Icelandair delivers the Aurora Borealis to passengers worldwide with the Hekla Aurora plane

• The launch of the Hekla Aurora is celebrated in Reykjavik with an Aurora-inspired illumination of the city’s Hallgrimskirkja church

• An Icelandair Stopover offers passengers the opportunity to stay in Iceland for up to seven nights at no additional airfare

• The Hekla Aurora plane will be added to Icelandair’s fleet making appearances throughout the network.

Quincy, MA, February 5, 2015 - Icelandair helped alleviate the long days of darkness last night with the launch of their Aurora Borealis-themed plane, the Hekla Aurora. The launch, part of Icelandair’s #MyStopover campaign, culminated in Reykjavik as the plane flew over an illuminated Hallgrimskirkja church - a prelude to the city’s annual Winter Lights Festival which begins tomorrow.

The Hekla Aurora is part of Icelandair’s transatlantic fleet, providing passengers an experience of the Aurora Borealis while on board, both with its interior mood lighting, and the new Aurora Borealis livery on the exterior. As the Boeing 757 flew over Reykjavik city yesterday, passengers experienced the dancing lights of the on-board Aurora Borealis, with Icelandic music as the soundtrack, and, adding to the experience, a unique birds-eye view of Hallgrimskirkja church. The plane landed at Reykjavik’s domestic airport to a fanfare welcome as the locals came out in force to celebrate. They were also able to experience the plane for themselves as it was opened to the public.

To celebrate the launch of the plane and the beauty of the Aurora Borealis, former Icelandair employees were invited to join the illuminating journey. One of our local experts, Birta Lif Kristinsdottir, a renowned Icelandic meteorologist and former Icelandair pilot, was on hand to bring the science alive by providing passengers with a talk on this natural phenomenon.

“Hekla Aurora provides an authentic Aurora Borealis experience to all those who fly on her. The on-board light show provides the perfect beginning to any transatlantic flight by showcasing the natural beauty of Iceland’s famous northern lights,” comments meteorologist, Birta.

Passengers on last night’s celebration flight departed from London Heathrow and landed in Reykjavik airport to enjoy an Icelandair Stopover. Tomorrow they will be flying onwards to a transatlantic destination of their choice.

Icelandair offers service to Iceland from Boston, New York-JFK, Washington, D.C., Seattle, Denver, Toronto and Edmonton, with seasonal service from Newark, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, Portland, Vancouver, Halifax, and Anchorage. Connections through Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport are available to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the U.K. and Continental Europe. Only Icelandair allows passengers to take an Icelandair Stopover for up to seven nights at no additional airfare.