Editing Air Atlanta Icelandic (section)

== History ==
[[File:Air Atlanta Icelandic Boeing 737-200 JDK.jpg|thumb|A former Air Atlanta Icelandic [[Boeing 737-200]]]]
[[File:TF-ABE_2_Tristar_1_Air_Atlanta_MAN_16DEC98_(5941451386).jpg|thumb|A former Air Atlanta Icelandic [[L-1011|Lockheed L-1011-500]]]]
[[File:Air Atlanta Cargo B742 TF-AMD.jpg|thumb|A former Air Atlanta Icelandic [[Boeing 747#747-200|Boeing 747-200B(SF)]]]]
[[File:Air Atlanta Icelandic (Iron Maiden livery), Boeing 747-428, TF-AAK (25233518611).jpg|An Air Atlanta Icelandic [[Boeing 747-400]] painted in [[Iron Maiden]] livery carrying the band on its tour|thumb]]
[[File:Air_Atlanta_Aviaservices.jpg|Air Atlanta Aviaservices in [[Crawley]], dedicated to maintenance|thumb]]
The airline was established on 10 February 1986 by Captain Arngrímur Jóhannsson and his wife, Þóra Guðmundsdóttir. It started operations in 1986.<ref name="FI"/> Its first contract came when [[Caribbean Airways]] wet-leased a [[Boeing 707-320]] from them for its [[London]] to [[Barbados]] flights. In 1988, the airline leased planes for [[Air Afrique]] to be used during the [[Hajj]] pilgrimage trips. This would become an important part of the structure of Air Atlanta Icelandic later on. [[Sudan Airways]] and [[Lufthansa]] were among the other airlines that benefited from leasing passenger airplanes from Air Atlanta Icelandic during the late 1980s, as well as [[Finnair]], which leased a [[Boeing 737]] from the Icelandic company.

It was in 1991 that Air Atlanta Icelandic was able to take passengers to the sky with its own airline operation. Its first flight was with a [[Lockheed L-1011|Lockheed L-1011-500]] plane. Later in 1992, Air Atlanta Icelandic participated in [[United Nations]] peacekeeper airlifts, flying the UN representatives from the [[Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia|former Yugoslavia]] to [[Nigeria]] and France.

In 1993, the [[Boeing 747]] arrived, and [[Saudia]] became one of the first airlines to lease that plane from Air Atlanta Icelandic, also for [[Hajj]] flights. After signing a contract with [[Samvinn Travel]], Air Atlanta Icelandic began operating domestic charter flights as well. Later in 1993, a flight from [[Phnom Penh]] to [[Bangkok]] was launched using a [[Boeing 737|Boeing 737-200]].<ref>[https://www.aircargonews.net/plane-crash-claims-the-life-of-avion-chairman/5402.article Plane crash claims the life of Avion chairman]</ref>

By 1994, Air Atlanta Icelandic had obtained rights to operate service from many other countries, including the United States, from where it had a flight to [[Colombia]]; and the [[Philippines]], from where it was allowed to operate domestic charter flights. About that time, it began to offer flights within [[Europe]] and began service to [[Portugal]].

In 1996, a couple rented an Air Atlanta Icelandic [[L-1011|Lockheed L-1011-500]] to have a sky-wedding. The couple and its wedding guests were treated to a flight over the Arctic Circle, while the wedding was performed inside of the jet.<ref>[https://www.aircargonews.net/management-reorganisation-at-air-atlanta-icelandic-to-focus-on-fleet-renewal/24971.article Management reorganisation at Air Atlanta Icelandic to focus on fleet renewal]</ref>

1997 saw the arrival of contracts with airlines such as [[Britannia Airways]] and [[Iberia (airline)|Iberia]], which would use an Air Atlanta Icelandic plane for its routes from [[Barajas International Airport]] in [[Madrid]] to [[José Martí International Airport]] in [[Havana]] and to other points in the [[Caribbean]]. That year also saw the arrival of the airline's first Boeing 747SP plane, which would later be utilized by government officials, sports teams, [[The Rolling Stones]], and others.

In 1998, Air Atlanta Icelandic leased planes for [[British Airways]]. In 1999, Magnus G. Thorstenn was named the company's new CEO. The airline became a fully wide bodied airplane airline in 1999 when it sold the last of its Boeing 737s. In 2000, [[Air India]] joined the growing list of airlines that have leased airplanes from Air Atlanta Icelandic airlines.

