Reykjavik-Anchorage Flight – a promising connection

We are delighted to welcome the official launch of Icelandair’s service to Anchorage, Alaska, on May 15.  We believe this connection will underscore the broad range of common interests shared by Iceland  and the United States.  My fellow countrymen from Alaska have the same independent, creative, and  hard work qualities that characterize Icelanders and both see the Arctic as a critical element of their  future.

This has become abundantly clear over the many recent months we have welcomed Alaskan delegations to Iceland and we have witnessed their interaction with our Icelandic friends.  The latest  delegation, led by Commissioner for Commerce Susan Bell, has expressed its desire to further deepen Alaska’s ties (business, cultural, scientific, and educational) to Iceland.  We know that this is possible and very beneficial to both countries.  This new direct flight will make it easier than ever to build these  connections between Alaskans and Icelanders.

Alaska delegation rocks at the Mid-Atlantic

The Alaska delegation to Icelandair's Mid-Atlantic conference of travel industry representatives from North America and Europe hosted the closing dinner of the conference at the Hilton Nordica. Our Alaska hosts (Visit Anchorage, the State of Alaska and the Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute) gave their guests a fun-filled evening of fantastic Alaska seafood, entertainment by the famous Inuit musical band Pamyua, and great photo-ops with world famous Alaska wildlife. It was an evening that celebrated the upcoming launch of Icelandair's new flight to Anchorage and built stronger connections between Alaska and Iceland.

Celebrating the end of the business year

I was a guest at the end-of-year reception hosted by Viðskiptablaðið, Iceland’s pre-eminent business publication, which is tradionally used to name and honor the Businessman of the Year. Congratulations to this year´s recipient, Björgólfur Jóhannsson, Chairman of the Board for Icelandair. Under his stewardship Icelandair´s shares soared and the airline expanded its network of destinations both in  and the United States. The event was well attended by Iceland´s top business leadership and one could sense the vibrancy and a sense of optimism about Iceland´s future. We have experienced some of this in the U.S.-Icelandic business relationship as reflected by the establishment of the American Icelandic Chamber of Commerce, large American investments in Actavis and DeCode, a significant increase in Hollywood productions in Iceland, as well as Icelandair´s decision to expand its fleet with a significant purchase of new Boeing aircraft. We look forward to a further expansion of American and Icelandic business ties.

The Icelandair/Boeing partnership is strong

We were honored to attend the press conference where Icelandair announced its commitment to buy 12 Boeing 737 MAX (list price of $1.2 billion) with an option to acquire twelve more. The highly fuel efficient 737 MAX will supplement Icelandair’s 757 fleet and provide it with the flexibility to expand its route network. The Icelandair/Boeing partnership reinforces the close business ties between Iceland and the United States. Our congratulations to both entities.

Denver and Iceland connect

I took part in the whirlwind program organized by the City of Reykjavik, Icelandair, the Ministry of Economy, and the City of Akureyri to welcome Denver Mayor, Michael Hancock to Iceland. His delegation of business, state, and city leaders were here to launch Icelandair’s direct service to the Mile High City. While we had suspected that Denver’s dynamism and Colorado’s love for the outdoors, clean energy, and high tech industry would be a good fit with Iceland, we had not anticipated how quickly the delegation would connect with their Icelandic counterparts. Every member of the delegation was smitten with Iceland and the potential it has for business, cultural, and educational partnerships with Colorado. Denver will give Icelanders access to the Western part of the United States and many opportunities for strengthening people-to-people ties.

Having fun the Alaska way

This past weekend Mary and I were guests at the closing dinner at this year’s Mid-Atlantic organized by Icelandair. The dinner hosted by Visit Anchorage and the large Alaska delegation that attended the conference. The event was attended by representatives from the U.S., Norway, Scotland, Greenland, Denmark, Germany, Sweden, and the Faroe Islands. Alaskans sure know how to organize great events; they brought Alaska salmon, caviar, reindeer sausage, caramel, and a group of Native performers as well as a few wildlife mascots. Alaska and Iceland share not only latitude but a passion for the Arctic. We hope Alaskan participation at this event will lead to closer travel connections with Iceland.