Atlantic Airways of the Faroe Island has announced weekly service from SWF-FAE (Vagar, Faroe Islands)
1X weekly on A319 beginning late August.

https://airlinenewsdaily.com/2023/03/27 ... east-coast

The link says considering, but the article makes it seem pretty certain.

I hope to give it a try. Perhaps return via Play from Iceland to make it a short trip.

Yes the announcement posted in the Nordic thread last week

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1479889

mercure1 wrote:

Yes the announcement posted in the Nordic thread last week

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1479889

Doesn’t this deserve it’s own forum?

I myself didn’t even read it in the Nordic thread even though I read that thread everyday so not everything in the end should be relegated to one main thread.

Anyways don’t understand why at the end of August if that’s the end of the summer season. Could be their focusing more on cargo in this case.

Wonder if they’ll be selling the bus tickets as a bundle.

The fact that their starting SWF could mean it really makes a big difference cost wise operating to a secondary airport.

Interesting new service if it happens. I hope it sticks. Their wiki page only shows 1 A320 and 1 A320neo. Where is the A319 coming from? Lease?

mods please put the name of the airline (atlantic airways/RC) in the thread title instead of this clickbaity title, thanks.

A few more details:

The once-a-week service from Vagar FAE to NY Stewart SWF airport will be operated for a period of 6 weeks, from 22AUG-10OCT2023. The flight will depart the Faroe Islands on Tuesdays and return from Stewart on Wednesdays, which gives the crew a day to rest. Atlantic Airways will utilize an Airbus A320neo for the new route. Tickets go on sale on 15MAY.

https://liveandletsfly.com/atlantic-airways-new-york/

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

TWA772LR wrote:

Interesting new service if it happens. I hope it sticks. Their wiki page only shows 1 A320 and 1 A320neo. Where is the A319 coming from? Lease?

No, we don't operate A319s. Our current fleet is 2x A320neo and 1x A320 CEO, with another ceo being put into traffic in the next few weeks. And also 2x Augusta Westland 139 helicopters for domestic passenger, ambulance and search & rescue services.
The US flights will be operated by the NEOs.

MIflyer12 wrote:

lesfalls wrote:

The fact that their starting SWF could mean it really makes a big difference cost wise operating to a secondary airport.

They could just run it to JFK, to help U.S.-origin passengers, and to give Faroe-originating passengers a clue to where they're going. Arriving at SWF is a favor to nobody given its location and limited service options.

Probably a slot issue and getting a good deal at SWF. I don't think ISP has FIS/CBP otherwise I'd say they are a better option.

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen, or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

No expert on the market, of course, but I share your skepticism.

In my view, the choice of airport also puts the flight at a disadvantage. SWF is quite a ways from New York City (further than HPN), and from what I understand, isn't known for being convenient. Are the slot restrictions/landing fees at JFK or EWR just too much for an airline like Atlantic?

[
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting.


I beg to differ with you. I grew up in the Hudson River Valley and it’s rich in history if you take the time to look into it.

Plus it’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy the area , including Bear Mountain.

TUSAirliner wrote:

[
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting.


I beg to differ with you. I grew up in the Hudson River Valley and it’s rich in history if you take the time to look into it.

Plus it’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy the area , including Bear Mountain.

Take the time? As crew, we will have 24 hours getting to the hotel, get some rest, eat, do some sightseeing, get some more rest, get back to the airport. So, maybe 4-5 hours of sightseeing time. Honest question: what do you recommend seeing around Stewart airport in that amount of time?

DFWGlobeTrotter wrote:

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen, or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

No expert on the market, of course, but I share your skepticism.

In my view, the choice of airport also puts the flight at a disadvantage. SWF is quite a ways from New York City (further than HPN), and from what I understand, isn't known for being convenient. Are the slot restrictions/landing fees at JFK or EWR just too much for an airline like Atlantic?

