CEO Interview: NICEAIR- Iceland’s New Airline

[In The News]

DALLAS – North Iceland is getting its very own airline when Niceair starts operations this June. For a logo that was inspired by the traditional winter wear of Northern Iceland, the same will now find its way on the startup carrier’s Airbus A319.

Airways‘ Siddharth Ganesh recently held a detailed exchange with the start-up’s CEO, Thorvaldur Ludvik Sigurjonsson, on what Niceair is all about. Let’s dig in.

In Conversation with Thorvaldur Ludvik Sigurjonsson CEO Niceair

How did you come up with the name Niceair?

Niceair really has two meanings: firstly, and most importantly, the name directly links the airline to our home base – N-ICE, or North Iceland; and secondly, our brand colors – blue, white, and green – represent the destination throughout the seasons, be it the snow-covered mountains and Northern Lights in the darker months or the 24-hour daylight in high summer.

Secondly, to be Nice is within the DNA not only of us as an airline but also the population of North Iceland – even the traffic lights here have love hearts on them.  Nice is just what we do!

Did the idea of launching Niceair crop up prior to the COVID-19 pandemic?

The concept of direct international flights to and from North Iceland has been something I have been passionate about for many years—way before COVID-19.

Whilst we have seen limited charter programs operate to the destination from Europe, we have not had a regular, scheduled connection to key destinations, and I, together with other like-minded locals believed it was time to take the situation into our own hands.  The launch of Nice air is a result of over three years of in-depth research and analysis and as the world once again reopens post-pandemic, we know the demand for travel has never been greater.

What were some key factors that convinced you to go ahead with this Startup airline?

As stated, what Niceair is today is a result of many years of research both here in Iceland and further afield, commissioned by both universities and industry experts. This research told us that the demand for direct connectivity to North Iceland existed both as an outbound opportunity for the wider population and businesses here and also gave us the ability to develop a significant inbound market. 

The popularity of Iceland as a destination has exploded over recent years, but much of this growth has been concentrated in the southwest of the island, the capital region.  We are confident that the comprehensive tourist infrastructure and attractions here in the north will wow visitors!

What does the Niceair Business model look like?

Our initial model is quite simple—we are working with an established ACMI operator with many years of operational experience who provides the aircraft and maintenance. We bring a flavor of North Iceland with our part-local flight deck and cabin crew who will work alongside the crew of our partner.

Despite already exceptional demand for services, we are keeping our feet firmly on the ground in relation to expansion; however, due to our relationship with the international partner, we have the ability to ramp up operations quickly should we need.

150 seat A319 of Niceair

The airline will initially start operations with an Airbus A319 if I’m, correct?

Yes. Our first aircraft will be a 150-seat Airbus A319, which will be fully branded inside and out. The A319 is the perfect aircraft for our operation – due to its size, performance, and range – it will allow us to operate direct flights from Akureyri to the Canary Islands, something we have already seen from sales is in high demand. 

The location of Akureyri International Airport also has a significant impact on our decision – the A319 has the required performance to ensure optimal operational efficiency.

What would your fleet look like in five years?

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Featured image: Niceair’s A319-100. Photo: Niceair

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