AIRLINE REVIEW Icelandair
17 Icelandair ’ s TF-FIR , the hand-painted aircraft featuring Vatnajökull , the First Flying Glacier . The special livery was released for Icelandair ’ s 80th anniversary .
18 The Saga Lounge main area with sofas , dining tables and one of the many bar areas .
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network , and both the LR and XLR variants will be able to operate it from Keflavik . However , the XLR will enable Icelandair to do more , expanding its network both to the east and west .
“ We see great potential in the further development of our route network with the introduction of the Airbus A321XLR ,” Bogason said . “ This aircraft will be a perfect fit for our route network , with longer range and more fuel efficiency than our 757s , contributing to our sustainability efforts . We have not made any decisions on new routes , but this exciting new aircraft will definitely increase our options , as we will reach further down the US West Coast than we currently are able to , and all the way to Dubai in the east .”
On the way back , I was lucky enough to fly on one of the most beautiful aircraft in the world , TF-FIR . While its registration might not ring any bells , its livery certainly would . The 30-year-old Boeing 757-200 is famous among travelers and aviation enthusiasts because of its unique , hand-painted livery featuring Vatnajökull , the First Flying Glacier .
To secure its future , the Icelandic carrier has opted for the closest successor to the Boeing 757 , even if it will be from a different manufacturer . On board , the hard product will boast a Panasonic IFE and larger screens . The Airbus A321LRs and XLRs will cover routes for which the Boeing 737 MAX cannot provide sufficient little capacity or range . When that happens , Icelandair will be able to take full advantage of its unique geographical location and network .
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