Stewart Airport to offer nation's first nonstop service to the Faroe Islands

Mike Randall, Times Herald-Record
·2 min read

New York Stewart International Airport will offer the nation's first nonstop flights to the Faroe Islands beginning in August, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey announced.

Atlantic Airways will offer the seasonal weekly service between Aug. 22 and Oct. 4. Tickets will go on sale beginning May 15.

Flights will land at Vagar, the sole airport on the Faroe Islands. The weekly flights will depart from Stewart on Wednesdays, with the return flights to Stewart arriving on Tuesdays. The flights take approximately six hours.

Atlantic officials said there is high interest in the new service on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean.

While they are known for their awe-inspiring landscapes and eco-tourism, the Faroe Islands are not easily accessible from the United States due to the Danish territory's remote location in the north Atlantic Ocean and their historically limited air service. Vagar Airport serves the territorial capital of Torshavn, which is also its largest city.

Port Authority officials also noted they have been preparing Stewart for developments like this.

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"In recent years, the Port Authority has steadily invested in New York Stewart's transformation to an attractive, modern destination with a brand new customs hall and unique, competitive choices for both domestic and international travelers," said Rick Cotton, executive director of the Port Authority. "We look forward to our partnership with Atlantic Airways."

"The Port Authority remains committed to offering greater connectivity to more destinations from New York Stewart International Airport," added Kevin O'Toole, chairman of the Port Authority. "We anticipate that Atlantic Airways' new service will bring in more tourism dollars while creating new local jobs."

Since the Port Authority acquired Stewart in 2007, it has invested more than $220 million in facility improvements. It recently completed a $37 million terminal expansion, which included construction of a permanent U.S. Customs and Border Protection inspection station to support new air service and accommodate additional international travelers.

Mike Randall covers breaking news for the Times Herald-Record, Poughkeepsie Journal and The Journal News/lohud. Reach him at mrandall@th-record.com or on Twitter @mikerandall845.

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Stewart Airport to the Faroe Islands nonstop flights coming in August