Norlandair

Norlandair is an Icelandic regional airline based in Akureyri. Its modern operating company was established on 1 June 2008, when former Air Iceland employees and investors acquired Air Iceland’s Twin Otter operation and associated maintenance activities in Akureyri. The revived company adopted the Norlandair name, reconnecting the business with an earlier aviation enterprise of the same name that had operated from northern Iceland since the 1970s. The airline’s core business is the operation of scheduled services to small and geographically isolated communities. Its network has historically included Grímsey, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn in northeastern Iceland, as well as Nerlerit Inaat, also known as Constable Point, in eastern Greenland. From Reykjavík Airport, Norlandair has provided essential air services to Bíldudalur and Gjögur and has operated seasonal service to Vestmannaeyjar. Its Greenland activity gives the airline a cross-border role in Arctic regional connectivity rather than that of a conventional mass-market carrier. Norlandair’s operating model is built around small aircraft capable of serving short or lightly developed runways and routes with limited passenger demand. The company has operated de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otters, a type well suited to remote and rugged environments, together with Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft and a GippsAero GA8 Airvan. Besides scheduled passenger flights, the airline performs charter operations, medevac flights, and other specialized missions in Iceland, Greenland, Svalbard, and other Arctic areas. The company’s history is closely linked to Iceland’s regional aviation sector. The original Norlandair traces its roots to 1974, when aviation professionals acquired North Air in Akureyri. In 1975, Icelandair acquired a stake, helping the company obtain a Twin Otter and expand scheduled and charter flying, including service to Greenland’s east coast. After Flugfélag Norðurlands and Icelandair’s domestic operations were combined into Air Iceland in 1997, the Twin Otter charter and maintenance activities remained associated with Akureyri. Their divestment in 2008 created the foundation for the present Norlandair. Norlandair expanded its Greenland role in 2013 by taking over Air Iceland’s route to Constable Point. In 2020, it secured Icelandic government contracts for essential air service linking Reykjavík with Bíldudalur and Gjögur, establishing a second operating base in connection with those services. The company also reached an agreement with the Greenlandic government in the same year to provide service to Nerlerit Inaat Airport. In 2025, Norlandair took over the existing routes of Mýflug Air, further extending its role in Icelandic regional aviation. Norlandair occupies a specialist position within the airline industry. Rather than competing primarily through scale, broad international networks, or high-frequency trunk routes, it provides continuity of transport to communities where air service may depend on public-service agreements or specialized aircraft. Its ownership structure also reflects its regional and Arctic orientation: Icelandic company KEA owns 43 percent, while Air Greenland owns 39 percent. The available reference material does not identify the remaining shareholders or provide a separate corporate parent. The airline’s present identity is therefore defined by northern Icelandic roots, small-aircraft operations, public-service connectivity, and Arctic reach. Its services connect remote settlements in Iceland and Greenland while its charter and medevac work supports a broader range of operational needs across sparsely populated northern regions.

Norlandair’s history combines a present-day airline established in 2008 with an earlier regional aviation business that carried the same name. The original company emerged in 1974, when several aviation professionals acquired North Air, an operator based in Akureyri in northern Iceland. In 1975, Icelandair bought a stake in the business. That investment helped the company acquire a de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter, an aircraft suited to short runways and remote communities, and supported the development of scheduled and charter services. The operation also began serving the east coast of Greenland, giving the company an early cross-border and Arctic dimension. In 1997, Flugfélag Norðurlands and Icelandair’s domestic operations merged to form Air Iceland. The Twin Otter charter operation and its maintenance function remained based in Akureyri. This arrangement preserved the local technical and operational infrastructure that later became the foundation for the modern Norlandair. On 1 June 2008, Air Iceland divested the Twin Otter operation and the associated maintenance department. Former Air Iceland employees and investors acquired the business, restored the Norlandair name, and took over two DHC-6 Twin Otters together with routes serving Grímsey, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn. The revived airline developed its role as a small-community carrier rather than attempting to build a large conventional network. Its aircraft and operating experience allowed it to serve destinations where demand was limited and airport infrastructure could be challenging. In 2011, Norlandair purchased an additional Twin Otter from Air Greenland, according to the reference material, adding to its capacity for remote and Arctic operations. A significant step in the company’s international development came in 2013, when Norlandair took over Air Iceland’s route to Constable Point in Greenland. The airport is now generally known as Nerlerit Inaat Airport. This route connected Norlandair’s northern Icelandic base with eastern Greenland and reinforced the airline’s identity as a carrier operating across the North Atlantic and Arctic regions. In 2020, Norlandair entered a more formal public-service role. The Icelandic government awarded it a contract to provide essential air services from Reykjavík Airport to Bíldudalur and Gjögur. Norlandair established a second base in connection with these operations. During the same year, the airline reached a similar agreement with the Greenlandic government to provide service to Nerlerit Inaat Airport. These arrangements demonstrate the importance of Norlandair’s services to communities that may not be supportable solely through commercially driven passenger demand. The airline’s activities extend beyond scheduled passenger routes. It operates charter flights and medevac missions in Iceland and Greenland and has undertaken operations to Svalbard and other Arctic regions. Its fleet has included three DHC-6 Twin Otters, three Beechcraft B200 King Air aircraft, and a GippsAero GA8 Airvan. This mixture of aircraft supports passenger transport, charter work, medical missions, and other specialist assignments. In 2025, Norlandair took over Mýflug Air’s existing routes. The move further consolidated its position in Icelandic regional aviation and expanded the network of routes operated under the Norlandair brand. The company’s ownership includes a 43 percent stake held by Icelandic company KEA and a 39 percent stake held by Air Greenland; the available material does not specify the remaining ownership. Across its development, Norlandair has remained focused on operational specialization rather than scale. Its significance lies in maintaining links to remote Icelandic settlements, providing a scheduled connection with eastern Greenland, and supplying charter and medevac capacity in sparsely populated Arctic areas. The airline’s history is consequently intertwined with public-service aviation, regional development, and the technical demands of flying small aircraft in northern environments.