I have no idea about landing fees or commercial considerations. I just fly the plane. But Atlantic Airways is Government owned, is not short of cash, and if we can pay landing fees at Kastrup, CDG, OSL, KEF and so on, and in other airports in Norway at times of weather issues back home, then I believe landing 6 times at JFK wouldn't make us break the bank. Is it even possible to get slots at JFK at an ad-hoc basis, once a week during 6 weeks?

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

Flogskipari - I'm inclined to agree with you on this - I was going to post saying the weather in Torshavn in October looks awful from the point of view of a tourist making a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Faroe. Climate summary data for September and October looks lousy based on this: (I'm coming in late June this year instead)
https://www.landsverk.fo/Files/Images/B ... in/GEM.pdf
Atlantic Airways is a small airline and cannot afford expensive loss-making adventures. A number of years ago, Air Greenland tried flying to the USA - they lost a huge amount of money and the route was cancelled pretty quickly. Nobody came out of the Greenland-USA commercial disaster looking good - and I don't think anybody on the outside took pleasure in this.
You have the ability to contact people internally at the airline - those of us on airliners.net simply don't even know the name of the person to contact. Could I suggest having a *very* gentle chat with somebody in sales to enquire as to the rationale behind this ? And yes, I really do mean *very* gentle - I have no desire for you to get into any kind of trouble over this. It's still possible for somebody at Atlantic to change their mind on flights to the USA

DFWGlobeTrotter wrote:

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen, or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

No expert on the market, of course, but I share your skepticism.

In my view, the choice of airport also puts the flight at a disadvantage. SWF is quite a ways from New York City (further than HPN), and from what I understand, isn't known for being convenient. Are the slot restrictions/landing fees at JFK or EWR just too much for an airline like Atlantic?

UA couldn't secure slots to stay at JFK, I'm guessing they can't get in.

Faroe Vagas airport has 5,900 feet runway. Could A320NEO be able to lift off with 3/4 full fuel to reach to SWF available? It's a heck of a shorter runway ever long-range flight that I have ever seen in the world. I can't imagine LGA never flying to Europe any of the A321 or A320NEO LGA has 7,000 ft is perfect for European flights. Why didn't LGA allow to fly to Europeans flight? What is the reason?

Q

Q wrote:

I can't imagine LGA never flying to Europe any of the A321 or A320NEO LGA has 7,000 ft is perfect for European flights. Why didn't LGA allow to fly to Europeans flight? What is the reason?

At the risk of going off topic, La Guardia's restrictions are explained briefly here:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LaGuardia ... Operations
There are likely many threads on airliners.net which discuss LGA and why flights to Europe don't exist - a brief search on this site will likely bring them up

This is spot on. I grew up in the lower Hudson Valley (Rockland/Westchester). SWF might as well be the surface of the moon for tourists visiting NYC. There's no transit infrastructure and it's not exactly easy to get to off the Thruway. Then of course there's traffic. On top of all of that, this is a niche airline serving a niche market. JFK or even EWR would be a way better option for them to draw tourism traffic leaving NYC, and by all means a better place for arriving PAX. SWF is the middle of nowhere. I feel bad for their crews. 24 hours in downtown Newburgh, NY....

MIflyer12 wrote:

lesfalls wrote:

The fact that their starting SWF could mean it really makes a big difference cost wise operating to a secondary airport.

They could just run it to JFK, to help U.S.-origin passengers, and to give Faroe-originating passengers a clue to where they're going. Arriving at SWF is a favor to nobody given its location and limited service options.

I grew up in the area too. Newburgh is a dump. Bear Mountain can be explored in a day. Do you really think people are coming from Europe to shack up at the Bear Mountain Inn when NYC is 50 miles south? The Hudson Valley is, in my opinion the most beautiful place on earth, but I don't see people from that obscure of a place making the journey to NY just to see Orange County of all places.

TUSAirliner wrote:

[
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting.


I beg to differ with you. I grew up in the Hudson River Valley and it’s rich in history if you take the time to look into it.

