Iceland sits closer to London than many travellers expect. By private jet the journey takes well under three hours, which makes it an easy fit for a business diary or a long weekend. Whether the purpose is meetings in the capital, a winter escape, a geothermal retreat or a northern lights itinerary, a little route knowledge helps the trip run smoothly.
The Journey
A short hop north.
From the London area, the flight to Iceland is consistently short, scenic and straightforward for passengers.
Departures from Farnborough, Luton, Biggin Hill or Northolt head north-west across the UK and out over the sea towards Iceland. Exact routings are set by air traffic control and shift with winds and traffic, but the journey itself varies little.
The Airports
Two airports, two characters.
Keflavik and Reykjavik City Airport serve different purposes, and many itineraries combine both: arrival at Keflavik, then a short onward transfer or domestic hop.
Keflavik is Iceland's international gateway, around 50 kilometres from the capital. It has two long runways of roughly 3,050 metres, round-the-clock operations and a full-service FBO. For most international private arrivals it is the natural choice.
Reykjavik City Airport is a different proposition. It lies about two kilometres from the centre of town, has three runways, the longest at just over 1,500 metres, and serves mainly domestic, general and business aviation. It suits smaller and mid-sized aircraft well, but its international use should always be confirmed in advance, and runway performance must be checked for the specific aircraft.
Business
Business in a capital powered by renewables.
Iceland's economy runs largely on renewable power, and that shapes the business that brings visitors.
Almost all of the country's electricity and heat comes from hydropower and geothermal sources, which has drawn data centre operators and green energy projects to the island. Business Iceland, which promotes the country abroad, lists energy and green solutions, innovation, creative industries, tourism, fisheries and food products among its priority sectors. Geothermal plants such as Hellisheiði, among the largest in the world, sit close to the capital.
For a principal with interests in energy, technology or real estate, a day of site visits and meetings can be built around a morning arrival and an evening departure.
Wellness
Wellness in the lava fields.
The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, a short drive from Keflavik, has become the leading address for guests who value privacy.
Its roughly sixty suites look out over lava fields or a private stretch of the lagoon, and a subterranean spa guides guests through a three-step ritual based on the lagoon's silica, algae and minerals. The Blue Lagoon Suite adds a private lagoon, a full spa and helipad access, a rare combination.
Closer to the city, Sky Lagoon offers geothermal bathing with an ocean backdrop. Volcanic activity has affected parts of the Reykjanes peninsula in recent years, so current local advice is worth checking before travel.
Northern Lights
A schedule that follows the sky.
The northern lights define Iceland's darker months, and the most comfortable way to see them is on a schedule that follows the sky rather than a tour timetable.
Hotel Rangá, in the south of the country, has its own observatory and hosts evenings led by an astronomer. The Retreat arranges northern lights excursions and helicopter tours for its guests. By day, private Zodiac rides among the icebergs of the Fjallsárlón glacier lagoon show another side of the island.
At the Table
Reykjavik's dining scene has matured.
The capital now offers a choice of Michelin-listed venues for a business dinner or a long leisure evening.
Reykjavik's dining scene has matured considerably, and the Michelin Guide now awards a star to three restaurants in the capital. DILL, on Laugavegur, was the first, in 2017, with a tasting menu built around Icelandic produce. ÓX, a few doors along, seats just 17 guests at a kitchen counter for an evening of around four hours. Moss, at The Retreat at Blue Lagoon, looks across the lava fields and blends Icelandic ingredients with Asian influences. Tables are limited at all three, so booking ahead matters.
Weather
Weather is the one constant in Iceland.
Airport briefings note strong winds, low visibility, icing and quickly changing cloud bases.
For passengers this means a little flexibility in the schedule is worthwhile, particularly for winter arrivals or tightly timed business meetings, along with an operator who plans alternates and timings with the conditions in mind.
The Oryx Perspective
Matching each northern trip to its requirements.
A flight from London to Reykjavik shows why charter suits northern destinations so well.
Whether the plan is a day of meetings in the capital, a few nights at a lagoon retreat or an evening chasing the northern lights, each trip can be matched to its own requirements: an aircraft with the right range, an operator experienced in flying to Iceland, and the airport that best fits the itinerary.
Oryx Global Aviation arranges all of this, from choosing between Keflavik and Reykjavik to coordinating ground handling at both ends, so that principals and their guests simply arrive, rested and on schedule.
Exact routings are set by air traffic control. International use of Reykjavik City Airport should be confirmed in advance and runway performance checked for the specific aircraft. Volcanic activity has affected parts of the Reykjanes peninsula; check current local advice before travel.