Air Iceland Connect, formerly known as Air Iceland, is a regional airline based in Reykjavík, Iceland. The airline was founded in 1938 as Flugfélag Akureyrar and is the oldest airline in Iceland. Initially, the airline operated scheduled services to destinations in Iceland and Greenland.

The airline’s first aircraft was a de Havilland Dragon Rapide, purchased in 1938. In 1961, the company was renamed as Air Iceland and began operating jet aircraft, initially with the British Aerospace BAC 1-11 series. The airline continued to expand its fleet and routes over the years and became the first Icelandic carrier to operate a jetliner.

Air Iceland Connect’s fleet consists of ATR 42 and ATR 72 aircraft, which are used to provide scheduled services to destinations in Iceland, Greenland and the Faroe Islands. As of 2020, the airline operates nine aircraft and offers services to 11 domestic and nine international destinations, including destinations in France, Denmark, Norway, and the United Kingdom.

Throughout its history, Air Iceland Connect has gone through numerous changes and important milestones. Here are some of the most significant ones:

1. In the 1970s, Air Iceland became the first Icelandic carrier to operate a jetliner when it purchased the BAC 1-11. This enabled the airline to expand its network and carry more passengers.

2. In the 1980s, the airline began operating scheduled services to destinations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands. This marked the beginning of Air Iceland Connect’s international operations.

3. In 2002, Air Iceland Connect was formed as a merger of Air Iceland and Loftleiðir- Icelandic Airlines. The merger resulted in the formation of a new airline, Air Iceland Connect, which is the parent company of both airlines.

4. In 2008, Air Iceland Connect was the first Icelandic airline to operate an ATR 42-500 aircraft. The aircraft was used to operate services to destinations in Greenland and the Faroe Islands.

5. In 2018, the airline had its first incident when one of its planes, an ATR-42, crashed in Iceland. The crash resulted in the death of the pilot and co-pilot. The incident was investigated by the Icelandic Transport Authority and the airline was cleared of any wrongdoing.

Over the years, Air Iceland Connect has evolved from a small domestic airline to a major international carrier. The airline has an extensive route network, with services to destinations in Iceland, Greenland, and the Faroe Islands. The airline has also invested in new aircraft, such as the ATR 42 and ATR 72, which have enabled the airline to provide more efficient services.