Plus it’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy the area , including Bear Mountain.

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

Thanks for sharing those interesting insights with us.

Q wrote:

Faroe Vagas airport has 5,900 feet runway. Could A320NEO be able to lift off with 3/4 full fuel to reach to SWF available? It's a heck of a shorter runway ever long-range flight that I have ever seen in the world. I can't imagine LGA never flying to Europe any of the A321 or A320NEO LGA has 7,000 ft is perfect for European flights. Why didn't LGA allow to fly to Europeans flight? What is the reason?

Q

We had a 4100 ft runway until not that long ago...well, 10-12 years ago. To take off or land on the current 5900 ft runway is no issue, not even for flights to the US on an A320neo. The challenges at Vágar are frequent low visibility, gusty winds and terrain around the runway.

While I don't doubt the remote nature of SWF to NYC's various boroughs, the airline's announcement page mentions a bus service, presumably to the PA bus terminal in Manhattan, which would not be unlike what operates for the PLAY flight now or the Norwegian flights between 2017-2019, where the bus services were specifically timed in relation to the flights.

If someone wants to go onward to NYC, they can. Or at least I say this as someone who has flown into LAX and trekked across the basin to San Bernardino, and recently the reverse flying into SBD to reach Los Angeles, so I might also be unusually adventurous.

mooseofspruce wrote:

While I don't doubt the remote nature of SWF to NYC's various boroughs, the airline's announcement page mentions a bus service, presumably to the PA bus terminal in Manhattan, which would not be unlike what operates for the PLAY flight now or the Norwegian flights between 2017-2019, where the bus services were specifically timed in relation to the flights.

If someone wants to go onward to NYC, they can. Or at least I say this as someone who has flown into LAX and trekked across the basin to San Bernardino, and recently the reverse flying into SBD to reach Los Angeles, so I might also be unusually adventurous.

That's correct, and it also says the airline will offer bookings for the bus shortly.
Another strange thing, to me at least, is why wait a good month and a half until you open up for bookings? And when you do, there will only be 3 months until the first departure. We don't usually do that. When flights are announced, they get bookable pretty immediately. Except this one.
I will try to ask around internally why this might be

EWR22LAS25 wrote:

I grew up in the area too. Newburgh is a dump. Bear Mountain can be explored in a day. Do you really think people are coming from Europe to shack up at the Bear Mountain Inn when NYC is 50 miles south? The Hudson Valley is, in my opinion the most beautiful place on earth, but I don't see people from that obscure of a place making the journey to NY just to see Orange County of all places.

TUSAirliner wrote:

[
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting.


I beg to differ with you. I grew up in the Hudson River Valley and it’s rich in history if you take the time to look into it.

Plus it’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy the area , including Bear Mountain.

I was referencing what CREW could do on a layover. Nothing was mentioned about tourism.

Geeesh. Give it a break

Flogskipari wrote:

mooseofspruce wrote:

While I don't doubt the remote nature of SWF to NYC's various boroughs, the airline's announcement page mentions a bus service, presumably to the PA bus terminal in Manhattan, which would not be unlike what operates for the PLAY flight now or the Norwegian flights between 2017-2019, where the bus services were specifically timed in relation to the flights.

If someone wants to go onward to NYC, they can. Or at least I say this as someone who has flown into LAX and trekked across the basin to San Bernardino, and recently the reverse flying into SBD to reach Los Angeles, so I might also be unusually adventurous.

That's correct, and it also says the airline will offer bookings for the bus shortly.
Another strange thing, to me at least, is why wait a good month and a half until you open up for bookings? And when you do, there will only be 3 months until the first departure. We don't usually do that. When flights are announced, they get bookable pretty immediately. Except this one.
I will try to ask around internally why this might be

I’ve been looking into visiting the Faroes. It won’t be this year, but probably next. The scenery looks amazing, and it’s not often you can fly directly to a place off the beaten track. I’ll probably try to visit Greenland, too, although I expect it to be more difficult to get there.