• 2025

  Mýflug Air routes transferred

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  Norlandair took over Mýflug Air’s existing routes in Iceland.

• 2020

  Essential air service contracts secured

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  Norlandair secured Icelandic government contracts for Bíldudalur and Gjögur services and a Greenlandic government agreement for Nerlerit Inaat operations.

• 2013

  Greenland route transferred from Air Iceland

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  Norlandair took over Air Iceland’s service to Constable Point, now called Nerlerit Inaat Airport.

• 2011

  Additional Twin Otter acquired

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  Norlandair purchased a Twin Otter from Air Greenland, according to the reference material.

• 2008

  Modern Norlandair established

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  Air Iceland divested its Twin Otter operation and Akureyri maintenance department, which were acquired by former employees and investors who revived the Norlandair name.

• 1997

  Domestic operations become Air Iceland

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  Flugfélag Norðurlands and Icelandair’s domestic operations merged as Air Iceland, while the Twin Otter charter and maintenance functions remained in Akureyri.

• 1975

  Icelandair takes a stake

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  Icelandair acquired a stake and helped the company obtain a DHC-6 Twin Otter for scheduled and charter operations, including flights to eastern Greenland.

• 1974

  Original Norlandair business established

  [1]Norlandairen.wikipedia.org

  A group of aviation professionals acquired North Air in Akureyri, creating the earlier company that provided the historical roots for the modern Norlandair brand.

A specialist regional and Arctic airline focused on reliable connectivity for remote communities, public-service routes, small-aircraft operations, charter flying, and medevac missions.

• Passenger aviation · 2008

  Scheduled regional passenger services

  Norlandair operates scheduled flights linking remote Icelandic communities with larger regional or national transport hubs. Its network has included routes from Akureyri to Grímsey, Vopnafjörður, and Þórshöfn, as well as services from Reykjavík to Bíldudalur, Gjögur, and seasonal Vestmannaeyjar. The airline also operates scheduled cross-border service to Nerlerit Inaat in eastern Greenland.

• Public-service aviation · 2020

  Essential air services

  Under government-supported arrangements, Norlandair provides air links to communities whose transport needs may not be adequately served by purely commercial operations. The company’s Icelandic essential air service routes include Bíldudalur and Gjögur from Reykjavík Airport. Such services make the airline part of the regional infrastructure of remote communities rather than simply a discretionary travel provider.

• Charter aviation · 1974

  Charter flights

  Norlandair operates charter flights in Iceland and Greenland and has undertaken missions to Svalbard and other Arctic areas. Charter flying complements the scheduled network by allowing the airline to provide transport for groups, organizations, special missions, and destinations outside its regular timetable.

• Specialized aviation

  Medevac and specialist Arctic flights

  The airline performs medevac and other specialized flights in Iceland and Greenland. These operations use the company’s small-aircraft capabilities and Arctic operating experience to support missions where rapid access, flexible routing, or service to remote airports is important.

• 2025

  Take over Mýflug Air routesM&A

  Background

  Mýflug Air’s existing routes were available for transfer.

  Action taken

  Norlandair assumed the routes and incorporated them into its regional aviation activities.

  Aftermath

  The move broadened Norlandair’s position in Icelandic regional air transport.

  Source

• 2020

  Build a second base for essential servicesStrategy

  Background

  The Icelandic government required essential connectivity for Bíldudalur and Gjögur, while Greenland required service to Nerlerit Inaat.

  Action taken

  Norlandair accepted the Icelandic and Greenlandic service arrangements and established a second base in connection with its Reykjavík operations.

  Aftermath

  The company expanded its public-service role and maintained scheduled links to remote communities in both countries.

  Source

• 2013

  Expand scheduled service to eastern GreenlandStrategy

  Background

  Air Iceland’s route to Constable Point became available for transfer.

  Action taken

  Norlandair assumed the route, connecting its Icelandic network with Nerlerit Inaat in Greenland.

  Aftermath

  The airline strengthened its cross-border Arctic identity and expanded its scheduled operating area beyond Iceland.

  Source

• 2008

  Acquire and revive Air Iceland’s Twin Otter operationM&A

  Background

  Air Iceland divested its Twin Otter operation and the related maintenance department in Akureyri.

  Action taken

  Former Air Iceland employees and investors acquired the operation, its aircraft, associated routes, and maintenance activities, and relaunched it under the Norlandair name.

  Aftermath

  The transaction created the modern Norlandair and preserved a specialist regional aviation base in Akureyri.

  Source

1. 1Norlandairen.wikipedia.org