Combating the high cost associated with operating a relatively small airline in international comparison from a connecting hub in Iceland, we have a strong focus on maximizing our revenue generation and customer experience. Over the past years, we have built a robust infrastructure to ensure a profitable route network operation, including the following key factors:
Difficult to replicate sales infrastructure
Unique products and services
Reaching further through strategic airline partnerships
Strong international brand
For decades, we've invested in diverse revenue streams – Saga Premium Cabin, airline partnerships, SAGA Club Iceland’s premier loyalty club, a robust sales network, and cargo revenues. As a small Icelandic airline, cost leadership is unattainable, but our robust commercial infrastructure empowers us to excel on the revenue side.
Tómas Ingason
Chief Commercial Officer
Tómas Ingason
Chief Commercial Officer
Icelandair has built an extensive sales network in all operating regions, in Iceland, Europe and North America. Our sales and distribution efforts are comprehensive and diverse, requiring a hands-on approach that has been developed over the years and continues to evolve over time. We rely heavily on strong relationships in the B2B market across our regions.
We have sales employees located in Europe and North America, in addition to our sales function in our headquarters in Reykjavik, Iceland. Within Europe, we have sales executives based in Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki, London, Paris, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Brussels and Amsterdam. Within our North America region, we have employees located in Boston, Denver, Seattle, New York and Rhode Island. In addition, we have a sales network in offline and seasonal markets that represent an extension of our commercial staff.
In addition to an extensive sales infrastructure, we benefit from a broad product portfolio, which is essential to operate a successful hub carrier in Iceland. We are the only Icelandic airline operating a premium cabin, which is crucial for an important part of our customers. We have a strong loyalty program, operate a domestic network, packages services and have utilized our passenger network to build an extensive cargo network.
Partnerships with other airlines allow us to expand our market reach even further, increase revenue and offer our customers extended connecting options and destinations. Throughout the years, we have developed bi-lateral partnerships with a range of airline partners both in Europe and North America.
We have established strong strategic partnerships, with the focus on working with airlines that offer great service and extended connectivity for our passengers. These partnerships are not only a great service to our passengers, but they also contribute significantly to our revenue generation. In 2023, a record 10% of our revenue was generated through airline partnerships.
Edda Herdís Guðmundsdóttir
Partnerships and Pricing Analyst
Edda Herdís Guðmundsdóttir
Partnerships and Pricing Analyst
The Icelandair brand is closely connected to Iceland and the country’s image. For decades, we have invested in marketing, resulting in a strong international brand that contributes to better results in direct sales. In key markets, the Icelandair brand measures strong and on par with the world’s largest airlines. This strong brand awareness gives us a great advantage in our most important markets.
