Other European Frequent Flyer Programs - Iceland Air coming to Denver?

Just saw this article today...

http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_18848105

Tried a dummy booking, and you can already book flights!

[KVS Availability Tool 6.4.0/Platinum - Amadeus: Timetable/NL-BCDF] (http://www.KVSTool.com/?R)
KEF Reykjavik Keflavik Intl IS [BIKF]
DEN Denver Intl CO US [KDEN]
TUE 29 May 2012 - 05 Jun 2012

Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Frequency | Dur'n | Dep T | Arr T | Effect | Ending | Exceptions
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ----------------------------------------------------------------
FI 671 KEF 16:45 DEN 18:40 75W 0 -2-4-67 07:55 - - 10 May 27 Oct


[KVS Availability Tool 6.4.0/Platinum - Amadeus: Timetable/NL-BCDF] (http://www.KVSTool.com/?R)
DEN Denver Intl CO US [KDEN]
KEF Reykjavik Keflavik Intl IS [BIKF]
TUE 29 May 2012 - 05 Jun 2012

Carrier Flight From Depart To Arrive A/C St Frequency | Dur'n | Dep T | Arr T | Effect | Ending | Exceptions
--------- ------ ---- -------- ---- -------- --- -- ----------------------------------------------------------------
FI 670 DEN 17:15 KEF 06:35 +1 75W 0 1-3-5-7 07:20 - - 11 May 26 Oct


Very interesting that the plane sits in DEN for 23 hours.

The flight is loaded today (09SEP11).

Is there a lot of traffic between DEN and KEF? What drives this route? :confused:

Wow...I didn't see it coming. I'm sure those route will done extremely performance very well. Isn't on weight restrictions? Can 757 will flying nonstop DEN-KEF? What's next? How about LAS, PHX, DFW, IAH, FLL?

Wow...I didn't see it coming. I'm sure those route will done extremely performance very well. Isn't on weight restrictions? Can 757 will flying nonstop DEN-KEF? What's next? How about LAS, PHX, DFW, IAH, FLL?

PHX and LAS are a little out of range, but DFW and IAH can work. I would like to see FI start DFW or ORD. Hopefully a partnership with AA could be formed since AA has no service to KEF.

Very interesting that the plane sits in DEN for 23 hours.

They do the same for their Seattle flights and they've just announced they're going to do them daily next summer from the current 6x weekly. Doesn't seem like a very productive use of very expensive assets !!

Is there a lot of traffic between DEN and KEF? What drives this route? :confused:

Europe is what will drive the route since Iceland's hub is in Iceland

Is there a lot of traffic between DEN and KEF? What drives this route? :confused:

What attracts me is the fact I can catch the 2pm ARN-KEF flight, only wait an hour, then board my KEF-DEN flight. That means I can avoid ARN while the masses fly back to the US on the morning flights.

Europe is what will drive the route since Iceland's hub is in Iceland

I wonder how FI will compete against BA and LH's nonstop flights to europe.

I wonder how FI will compete against BA and LH's nonstop flights to europe.

FL will probably focus on non-London/Frankfurt where they are offering the same one-stops as BA/LH. I would guess their pitch is price, convenient connections and free stopovers. A stopover in Iceland is a bit of a novelty since most people dont have Iceland on their regular itineraries where as London and Germany are mass destinations, at least compared to Iceland. :D

FL will probably focus on non-London/Frankfurt where they are offering the same one-stops as BA/LH. I would guess their pitch is price, convenient connections and free stopovers. A stopover in Iceland is a bit of a novelty since most people dont have Iceland on their regular itineraries where as London and Germany are mass destinations, at least compared to Iceland. :D

The stopovers could be a draw, but it will be an uphill fight. FI will have to compete on price alone because their service isn't anywhere near the larger carriers.

KEF-DEN is only 3100 nm, which is well short of what CO does on some of its 757s. Also, since the 757 has such amazing takeoff performance and since DEN-KEF has the favorable winds, altitude shouldn't be an issue.

Is there a lot of traffic between DEN and KEF? What drives this route? :confused:

European connections, which is what has always carried FI's US services. Also, there is some potential government traffic from NORAD.

Europe is what will drive the route since Iceland's hub is in Iceland

Yep.

I wonder how FI will compete against BA and LH's nonstop flights to europe.

The stopovers could be a draw, but it will be an uphill fight. FI will have to compete on price alone because their service isn't anywhere near the larger carriers.

And that's how FI has competed for years.

Is there a lot of traffic between DEN and KEF? What drives this route? :confused:

No; but the connection opportunities to Europe do. Expect lots of people for whom stepping over a quarter to save a nickel is their decision tree for their discretionary income.

I wonder how FI will compete against BA and LH's nonstop flights to europe.

They don't need to. They are a non-aligned niche player oriented to the backpacker price conscious traveller. A good deal for Denver, which, for an airport and market its size, lacks the variety of carriers you find at JFK, MIA, LAX or SFO.

They do the same for their Seattle flights and they've just announced they're going to do them daily next summer from the current 6x weekly. Doesn't seem like a very productive use of very expensive assets !!

The same crew inbound and out.

The stopovers could be a draw, but it will be an uphill fight. FI will have to compete on price alone because their service isn't anywhere near the larger carriers.

Really any worse than a DEN-EWR-OSL/TXL/DUS/CGN/AMS on a CO B757 in Y?

Looks like Denver now shows up as a gateway city on icelandair.com