Icelandair just debuted the world’s first flying glacier

By Talia Avakian
May 15, 2017
Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair
Icelandair has unveiled a glacier-inspired plane, transforming a Boeing 757-200 into a sky-bound piece of art inspired by the country’s famous Vatnajökull glacier.

The new design, which covers both the exterior and interior of the aircraft, gives passengers a chance to experience the wonder of Europe’s biggest glacier before even stepping off the plane.

“Icelandair believes that traveling is one of life’s greatest pleasures and a trip on this plane will ensure customers experience time well traveled, as they sit back and experience Iceland’s most extreme elements from the comfort of their own seats,” Icelandair CEO Birkir Hólm Guðnason said in a statement.

Take a look at what it's like on the aircraft.
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The inspiration

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

The new plane was designed to celebrate the airline’s 80th anniversary. It includes a hand-painted image of the glacier that gives customers an up-close look at the marvelous views they typically fly over.

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The design

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

Four different airbrush artists worked on the flying canvas. The plane now joins the airline's Hekla Aurora plane, a northern lights-inspired aircraft created in 2015.

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The experience

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

The theme can be seen throughout the plane’s interiors, with moving blue LED lights that help set the mood, while a glacial soundtrack plays to help transport you to the awe-inspiring setting.

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The details

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

Headrests come adorned with snow-white and blue design elements that include facts about the country’s dramatic outdoor scenery, while drinks will be served out of an ice cave-themed trolley with cups and napkins that come lined with glacial prints.

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Fun facts

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

Even the cabin's restroom includes playful facts about Iceland's Vatnajökull glacier.

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A glacier worth flying for

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

The glacier is the largest ice cap in Europe by volume, with the thickness of its ice reaching close to 1,000 meters in some areas, according to Guide to Iceland (the official travel information partner of the City of Reykjavík).

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Fire meets ice

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

With several active volcanoes remaining underneath it, the glacier showcases the country's fascinating mix of hot and cold natural elements and how they can stand together in one space.

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Ice, sweat, and tears

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

The project took a total of 24 days and 2,500 work hours. Creating the image of the glacier alone took 195 liters of paint on the 590-square-meter canvas the artists were working on.

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Consider a stopover

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

Since the plane will be added to Icelandair's fleet, visitors can even look into taking a free stopover for up to seven nights in the country through the airline's free stopover program.

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Where it flies

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

Though all planned routes for the glacial plane have not been confirmed, it joins the airline’s transatlantic fleet. Icelandair flies to Iceland and Europe from U.S. cities including New York, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, Philadelphia, Denver, Seattle, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Tampa, Portland, and Washington D.C.

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How to catch it

Credit: Courtesy of Icelandair

Icelandair currently has a three-day schedule posted for the plane's next route, departing out of Vancouver in British Columbia, Canada on May 15 and out of Reykjavik, Iceland and Glasgow, Scotland on May 16.

Those particularly interested in flying with the glacier plane can send in a request to the airline to see where it plans to head to next.

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By Talia Avakian