Vagar Airport sets new passenger record

Vagar Airport on the Faroe Islands has set a new record with 250.287 passengers in 2014. Passenger-figures rose by a total of 6 per cent last year

 Longer runway and now a new terminal

Since the runway at Vagar Airport was extended from 1,250 meters to 1,799 meters in 2011 and new navigational instruments were fitted both traffic- and regularity-figures have increased dramatically. With a passenger-growth of 6 per cent and a regularity-percentage of 99, 3 percent, the stage is set for more records on the Faroe Islands.

The only airline that is flying regularly to and from the Faroe Islands is Atlantic Airways. They are currently using three A319´s to serve their destinations to and from the Faroe Islands. A part from Atlantic Airways, Vagar Airport has seen a record number of ad-hoc charters in 2014, including B737-700´s, A320´s and other smaller regional jets and turboprops from a number of European operators.

Furthermore a new terminal and service buildings were inaugurated in June 2014, offering a considerable better comfort to passengers.

 “Not being a part of the European Union, tax-free revenue is a very important part of the revenue base of the airport”, says Jákup Sverri Kass, CEO of Vagar Airport

 Vagar Airport wants to attract new routes and new operators

Vagar Airport is very satisfied that Atlantic Airways has announced a new strategy that includes a higher frequency on some destinations and a few more destinations. Still it is a shame that a few routes have been cancelled; but Vagar Airport hopes to attract new operators to the cancelled routes.

 “We strongly believe that the unexplored marked of the Faroe Islands has big potential both when it comes to leisure and business-traffic and we hope that we will be able to attract a few European operators to include the Faroe Islands in their route development plans for 2015 and onward, says the CEO

 Exciting prospects for 2015

Back in 2012, the government of the Faroe Islands doubled the marketing-funds of Visit Faroe Islands and they lowered government-tax on tickets. This together with the fact that the Faroese economy is strong and demand for both leisure and business travel is on the increase, Vagar Airport expects the growth in passenger-figures to continue.

For more info or comments please contact:

Jákup Sverri Kass, CEO of Vagar Airport on jsk@fae.fo or mobile +298 212500

 Additional info:

1. Vagar Airport Ltd is responsible for conducting all operational activities at Vagar Airport, the Faroe Islands’ only airport.
2. Vagar Airport was originally a military installation, built by British forces during World War II. In the early 1960s the need and popular demand in the Faroe Islands for civil aviation grew to the point of making a modernisation of the runway a necessity to facilitate passenger traffic.
3. Vagar Airport became operational for civil aviation in 1963. During the early years only propeller aircraft operated. Since 1977 jet aircraft too have serviced the routes to the airport. The Danish Civil Aviation Administration administered Vagar Airport from 1963 to April 2007.  
4. Since 2007, Vagar Airport has been under Faroese control
5. See more on Vagar Airport and the Faroe Islands on: www.fae.fo and www.visitfaroeislands.com