Review of Air Iceland Connect flight from Akureyri to Reykjavík in Economy

Iceland is not a very big country with an area of 102,775 km², similar to Portugal. But Reykjavík is not located in the centre of the county but in its South-West corner. Those who live in the largest town of the countryside, Akureyri (population 19,000) have three options if they need to go to Reykjavík. They can drive a distance of 380 kms which takes about five hours. They can take the bus which takes six and a half hours and is very expensive as it costs ISK 10,340 (74€). Or they can fly: Air Iceland Connect offers four or five flights most day. The average flight time is 30 to 35 minutes only and prices vary between 50€ and 170€.
You can get to the airport from downtown in Akureyri by taxi in about five minutes for ISK 2100 (15€) or it’s a pleasant 45 minutes walk along the fjord if the weather is nice. The runway lies on an artificial island on the fjord and is certainly very spectacular.
Most of the flights are to Reykjavík, all of them with Air Iceland Connect, the domestic airline of Icelandair. There are also flights to Keflavík (Reykjavík’s international airport) that are also available if you have a connecting international flight. There are occasional charters to Europe. Smaller aircrafts (Twin Otters and a Beachcraft B200) operated by Norlandair also fly from Akureyri to Grímsey island (flight distance: 100 kms, population: 61), to the small towns of Vopnafjörður in Iceland and Þórshöfn and Nerlerit Inaat (formerly: Constable Point) in Greenland near the small town of Ittoqqortoormiit that has a population of about 450 people and is the largest place for North-East Greenland, a territory as big as France.
Norlandair is the local airline in Akureyri

Akureyri Flight School

The terminal building

Check-in is usually very quick, especially that most people check in on-line and have hand luggage only

There’s a small café and snack bar inside

The only boarding gate

Our plane, TF-FXA, a Q400 was built in 2000 but it is in a very good condition. It was used previously by SAS, Flybe and Air Niguini. It arrived from Reykjavík at 20.35

Boarding was by walking. It started at 20.45 and was completed by 20.55.
The cabin is in a 2+2 configuration. The seats are quite new and comfortable. Note that row 1 has seats only the left side (1AC) but not on the other side.

The view of the terminal from the plane

An expected flight time of 35 minutes was announced. We left our parking position at 21.05 and we took off at 21.08 for a scheduled departure time of 20.50.
We had some very nice views over Akureyri on the left side

Coffee, tea or water and chocolate are offered during the flight

The on-board magazine is in English and in Icelandic

Air Iceland’s domestic routes

They also fly to Greenland and to the Faroe Islands

The weather was nice from about half way. Langjökull (Long Glacier) is the second largest icecap in Iceland

Lake Þingvallavatn

We’re almost in Reykjavík. Note that there’s a 24 hour daylight in Iceland from late May till early August

A new neighbourhood in the suburb of Kópavogur

Horses are kept in this area

The town of Hafnarfjörður

The view just before landing

We landed at 21.43 for a scheduled arrival time of 21.35.
Reykjavík Domestic Airport is so much in the city centre that you can easily walk there. Otherwise it’s just a few minutes’ drive.
Thank you for reading my flight report.