newstodate.aero

Mar 13, 2020 (newstodate): The US ban on European passenger flights to the USA adds further to the plights of the airline industry.
   Among airlines struggling to find ways to cope with the situation is Icelandair that traditionally relies heavily on the US-Iceland traffic.
   So far it seems, however, that the US ban is aimed at only passenger entry, excluding cargo on the Transatlantic lanes.
   -We fly as normal today with passengers.  As of tomorrow we will fly to open passenger airports in the USA, which are airports like JFK, Newark, Boston, Washington Dulles, Chicago and Seattle within our network, says Gunnar Mar Sigurfinsson, Icelandair Cargo Managing Director.
   -We will continue to utilize all belly capacity available on our passenger flights to those destinations. But as all US airports are open for freighter operations, we might set up freighter flights to the USA if we cannot fulfil the needs of the markets with the belly capacity available.   
   -At this point in time, we have not set up any freighter operations, but we evaluate the situation from day to day, and will act as needed.   
   -We fully acknowledge the importance of keeping the market open for especially the Icelandic fish exports, and we will do everything we can to provide the capacity needed, says Mr Sigurfinsson.