Are Faroe Islands and Greenland - US services covered by the EU/US open-skies agreement? Or do the respective autonomous local governments have their own air service bi-laterals with US?

mooseofspruce wrote:

While I don't doubt the remote nature of SWF to NYC's various boroughs, the airline's announcement page mentions a bus service, presumably to the PA bus terminal in Manhattan, which would not be unlike what operates for the PLAY flight now or the Norwegian flights between 2017-2019, where the bus services were specifically timed in relation to the flights.

If someone wants to go onward to NYC, they can. Or at least I say this as someone who has flown into LAX and trekked across the basin to San Bernardino, and recently the reverse flying into SBD to reach Los Angeles, so I might also be unusually adventurous.

As happens with tertiary airports worldwide. It took me all of 5 seconds to find the current SWF-Manhattan bus times via Google Maps. The bus is timed to coincide with the flights. It's really not that difficult to figure out. Frankly easier for tourists than the JFK Airtrain-LIRR transfer nonsense and only about 25 minutes longer.

More savvy travelers (crew??) can easily taxi/ uber to Beacon station and take the train into the city.

DFWGlobeTrotter wrote:

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen, or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

No expert on the market, of course, but I share your skepticism.

In my view, the choice of airport also puts the flight at a disadvantage. SWF is quite a ways from New York City (further than HPN), and from what I understand, isn't known for being convenient. Are the slot restrictions/landing fees at JFK or EWR just too much for an airline like Atlantic?

If there are no slots at JFK like United apparently found out, Atlantic Airways would be in the same boat. SWF I'm sure offers a lot cheaper landing and 24 hour parking fees for the plane, as well as hotel cost for the crews. And SWF does not ever have 1 1/2 hour taxi in time, or that 45 min hold en route that just burns off any profit a small carrier like Atlantic might have hopes of making on a route like this. But why SWF, if BDL is available with a 20 minutes shorter flight, and a possibility of bus service to both NY and BOS? Asking for a friend of course

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this is some sort of charter type arrangement where they only sell to the public whatever seats are left over. Such and obscure airport pairing for only 6 weeks, at a once weekly frequency has charter written all over it.

Even with them not getting JFK slots, why not go to EWR or BOS, both of which offer plenty of potential interline possibilities!

[list=][/list]

airbazar wrote:

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that this is some sort of charter type arrangement where they only sell to the public whatever seats are left over. Such and obscure airport pairing for only 6 weeks, at a once weekly frequency has charter written all over it.

quote]
It has to be a tour operator with balls of considerable size, if they charter a flight to the Faroe Islands from the US, in October. There aren't even charters from Europe here, often not even when there's a national football game here. Fans fly in on regular flights.
The fact it's outside of the summer peak tourist season is that we simply don't have available aircraft for this in the summer. No chance to let an aircraft sit at an outstation for 24 hours. We use our aircraft heavily during summers.

In conclusion, no, these are regular flights.

DFWGlobeTrotter wrote:

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen, or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

No expert on the market, of course, but I share your skepticism.

In my view, the choice of airport also puts the flight at a disadvantage. SWF is quite a ways from New York City (further than HPN), and from what I understand, isn't known for being convenient. Are the slot restrictions/landing fees at JFK or EWR just too much for an airline like Atlantic?

What's the possibility of having international flights at HPN? Given that an Atlantic pilot has said they have no problem with the runway length in the Faroes, HPN is longer by a thousand feet, I believe.

phllax wrote:

Even with them not getting JFK slots, why not go to EWR or BOS, both of which offer plenty of potential interline possibilities!

As I said, this is geared towards Faroese travellers to NYC. To sell Boston here would be impossible. I repeat: this amounts to moving 2% of our population to just one destination, within 6 weeks. (Assuming flights are full, of course, which I hope is not the way we aim to achieve break-even.) NYC is hard a sell enough. Boston? Impossible.

raylee67 wrote:

Are Faroe Islands and Greenland - US services covered by the EU/US open-skies agreement? Or do the respective autonomous local governments have their own air service bi-laterals with US?

