Icelandair experienced a notable surge in passenger numbers in February 2025, transporting 251,000 passengers, a 7% increase compared to the same period in 2024. This growth came alongside an 8% expansion in capacity, reflecting the airline’s continued ability to cater to a growing demand for travel. Notably, 40% of these travelers were heading to Iceland, 20% were departing from the country, 33% were flying via Iceland, and 7% were traveling domestically within Iceland.
The airline achieved a remarkable load factor of 79.8%, setting a new record. This performance was crucial in maintaining the airline’s passenger unit revenue at similar levels to the previous year, despite a slight dip in yield, which totaled 8.0 US cents. The decrease in yield was effectively offset by the strong load factor, underlining Icelandair’s efficient operations during the month.
On-time performance stood at 80.5%, ensuring a solid customer experience in terms of punctuality. The airline also saw an impressive 27% rise in sold block hours in charter flights, indicating a significant boost in demand for its charter services.
However, freight operations saw a slight decline, with freight measured in Freight Ton Kilometers falling by 10% year-over-year. Despite this, Icelandair made strides in its sustainability efforts, with CO2 emissions per Operational Ton Kilometer decreasing by 6%. This reduction was largely driven by a higher load factor and the positive impact of the airline’s ongoing fleet renewal program, which saw more flights operated by the fuel-efficient Boeing 737 MAX and Airbus A321 LR aircraft.
Bogi Nils Bogason, President and CEO of Icelandair:
“We are pleased to once again report strong traffic numbers, highlighting the trust and value our customers place in Icelandair and our services. Notably, we achieved a record load factor in February this year on an 8% increase in capacity compared to last year. Additionally, we launched ticket sales for our newest interline partnership with Southwest Airlines. The partnership opens new and improved connections, initially through Baltimore (BWI), to many markets in North America, and to date, we have received bookings from 43 airports in the US on this new partnership. As we look forward to a busy summer our preparations are well underway. Last week we took delivery of our second Airbus, with two more set to be delivered in the upcoming months.”
Overall, Icelandair’s performance in February 2025 highlighted its continued resilience in the face of industry challenges, with strong passenger growth, enhanced operational efficiency, and progress toward sustainability goals.
Source: travelandtourworld
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