about needing more than one flight per week and also that you should use MAN.
It would be great if you could fly from Stansted to Iceland with a pick up / drop off in Glasgow/ Edinburgh? Makes sense?
MY FAMILY AND I HAVE JUST BOOKED AND PAID IN FULL FOR OUR FLIGHTS WITH YOU FROM GATWICK ON 18 AUGUST 2010 BUT WOULD HAVE PREFERRED TO TRAVEL FROM BIRMINGHAM.
IF YOU DO START TO TRAVEL MID-WEEK WOULD IT BE POSSIBLE TO CHANGE OUR ARRANGEMENTS?
WE TRAVEL ON 18 AUGUST AND RETURN ON SUNDAY,29TH. IT CERTAINLY WOULD HAVE SAVED US A LOT OF EXPENSE BY NOT HAVING TO HIRE A TAXI FOR BOTH JOURNEYS.
YOUR COMMENTS WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
Great news that you will be operating from Birmingham.
I flew to Iceland from Stansted in summer 2008 with you, and would have gone again this summer, but I could not face the horrendous drive to Gatwick from the North Midlands straight after work (it would have taken longer to drive to Gatwick than the flight itself to Iceland). Going from BHX means I can consider using the train as well. Hopefully as the route establishes itself, you will make it at least twice weekly.
It’s great news, but I have a problem with the once a week flight.
It would be much better if you catered for the long weekend market.
I love visiting Iceland and ‘big it up’ to all I meet, but I think the best B-ham flights would be departing mid morning on a Friday, and returning about 5.00pm on a Sunday. I know it’s all down to plane availability etc, but that’s just my honest view.
I think Birmingham is a better alternative option to Gatwick, Heathrow or Stansted. I also recommend that Iceland Express should use Edinburgh, London Luton and Bristol airports. Despite, The airport being 2 hrs away from London, there are better destinations available at Birmingham than there is at London. Also, last week I flew to Girona, Spain for a holiday and came back yesterday and the airport staff weren;t bad
Great, that you have chose Birmingham Airport perhaps why not try airports for London apart from Luton or Birmingham such as London-0xford Airport for example. Also, in the future, why not think about flying to other cities outside Europe such as Istanbul in Turkey or Moscow, Russia which would provide excellent links with Reykjavik and Istanbul as well as Moscow
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