Niceair Explained

Airline:Niceair
Icao:HFM
Callsign:n/a
Ceased:April 2023 (suspended)
May 2023 (bankruptcy)
Fleet Size:1
Destinations:3
Headquarters:Akureyri, Iceland
Website:niceair.is

Niceair was a virtual airline headquartered in Akureyri in northern Iceland, with operations based at Akureyri Airport.[1] The company launched services on 2 June 2022, using a leased Airbus A319. It was forced to suspend all operations and later declared insolvency in May 2023.

History

In February 2022, Niceair was announced as a virtual airline with the intention of bringing tourists to northern Iceland from other parts of Europe, with services planned to launch on 2 June 2022, using a fleet consisting of a single Airbus A319.[2] [3] [4] [5] The company was launched with financial backing from various investors including Samherji and Norlandair.[6] The company additionally had no immediate plans to acquire its own air operator's certificate, instead planning for its flights to be operated by a separate charter airline.[7] During March 2022, the operating airline was revealed to be Hi Fly Malta,[8] and Niceair subsequently began ticket sales for flights.

Following the launch of its first service to London-Stansted on 3 June 2022, the company found it was not allowed to transport passengers on its first return flight from London back to Akureyri,[9] as an air services treaty between Iceland and the United Kingdom that came into effect as part of Brexit did not allow for Hi Fly Malta to operate scheduled services between the two countries on behalf of Niceair.[10] The company subsequently suspended its London Stansted services.[11] This also led to the circumstance that the planned flights to Manchester did not proceed in October 2022 as previously planned.[12]

In March 2023, Niceair called off its proposed service to Düsseldorf from May 2023, planning to inaugurate it in 2024 instead.[13]

The airline suspended operations on 5 April 2023 after their sole aircraft, operated by Hi Fly Malta, was detained by its lessor. Niceair stated a lack of available alternative aircraft as a reason for the forced suspension of all operations.[14] [15] In May 2023, Niceair laid off all remaining staff and announced it would not resume operations in 2023.[16] A few weeks later, the airline filed for insolvency and closed down.[17]

Destinations

, Niceair has offered or planned scheduled services to the following destinations:[18]

Country/territoryCity/regionAirportStart dateEnd dateNotesclass=unsortable Refs
DenmarkCopenhagenCopenhagen Airport2 June 2022suspended
IcelandAkureyriAkureyri Airport2 June 2022suspended
SpainTenerifeTenerife South Airport8 June 2022suspended[19]
United KingdomLondonLondon Stansted Airport3 June 20223 June 2022

Fleet

, Niceair had chartered the following aircraft under its brand:

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Niceair Airline Profile . CAPA . 2022-03-23 . 2022-03-23 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220323201554/https://centreforaviation.com/data/profiles/airlines/niceair . live .
  2. Web site: Iceland's Niceair to launch in 2Q22 with a chartered A319 . ch-aviation . en . 21 February 2022 . 23 March 2022 . 21 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220221140813/https://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/112754-icelands-niceair-to-launch-in-2q22-with-a-chartered-a319 . live .
  3. Web site: Ben . Schlappig . Niceair, A New Northern Icelandic Airline . One Mile at a Time . 17 February 2022 . 23 March 2022 . 16 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220316233821/https://onemileatatime.com/news/niceair-iceland/ . live .
  4. Web site: Alan . Dron . North Icelandic Startup Niceair Eyes International Routes . Routes . 25 February 2022 . 23 March 2022 . 20 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220320045529/https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/297646/north-icelandic-startup-niceair-eyes-international-routes/ . live .
  5. Web site: Startup Niceair Aims To Link Northern Iceland, Europe . Aviation Week Network . 24 February 2022 . 23 March 2022 . subscription . 23 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220323043520/https://aviationweek.com/air-transport/airlines-lessors/startup-niceair-aims-link-northern-iceland-europe . live .
  6. Web site: Gastón . Sena . Niceair, Iceland's new airline seeking to fly to Spain, Denmark and UK . Aviacionline . 22 February 2022 . 23 March 2022 . 23 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220323201500/https://www.aviacionline.com/2022/02/niceair-icelands-new-airline-seeking-to-fly-to-spain-denmark-and-uk/ . live .
  7. Web site: Why Niceair is not an airline and how Akureyri will benefit from it. 21 March 2022. Flugblogg.
  8. Web site: Iceland's Niceair contracts Hi Fly Malta for charter ops. ch-aviation. 3 March 2022. 26 May 2022.
  9. Web site: Farþegar Niceair sendir heim með öðru flugfélagi. Niceair passengers sent home by another airline. IS. Hólmfríður María. Ragnhildardóttir. Morgunblaðið. 3 June 2022. 11 June 2022.
  10. Web site: Why HiFly Malta might not be able to fly to the UK for Niceair. Menshenin. Andrei. 7 June 2022. 11 June 2022.
  11. Web site: Aflýsa öllum flugferðum til London í júní. Flights to London canceled in June. IS. Morgunblaðið. 6 June 2022. 11 June 2022.
  12. Web site: Route Analysis: Akureyri-Manchester. Casey. David. Routes. 26 April 2022. 26 May 2022.
  13. https://nord.news/de/2023/03/16/niceair-temporarily-cancels-scheduled-flights-to-dusseldorf/ nord.news - "Niceair cancels scheduled flights to Düsseldorf"
  14. Web site: Orban . André . Icelandic start-up Niceair cancels flights and suspends operations . Aviation24.be . 6 April 2023. 7 April 2023.
  15. https://www.icelandreview.com/de/natur-und-reisen-de/niceair-cancelt-saemtliche-fluege/ icelandreview.com - "Niceair cancels all flights"
  16. https://www.aerotelegraph.com/nice-air-entlaesst-alle-angestellten-kein-baldiger-neustart aerotelegraph.com - "Niceair lays off all staff - No restart soon"
  17. https://www.airliners.de/islaendische-niceair-insolvent/68911 airliners.de - "New icelandic Niceair is insolvent"
  18. Web site: Destinations. Niceair. 9 April 2023.
  19. Web site: Fancy the Northern Lights? Niceair starts new flights from Tenerife to Iceland . Canarian Weekly . en . 10 March 2022 . 23 March 2022 . 12 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220312235030/https://www.canarianweekly.com/posts/Fancy-the-Northern-Lights-Niceair-starts-new-flights-from-Tenerife-to-Iceland . live .

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