As far as I know, it's open skies.

EWR22LAS25 wrote:

I grew up in the area too. Newburgh is a dump. Bear Mountain can be explored in a day. Do you really think people are coming from Europe to shack up at the Bear Mountain Inn when NYC is 50 miles south? The Hudson Valley is, in my opinion the most beautiful place on earth, but I don't see people from that obscure of a place making the journey to NY just to see Orange County of all places.

Newburgh is a pit, no doubt about that. But for someone staying overnight as crew, there's plenty of interesting stuff to do within a half hour or so of SWF. There's the FDR Residence at Hyde Park, Dia Beacon, Storm King Park, hiking in the Hudson Highlands, West Point, etc.

FlyingViking wrote:

DFWGlobeTrotter wrote:

Flogskipari wrote:

Yes, I posted this on the Nordic Aviation thread a couple of days ago, but it was before I could start new threads (I'm a new member).
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen, or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting. But more to the point: 6 flights in the autumn is a head-scratcher. It's usable for 5 departures both ways (if you leave on the last, 6th departure, how will you get back home?). This period is at the end of, or outright after the peak travel season to the Faroe Islands, and we don't see many US tourists here anyway. Most are Germans and Danish.
So the flight is clearly geared mainly for Faroese travelling to New York for a week or two. Again, as crew, this is great, but as a passenger, with zero flexibility compared to flying through Keflavík or Copenhagen, Paris, Edinburgh, it's all down to price. I doubt they will find many people (we're a country of 54,000 inhabitants) who will fly to New York when Atlantic Airways wants them to. The capacity equals to 2% of the population, flying to one and the same destination, during 2 weeks, when children aren't even off from school? I hope for the best, but I have my doubts ..

No expert on the market, of course, but I share your skepticism.

In my view, the choice of airport also puts the flight at a disadvantage. SWF is quite a ways from New York City (further than HPN), and from what I understand, isn't known for being convenient. Are the slot restrictions/landing fees at JFK or EWR just too much for an airline like Atlantic?

If there are no slots at JFK like United apparently found out, Atlantic Airways would be in the same boat. SWF I'm sure offers a lot cheaper landing and 24 hour parking fees for the plane, as well as hotel cost for the crews. And SWF does not ever have 1 1/2 hour taxi in time, or that 45 min hold en route that just burns off any profit a small carrier like Atlantic might have hopes of making on a route like this. But why SWF, if BDL is available with a 20 minutes shorter flight, and a possibility of bus service to both NY and BOS? Asking for a friend of course

A 45 minute hold on a flight like this, westbound, will not only burn off profits, but also essential fuel. We would probably have to visit our alternate for refueling before continuing to our destination if made to hold for 45 minutes, on most days. Ours are A320 NEOs, not A321LRs (which have no issue with this range).

phllax wrote:

Even with them not getting JFK slots, why not go to EWR or BOS, both of which offer plenty of potential interline possibilities!

This has zero to do with interlining. It's 6 flights. Not per week, not per month, but in total. One flight per week.

Are they trying to steal the North Atlantic fish market from Icelandair?
Somebody had to ask it...

johns624 wrote:

Are they trying to steal the North Atlantic fish market from Icelandair?
Somebody had to ask it...

you just beat me to that question....

johns624 wrote:

Are they trying to steal the North Atlantic fish market from Icelandair?
Somebody had to ask it...

Funnily enough, we don't transport a lot of fish. However, the largest producer of salmon in the country, Bakkafrost, has set up their own cargo airline, with one leased 757, to fly salmon to the US and Europe, and other cargo the other way. Operations have not started yet, it's been postponed a few times, I believe because they had to lease another aircraft than the one originally planned.

For what it’s worth, PLAY crew don’t stay near SWF, they stay at the same well known chain hotel as most international airline crew do in Manhattan.

