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The year in brief

NINE-MILLIONTH PASSENGER AT KEFLAVÍK AIRPORT

Isavia welcomed Keflavík Airport’s nine-millionth passenger in November – a passenger arriving in Iceland from Pittsburgh, USA, on a WOW air flight. The lucky passengers were Olive Ho from Hong Kong and Chun Liang Li from Taiwan. They were presented with gift vouchers from the Blue Lagoon and the restaurant Hjá Halla. 

HISTORY OF AIRPORTS AND AIR NAVIGATION SERVICES IN ICELAND PUBLISHED

Isavia has published a history of airports and air navigation services in Iceland. The book is intended to mark seventy years of airports and navigation services in Iceland and the 70th anniversary of Iceland’s assuming control of the Allies’ military airports in Reykjavík and Keflavík and beginning the operation of air navigation services. The book is just under 550 pages long and is dedicated to all staff of Isavia and its predecessors, together with others who have generously supported the development and operation of such important services, which played a key role in putting an end to isolation within Iceland.

ISAVIA STAFF COLLECT OVER ISK 1 MILLION FOR CHARITY

42 members of Isavia staff took part in the Reykjavík Marathon and collected over ISK 1 million for charity. Isavia pledged to add an extra 50% to the amount collected by the employees who took part in the marathon.

ISAVIA DELIVERS GROUP ACCIDENT TRAILERS TO ICE-SAR

In June, Isavia delivered nine equipment trailers for group accidents to ICE-SAR. These were distributed to areas most vulnerable to group accidents and for which response times are the longest owing to their location. These equipment trailers contain such things as stretchers, tents, woollen blankets, generators and heaters. This equipment is meant to enable rescue teams to provide shelter and care at the scene of accidents off the beaten track and places far away from healthcare and other rescue services.

KEFLAVÍK AIRPORT SOUTH BUILDING INAUGURATED

In March, the South Building of Keflavík Airport was inaugurated. The new building increases the area of the airport by 7,000 m2, including changes to and expansion of the border hall. Twelve new automatic border stations were also brought online. 

33 GRANTS FROM ISAVIA’S COMMUNITY FUND

Isavia assigned 33 grants from its Community Fund for a diverse range of projects over the year. The aim of the Fund is to support projects with a broad social dimension and a positive impact on Icelandic society. The selection of beneficiaries focused on environmental issues, humanitarian issues, preventative measures, aviation matters, arts, culture and education. Among the projects selected were: Iceland Family Aid, the Birta National Bereavement Association, Keilir Academy, the Reykjavík Queer Choir and Sandgerðisbær.

 

QUICKER AND EASIER FLIGHT INFORMATION ON THE NEW ISAVIA WEBSITE

Isavia’s new website went online in June. The aim of the new website is to improve services and connections with the tourism industry and to provide interactive information on flights and other airport services. Passengers can now find real-time information on their flight on the social media of their choice, via the medium of artificial intelligence. 

USING ALIPAY TO PAY AT KEFLAVIK AIRPORT

Keflavík Airport became the first service provider in Iceland to adopt Alipay via ePass. Alipay is a part of the Alibaba Group, the largest online store in the world, and one of the most popular mobile phone payment solutions in the world, with more than 870 million active users. Alipay handles more than 70% of Chinese payments through mobile phones.

INFORMATION MEETING ON STARTUP TOURISM

In November, a well-attended information meeting was held in Reykjanesbær to discuss the Startup Tourism business accelerator. Isavia has been a proud sponsor of Startup Tourism from the very beginning, and those who have an interest were encouraged to attend an information meeting in Reykjanesbær. The meeting discussed various ideas in connection with the business accelerator. Ten companies were selected. They will receive guidance and training over a ten-week period and be given office facilities in the premises of Iceland Tourism. The participants will receive consultancy from experienced innovators, investors and key players in the tourism industry to help them speed up development of their business ideas and get them launched. 

SUCCESSFUL ISAVIA SAFETY WEEK

Isavia’s Safety Week was held on 1–5 October. Attendance exceeded expectations – it is evident that Isavia staff take safety issues very seriously and are keen to get more information. The event featured a great many lectures and information meetings on safety issues at Isavia. Staff were also invited to visit airport services and flight towers at Keflavík Airport, Reykjavík Airport and Akureyri Airport. The Safety Week was held in accordance with the focus Isavia places on safety issues and the importance it attaches to all staff fully participating in ensuring safety in the workplace. The company’s values are safety, co-operation and service.

INTERNATIONAL CERTIFICATION FOR ICELAND RADIO’S ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

Isavia’s Iceland Radio received ISO14001 certification from the British Standards Institution. This certifies that the workplace has in place an active environmental management system compliant with the ISO14001 standard.

TOLLI ART EXHIBITION AT EGILSSTAÐIR AIRPORT

In September, an exhibition of 23 new oil paintings by Icelandic artist Tolli was opened at Egilsstaðir Airport. The exhibition was organised by the airport operator, Isavia. This is the first of several exhibitions of Tolli’s work, with others planned for most airports in Iceland over the coming months. 

VISITORS PLEDGE RESPONSIBLE TOURISM

The Icelandic Pledge button was set up at Keflavík Airport under co-operation between Isavia and Promote Iceland. The button is intended to have a positive influence on how tourists behave and how they experience their journey in Iceland. Almost all overseas visitors arrive in Iceland through Keflavík Airport, and they can pledge to be responsible tourists in Iceland as soon as they land.

The Icelandic Pledge covers eight elements promoting responsible tourism, including: respecting nature, leaving nature in the same state in which you find it, avoiding off-road driving, avoiding getting into dangerous situations when taking photographs, camping in appropriate camping areas and being well prepared for your journey around Iceland. The project falls under the Inspired by Iceland initiative, and passengers are invited to press the button when they arrive in Iceland.