Transported 3.7 million passengers during the previous year
Crossing the Atlantic one more time, Icelandair transported a whopping 3.7 million souls this past year – a staggering 150% boost compared to the 1.5 million passengers from the year prior. Despite the meteoric increase in travelers, the airline's capacity still didn't quite reach the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. As we ring in the new year, December saw the airline operating at 91% of 2019's capacity, in stark contrast to mere 53% in January 2022 and 77% in June. The domestic and international passenger count reached 233,500 in December, soaring from 168,500 the previous December.
Weather Woes and RoadblocksYou best believe Mother Nature played a starring role in sabotaging Icelandair's operations last month. The arctic blasts and the shutdown of Reykjanesbraut left a lasting impact on the company's on-time performance, seating, and flight schedules. On international flights, staggering only 62.4% of planes made it on time. The load factor, or how occupied each plane was, reached 73%, a slight nudge up from 71% the previous December. The extreme weather ravaging Iceland significantly impacted overall operations, plunging them into chaos.
Domestic DelightsWhile rough seas may have rocked the international flights, Icelandair's domestic fliers enjoyed a smoother ride. Around 20,000 passengers rode the skies within the country in December, only a slight bump up from the 19,000 passengers in the same month the year prior. Despite the harsh weather conditions, punctuality on the domestic flights hit 81%. The load factor, or the number of seats filled, sat comfortably at 73%, a slight increase compared to the 70% from the previous December.
Charters took flight too, with increased block hours sold by 13%. Freight, measured in Freight Ton Kilometers, remained relatively unchanged from the previous year's haul.
On a side note, it seems no one's got the goods on the specifics behind Icelandair's December struggles, but atmospheric turbulence and aviation party crashes around the industry at the time could very well be the culprits. In order to crack the case wide open, consult Icelandair's official statements or delve into aviation reports from late 2022. These sources may hold the keys to solving the mystery of Icelandair's holiday misfortune.
The weather in Iceland, with its arctic blasts, significantly impacted Icelandair's international flights, causing delays and affecting on-time performance, seating, and flight schedules. In contrast, passengers on Icelandair's domestic flights experienced a smoother journey, as the weather issues had a less pronounced effect on punctuality and load factor.
