New direct flight from Rome to North Iceland

The North Iceland town of Akureyri as autumn wears on.

The North Iceland town of Akureyri as autumn wears on. Photo: Iceland Monitor/Skapti Hallgrímsson

A plane-load of Italian tourists are right now on their way to Iceland for a five-day stay in Iceland.

Unlike the vast majority of international tourists coming to Iceland, however, their direct flight is not to Iceland’s main international airport at Keflavík but to the North Iceland town of Akureyri.

Hvítserkur rock under the Northern Lights.

Hvítserkur rock under the Northern Lights. Photo: Jón Rúnar

This is the first ever international flight to/from Akureyri organised by travel company Iceland Travel . Today’s inbound flight from Rome is due at 6:35pm and flies back at 12:05pm next Monday.

MORE: Around Iceland 2015: Akureyri

“It is Iceland Travel’s aim to promote and sell North Iceland as a winter destination,” says Iceland Travel Sales and Marketing Officer Rakel Rós Ólafsdóttir.

“South-West Iceland is very full all year round making it difficult to bring more groups in. It is therefore important to develop North Iceland as a desirable destination for visitors to the country.”

Goðafoss waterfall is a firm favourite among tourists in North …

Goðafoss waterfall is a firm favourite among tourists in North Iceland. Photo: Þorgeir Baldursson

Sales have gone very well and the jet currently making its way to Akureryi is full to capacity with Italian tourists. The return flight next Monday will also be full with Icelandic tourists travelling to Rome. Iceland Travel are operating these flights in conjunction with Vita travel agency.

SEE: Popular days tours with Iceland Travel via Iceland Monitor

“North Iceland has all the necessary infrastructure, as well as good hotels, restaurants and entertainment,” explains Rakel Rós. “It is therefore possible to develop winter tourism in the region.”

The stunning Ásbyrgi.

The stunning Ásbyrgi. Photo: Iceland Monitor/Eggert Jóhannesson

MORE: New direct flight from KEF Airport to North Iceland

Among the passengers arriving this afternoon are ten special invitees from Italian travel agencies specialising in the Nordic countries, who will be using their time in Iceland to familiarise themselves with the charms of Akureyri and North Iceland as a winter destination.

This ‘Italian job’ is the work of Iceland Travel’s Marina Scarlet Boffelli, who has spent the last six months using her expertise in Italian tourism to devise the charter and the tours. Vita and Iceland Travel hope to repeat this Italy flight at a later date.

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