The long-anticipated link will connect the islands on a seasonal weekly basis beginning in August.
The Faroe Islands might finally obtain its long-rumored direct connection to New York. The flag carrier of the semi-autonomous region of Denmark, Atlantic Airways, has listed New York Stewart International as an upcoming destination. The airport is located an hour and a half north of New York City and is notable for welcoming other North Atlantic carriers like PLAY and Norwegian.
The flights will begin in August for a limited seasonal service. Atlantic Airways will operate the weekly link between New York and Vágar, the sole airport on the Faroe Islands, which serves the capital of Tórshavn. The service will be conducted on one of the carriers’ two Airbus A320neos and will take approximately six hours.
From the Faroe Islands, the aircraft will depart on Tuesdays beginning August 22nd. The aircraft will spend the night in New York to allow the crew to rest and recover before returning eastbound on Wednesdays. The service is expected to operate until October 4th to take advantage of increased demand during the warmer summer months.
Why Stewart International?
The airline has openly considered flying to New York for several years. Initial reports suggested Atlantic Airways might choose Newark as its entry point for the city. However, the cost of operating at New York Stewart Airport is significantly lower than at other regional international airports, and landing slots are more accessible.
Transit time from plane to the street has the potential to be significantly faster than at other major hubs like JFK and Newark. The airline has coordinated a bus transfer service to be timed with the arrivals and departures of its aircraft in New York. Passengers can purchase tickets on the bus or use local transportation options. The airport is looking to its operations tempo and new $37 million, 20,000-square-foot arrivals facility to set it apart as the area option for swiftly moving lines, minimal wait times at security, seamless border and customs checks, and simple baggage claim.
Photo: Airbus
Passengers from the United States will also be able to connect to Atlantic Airways’ network of destinations in Scandinavia, Scotland, and Continental Europe.
The power of the A320neo
The flights appear to become possible due to the arrival of new aircraft. Atlantic Airways will utilize an Airbus A320neo for the new route. The carrier began receiving the model in 2019 and now boasts two in its fleet. The new models are configured in an all-economy layout to seat 174 passengers and feature CFM LEAP-1A engines. The carrier initially ordered four of the type at the Paris Airshow to upgrade its fleet and increase efficiency.
Passengers currently flying between New York and the Faroe Islands must fly into Europe and then back across the Atlantic to reach the islands. The most common links are through SAS via Copenhagen or Atlantic Airways’ services to cities including Edinburgh, Paris, and Barcelona.
Photo: Airbus
Additionally, Atlantic Airways’ helicopter division flies from Vágar Airport to several domestic locations throughout the archipelago, comprising 18 islands.
Source: Atlantic Airways, Live and Let’s Fly,
Source: simpleflying.com
