Icelandair to Launch Flights to Denver

 Icelandair is to launch year-round, nonstop flights between Denver and Reykjavik in May 2012.

The new service will connect the Mile High City to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Europe and is expected to bring more than $28 million in annual economic impact to the state.

Icelandair is the first new carrier to initiate transatlantic service at Denver International Airport in more than 10 years.

“I’m looking forward to the relationship between the City and County of Denver and Icelandair, and to personally welcoming the first flight from Reykjavik,” said Denver Mayor Michael B. Hancock. “This flight will allow us to continue to bring new global opportunities to our state and to stimulate growth in our economy. It will also open our doors to new markets and allow our business and leisure travelers to enjoy an easy one-stop connection to Scandinavia, the U.K. and Europe.”

Beginning 11 May 2012, Icelandair will operate four nonstop flights per week from DIA with Boeing 757 aircraft .

Europe ranks as Denver’s largest international market, accounting for one-third of DIA’s international origination and destination travel. Even with daily flights to London (British Airways) and Frankfurt (Lufthansa Airlines), Denver has been underserved in transatlantic access. The new air service is expected to bring nearly 300 jobs to Colorado, including 33 direct jobs, generating an estimated $9 million in wages and more than $19 million in tourism spending.

Visit Denver, the Metro Denver Economic Development Corporation, the State of Colorado, the Colorado Tourism Office and Colorado Ski Country USA have all committed to supporting the new initiative through marketing dollars and other means.

“Tourism is one of the region’s biggest potential growth markets and is already Denver’s second-largest industry, generating $3 billion in annual spending while supporting 50,000 jobs,” said Richard Scharf, president and CEO of Visit Denver. “A new nonstop, transatlantic flight is a huge selling factor for Denver. In recent years, the convention industry has seen its largest growth come from international attendees. Making Colorado easily accessible to visitors from Scandinavia, Europe and the U.K. will attract large international conventions and open the region to new opportunities.”

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