Flogskipari wrote:

FlyingViking wrote:

DFWGlobeTrotter wrote:

No expert on the market, of course, but I share your skepticism.

In my view, the choice of airport also puts the flight at a disadvantage. SWF is quite a ways from New York City (further than HPN), and from what I understand, isn't known for being convenient. Are the slot restrictions/landing fees at JFK or EWR just too much for an airline like Atlantic?

If there are no slots at JFK like United apparently found out, Atlantic Airways would be in the same boat. SWF I'm sure offers a lot cheaper landing and 24 hour parking fees for the plane, as well as hotel cost for the crews. And SWF does not ever have 1 1/2 hour taxi in time, or that 45 min hold en route that just burns off any profit a small carrier like Atlantic might have hopes of making on a route like this. But why SWF, if BDL is available with a 20 minutes shorter flight, and a possibility of bus service to both NY and BOS? Asking for a friend of course

A 45 minute hold on a flight like this, westbound, will not only burn off profits, but also essential fuel. We would probably have to visit our alternate for refueling before continuing to our destination if made to hold for 45 minutes, on most days. Ours are A320 NEOs, not A321LRs (which have no issue with this range).

It's the dispathers job to make sure pilots have enough fuel for the flight, the pilots job to manage said fuel and the CEO's job to not to start a money losing route. Hopefully everything goes well

EWR22LAS25 wrote:

I grew up in the area too. Newburgh is a dump. Bear Mountain can be explored in a day. Do you really think people are coming from Europe to shack up at the Bear Mountain Inn when NYC is 50 miles south? The Hudson Valley is, in my opinion the most beautiful place on earth, but I don't see people from that obscure of a place making the journey to NY just to see Orange County of all places.

TUSAirliner wrote:

[
As a crew, I've got mixed feelings about this. While it is clearly interesting to get the opportunity to stay the night in another place than Copenhagen (or Bergen or Stavanger at times of diversions), Stewart isn't exactly exciting.


I beg to differ with you. I grew up in the Hudson River Valley and it’s rich in history if you take the time to look into it.

Plus it’s the perfect time of the year to enjoy the area , including Bear Mountain.

I live slightly near here in western Connecticut. It has some nice little areas, and pretty views, and fun day trips from MY house that is like 35 mins away. otherwise I have no reason to go there. It really has no big attraction someone from Europe would travel for.

I will address the crew who will be staying 24 hours. Perhaps a Friendly A.netter could meet up with you,. There is definitely no clubbing to be done on Tuesday nights in Newburgh/New Windsor

I would recommend visiting the Storm King Art Center. It is only 7 miles from the airport. The museum is the largest collection of contemporary outdoor sculptures in the United States and is about 7 miles in size.

A little further away is the Walkway over the Hudson.It was an old railroad bridge that was restored.

I assume they will have buses timed to meet the arrival and departures. Play currently operates that way into NYC and Norwegian did the same. For Norwegian that was never an issue in ending service.

That being said, they won't get a ton of feed from NYC for your stated reasons. European originating pax are used to busing with Ryanair, Easyjet, etc.

Upintheair1976 wrote:

mooseofspruce wrote:

While I don't doubt the remote nature of SWF to NYC's various boroughs, the airline's announcement page mentions a bus service, presumably to the PA bus terminal in Manhattan, which would not be unlike what operates for the PLAY flight now or the Norwegian flights between 2017-2019, where the bus services were specifically timed in relation to the flights.

If someone wants to go onward to NYC, they can. Or at least I say this as someone who has flown into LAX and trekked across the basin to San Bernardino, and recently the reverse flying into SBD to reach Los Angeles, so I might also be unusually adventurous.

As happens with tertiary airports worldwide. It took me all of 5 seconds to find the current SWF-Manhattan bus times via Google Maps. The bus is timed to coincide with the flights. It's really not that difficult to figure out. Frankly easier for tourists than the JFK Airtrain-LIRR transfer nonsense and only about 25 minutes longer.

