World Country Guide

Travel - International

Air
The national airline, Icelandair (FI) (website: www.icelandair.net), operates direct flights all-year-round to Reykjavk (Keflavk) from Amsterdam, Baltimore, Boston, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Halifax, London, Minneapolis, Orlando, Oslo, Paris, Stockholm and Washington, plus other destinations in the summertime only. Airlines include Air Greenland (website: www.airgreenland.gl) and Iceland Express (website: www.icelandexpress.com). Other, predominantly Scandinavian, carriers also operate services. Some airlines, such as Condor and Corsair, operate flights during the summertime. Flights are operated to the Faroe Islands and Greenland during the summer months.

Approximate flight times
From Iceland to London is three hours; to Paris is three hours and 25 minutes; to Frankfurt is three hours and 45 minutes and to New York is five hours and 30 minutes.

International airports
Reykjavk (Keflavk) (REK/KEF) is 51km (32 miles) southwest of Reykjavk (travel time – 45 minutes). Airport facilities include bus services, departing after the arrival of each flight; taxi services; a duty-free shop; banking and exchange facilities, open on arrival of all scheduled services; restaurants and bars and car hire (Avis, Europcar and Hertz).

Departure tax
None.

Sea
There is no longer a direct service between the UK and Iceland. Sea passengers must travel from Aberdeen, with a three-day stopover in the Faroe Islands on the return journey. This is a costly and aggravating route, not recommended by travel agents. A few ferry companies also operate services to Iceland from Denmark, Germany and Norway. Although most of these are mainly cargo ships, they have comfortable and modern facilities for passengers. Smyril Line, the Faroe Island’s ferry service, runs a weekly passenger and car ferry service between the Shetland Islands, Denmark, Norway and Seyisfjrur in Iceland during the summer months. Many cruises also stop at Iceland. Operators include Crystal, Cunard, Holland America, Orient Cruises, Princess, Royal Caribbean International, Seabourn and Silversea.