Icelandic Rights in EU

[GK430]

Just wondering if anyone can explain how / why Icelandic registered aircraft are able to operate fifth freedom services etc. between EU states.
They are not part of the EU, yet various operators use their aircraft based within U.K. i.e. fly glogespan and Islandsflug.

Someone said it was something to do with Schengen agreements.

Does anyone know the facts?

[Gordinho]

Iceland is a member of EFTA and therefore the EEA (European Economic Area).

[Fresca]

The EEA gives us Icelanders the right to live work and basically the same right in the EU as any other member state of the EU has, along with Norway. Mind you though the the EU has the same right up here.

What this means is that we can operate freely within the EU as any EU airline.

[GK430]

Thanks to both.

430

[rupetime]

They are permitted to operate within the EU however they are restricted when they attempt to operate outside of the EU.

For example flights UK-Spain-UK are ok as UK and Spain are both EU however UK-Turkey-UK or UK-Cyprus-UK would be subject to fifth freedom which means that any UK or Turkish/Cypriot carrier with capacity can object (As long as their available aircraft is within a reasonable size and available around the same schedule.


rt

[Gordinho]

Hence the rationale behind setting up Air Atlanta Europe with a British AOC