More savvy travelers (crew??) can easily taxi/ uber to Beacon station and take the train into the city.

There’s a shuttle that cost $4 between Beacon station and Newburgh.

Problem is it doesn’t run too often.

mattyfitzg wrote:

For what it’s worth, PLAY crew don’t stay near SWF, they stay at the same well known chain hotel as most international airline crew do in Manhattan.

Are you sure?

I flew the flight back in December and the crew said that they stay near Stewart.

If anything they only go down to visit NYC when they have a 2 day layover (which is when they operate 6x weekly).

In the startup stages at Norse, a good and hard look was taken at SWF - ultimately, quite challenging for a wide body operation.

Bussing was actually pretty low down on list, compared to other practicalities(won’t share here - not appropriate) - indicatively, customers were fine with it the bus - as seen with Norwegian. Nevertheless, every practical hurdle was an order of magnitude less challenging for a narrow body operator - I can see why it likely works for Atlantic and PLAY. Well done PANYJ for successfully attracting back foreign carriers.

veeseeten wrote:

In the startup stages at Norse, a good and hard look was taken at SWF - ultimately, quite challenging for a wide body operation.

Bussing was actually pretty low down on list, compared to other practicalities(won’t share here - not appropriate) - indicatively, customers were fine with it the bus - as seen with Norwegian. Nevertheless, every practical hurdle was an order of magnitude less challenging for a narrow body operator - I can see why it likely works for Atlantic and PLAY. Well done PANYJ for successfully attracting back foreign carriers.

Or maybe there was no other choice? Atlantic Airways couldn't get slots at EWR. I don't know for sure about JFK, but as stated in previous posts, that is probably the case there, too. So, where else in the NYC area can we fly to? Just Stewart.

Flogskipari wrote:

veeseeten wrote:

In the startup stages at Norse, a good and hard look was taken at SWF - ultimately, quite challenging for a wide body operation.

Bussing was actually pretty low down on list, compared to other practicalities(won’t share here - not appropriate) - indicatively, customers were fine with it the bus - as seen with Norwegian. Nevertheless, every practical hurdle was an order of magnitude less challenging for a narrow body operator - I can see why it likely works for Atlantic and PLAY. Well done PANYJ for successfully attracting back foreign carriers.

Or maybe there was no other choice? Atlantic Airways couldn't get slots at EWR. I don't know for sure about JFK, but as stated in previous posts, that is probably the case there, too. So, where else in the NYC area can we fly to? Just Stewart.

I couldn’t comment - not my airline! All I’d say is: generally you don’t end up serving an airport because your hand is forced - if it’s not going to work operationally and commercially, you just don’t enter the market at that time. JFK slots were far from a given at Norse - but not the prime motivator for looking at SWF.

veeseeten wrote:

Flogskipari wrote:

veeseeten wrote:

In the startup stages at Norse, a good and hard look was taken at SWF - ultimately, quite challenging for a wide body operation.

Bussing was actually pretty low down on list, compared to other practicalities(won’t share here - not appropriate) - indicatively, customers were fine with it the bus - as seen with Norwegian. Nevertheless, every practical hurdle was an order of magnitude less challenging for a narrow body operator - I can see why it likely works for Atlantic and PLAY. Well done PANYJ for successfully attracting back foreign carriers.

Or maybe there was no other choice? Atlantic Airways couldn't get slots at EWR. I don't know for sure about JFK, but as stated in previous posts, that is probably the case there, too. So, where else in the NYC area can we fly to? Just Stewart.

I couldn’t comment - not my airline! All I’d say is: generally you don’t end up serving an airport because your hand is forced - if it’s not going to work operationally and commercially, you just don’t enter the market at that time. JFK slots were far from a given at Norse - but not the prime motivator for looking at SWF.

Totally agree. As I said above, let's hope for the best. My doubts about this route has very little to do with it being to SWF.