In 2003, Air Atlanta Icelandic expanded into the United Kingdom with its subsidiary, [[Air Atlanta Europe]], which operated [[Boeing 747]]s ad hoc, charter and for the Florida tour operator, Travel City Direct.<ref>[http://www.airliners.net/open.file/0949693/ Travel City Direct]</ref>

In March 2004, the company acquired a 40.5% stake in the UK charter airline [[Excel Airways]]. That stake later increased to 76.9%. In January 2005, the Avion Group was formed, and Air Atlanta Icelandic and Islandsflug merged under the Air Atlanta Icelandic brand name.<ref name="FI"/>

In 2005, the Avion Group acquired [[Eimskip]], a leading Icelandic sea transportation company, and Travel City Direct, a UK holiday company and the airline '''Icebird Airlines'''.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://airlinehistory.co.uk/airline/icebird-airlines/ | title = Icebird Airlines  | publisher = Airline History | access-date = 19 October 2021}}</ref> In 2006, the Avion Group announced the purchase of the entire issued share capital of French charter airline [[Star Airlines]], the second largest charter airline in the French market. Star Airlines operated charter flights mainly to destinations in Africa, the Middle East, and the Mediterranean, in addition to regular services to Lebanon, Male, and cities in Mexico.

In June 2006, Air Atlanta Icelandic wet-leased one Boeing 747-200 to [[Yangtze River Express]] to operate cargo freight between Shanghai - Anchorage - Los Angeles.

In October 2006, the Avion Group changed its name to HF [[Eimskipafélag Íslands]], and at the same time sold [[UK Leisure Group Excel]] as well as 51% of Avion Aircraft Trading.<ref name="FI"/> A decision was also made to merge both Excel Airways and Air Atlanta Europe into one airline. This was completed by October 2006.

In mid-2007, the airline decided to shift its focus to [[air cargo]] operations. The airline planned to move to [[cargo aircraft]] and laid off most of its [[passenger aircraft]] [[aircrew]]. Today, the company focuses on both passenger aircraft and cargo aircraft.

[[Britflights]] cancelled plans to operate aircraft from Air Atlanta Icelandic from the UK to Canada from June 2011, citing fuel uncertainties.<ref name="Britflights - About">{{cite web|title=About Us|url=http://www.britflights.com/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110708094333/http://www.britflights.com/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 July 2011|publisher=Britflights|accessdate=10 February 2011}}</ref><ref name="Britflights - Where we fly">{{cite web|title=Where We Fly|url=http://www.britflights.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pubDsp.dspWhereWeFly|publisher=Britflights|accessdate=10 February 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128182750/http://www.britflights.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=pubDsp.dspWhereWeFly|archive-date=28 January 2011|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Air Atlanta Icelandic operated two Boeing 747-400s for [[National Airlines (N8)]] in the year 2011. One flew cargo charter flights and the other one was wet-leased to [[Cargolux]] for a period of time.

In December 2015, three former Air Atlanta Icelandic [[Boeing 747]] registered TF-ARH, TF-ARM and TF-ARN were reported abandoned at [[Kuala Lumpur International Airport]]. Air Atlanta Icelandic senior vice president of sales and marketing Baldvin M. Hermannsson said that the three aircraft had belonged to Air Atlanta, but were returned to their owner in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/whom-may-concern-please-claim-boeing-747s-112803730.html|title = To whom it may concern: Please claim your Boeing 747s}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/12/08/aviation/malaysia-aviation-airport-abandoned-aircraft/index.html|title = Malaysia hunts owners of Boeing 747s abandoned at airport|date = 8 December 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2015/12/08/air-atlanta-returned-aircraft/|title = Air Atlanta says it returned unclaimed Boeings to owner}}</ref>

In 2016, the airline provided a Boeing 747-428 (registration TF-AAK) to the [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] band [[Iron Maiden]] for the [[The Book of Souls World Tour|Book of Souls World Tour]], which replaced a modified Astraeus Airlines 757 as "Ed Force One". On 12 March, the aircraft sustained damage to engines 1 and 2 while being towed for refueling at Santiago, Chile. The extent of the damage required the band and its crew to charter additional aircraft to continue touring through Argentina and Brazil while the aircraft awaited repairs at [[Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport|Santiago International Airport.]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ironmaiden.com/news/article/ed-force-one-damaged|title = Ed Force One badly damaged on the ground in Chile (Updated)}}</ref> Repairs involving replacing both port-side engines, cowlings, and reversers were completed by 20 March and the aircraft returned to the tour.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ironmaiden.com/news/article/ed-force-one-repaired|title = Ed Force One - Onwards and Upwards Again}}</ref>

In 2021, Air Atlanta Icelandic reopened its subsidiary [[Air Atlanta Europe]], to operate a passenger Boeing 777 fleet.<ref>[https://www.aircargonews.net/air-atlanta-opens-new-chapter-with-move-to-777s/1060783.article Air Atlanta opens new chapter with move to 777s]</ref>

In 2025, Air Atlanta Icelandic adds first [[Boeing 777|Boeing 777-200ER]].<ref>[https://www.ch-aviation.com/news/148983-air-atlanta-icelandic-adds-first-b777-200er Air Atlanta Icelandic adds first B777-200ER]</ref>