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The Swiss travel agency Kontiki arrived in North Iceland with its first aeroplane flying directly from Zurich to Akureyri last Sunday. The inaugural flight went very well, with majestic views and clear skies as the Edelweiss-operated plane arrived at a snow-covered Akureyri.

"Direct international flights to Akureyri are a turning point for tourism in North Iceland, I believe, and hopefully we are just seeing the beginning of it," says Fjóla Viktorsdóttir, co-owner of Syðra-Skörðugil, a horse rental and a guesthouse.

A volcanic eruption started on Sunday, January 14, near Grindavík on the Reykjanes Peninsula. Travel and tourism in Iceland is not affected.

Visit North Iceland is pleased to welcome Chris Hagan temporarily as its new UK representative through the Nature Direct initiative, a collaboration with Visit Iceland, Isavia, and Austurbrú.

In early December, Roger Kinder and his wife came to Akureyri in North Iceland with easyJet from London Gatwick. Roger is a filmmaker and sent a video from the trip to Visit North Iceland, along with a short story about his travel.

"Direct flights to Akureyri, brings travellers to us in an easier way. We receive a very small portion of those travellers coming south, too small indeed. But here, tourists come directly into the area, increasing the likelihood of using services available here," says Arinbjörn Þórarinsson, manager of Greifinn restaurant in Akureyri.

British airline easyJet has started selling flights to Akureyri Airport from London Gatwick in October and November of next year.

A fissure eruption started on the Reykjanes Peninsula on Monday, December 18th at 10:17 PM. This marks the fourth eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula in three years

"Direct flights to Akureyri is a big thing for us and the community here. Both for my workplace, the Mývatn Nature Baths and the community, because we have such a big chance to increase tourism, especially during winter time as easyJet is now flying here."

13 Yule Lads live in Iceland, the sons of the old trolls Grýla and Leppalúði. Grýla and Leppalúði keep a pet, a wicked cat, which may sometimes catch children. Grýla, who is big and formidable, was said to collect the naughty children in a sack and take them home to eat for Christmas dinner. If a child is naughty, Grýla finds out immediately. Grýla can´t lay her hands on good children.

Scientists at the Icelandic Meteorological Office have been observing increased seismic activity on the Reykjanes Peninsula that started on October 24th. There are strong indicators of a looming eruption in an area close to the town of Grindavík.

History was made today in Akureyri, North Iceland when easyJet completed its inaugural flight from London Gatwick.