Atlantic Airways is the national airline of the Faroe Islands, with IATA code RC and ICAO code FLI. It was formed in 1987 and operated its first commercial flight on 28 March 1988. Majority owned by the Faroese government and headquartered in Tórshavn, it is based at Vágar Airport (FAE) and is the most important air bridge between the islands and mainland Europe. The official website is atlanticairways.com; the atlantic.fo domain is also used.
The passenger fleet consists of four Airbus A320 family aircraft, including two more fuel-efficient A320neo, a relatively young fleet by European standards. The company also operates two Leonardo AW139 helicopters for search and rescue and other public service tasks. It has no freighters and relies on passenger belly capacity for mail, perishables and trade goods between the Faroes and Nordic and western European cities.
For Chinese shippers, the value of Atlantic Airways is exclusive access to the small North Atlantic market of the Faroe Islands. The islands are known for fishing, seafood exports and the marine economy, and Chinese imports of salmon, cod and processed seafood, along with Chinese exports of machinery, consumer goods and project materials, must transit a mainland European hub before Atlantic Airways connects to Vágar. Copenhagen is the main gateway and the natural transit point for Chinese cargo entering the Faroes.
Since its first flight in 1988, Atlantic Airways has extended its network from Copenhagen to Nordic cities and western European holiday destinations, and renewed its fleet from small turboprops to modern Airbus A320 family aircraft. As a government-controlled airline its operations serve the islands' basic need for external connections, and belly capacity is released alongside passenger flights, giving stable but limited commercial cargo capability.
The Faroes have no large hub airport and Vágar is small, and there are no direct flights between China and the islands. Chinese cargo usually flies first to Copenhagen and then connects on a short Atlantic Airways flight. The channel suits urgent high-value cargo such as seafood, precision parts and express shipments.
Because the carrier's network centers on the Faroes, having us arrange the Copenhagen connection and Vágar arrival removes the uncertainty of self-arranged connections, ensures a smooth transfer at the Nordic hub and keeps the shipment trackable throughout.
The Faroe Islands lie in the North Atlantic between Norway, Iceland and Shetland and consist of more than a dozen main islands, with a small population and a limited local consumer market but rich marine resources. That geography and economy shape an air transport system built for external connections: people and high-value cargo fly, while bulk goods go by sea. As the national airline, Atlantic Airways has long provided the public service link between the islands and mainland Europe, and its schedule opens belly capacity to commercial cargo while protecting basic social connectivity.
For Chinese trade the Faroes are not a mainstream export market, but they matter in seafood. Chinese importers often bring fresh Faroese seafood back via Europe, and there is occasional demand for Chinese machinery parts, consumer goods and project materials. Because the market is small and flights are few, shippers often struggle to arrange connections themselves, so coordinating the Copenhagen transit through us is the practical choice.
Atlantic Airways has no public office of its own in China and its cargo sales focus on Europe and the Faroese market. Chinese shippers wanting to use the carrier to the Faroes or the Nordic region should contact its local agent in China or ask Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited for help. We know the transit process at Copenhagen airport and can arrange the China to Copenhagen leg and the Copenhagen to Vágar leg as one movement, tracking the shipment throughout.
Because Vágar is small with limited flights, connections need generous time. Shippers should state the final destination and transit time requirements at booking so we can calculate the connection window between the two legs and avoid cargo being stranded in Copenhagen. Temperature-controlled cargo such as seafood must be declared at the booking stage.
Note that the Copenhagen to Vágar sector is short and belly capacity is limited, tightening in peak season and the seafood export season. For regular shippers we can help reserve capacity in advance. Where time allows, sea or other overland options via Copenhagen can supplement air, but air remains the most reliable choice for the Faroes.
We act as the single point of contact, coordinating both legs and the connection, so the shipper does not deal with several carriers.
Atlantic Airways uses Airbus A320 family aircraft as its only jet capacity, carrying belly cargo on Nordic and western European routes. The A320neo, with better fuel efficiency, flies some high-frequency sectors; the helicopter fleet supports search and rescue and does not carry commercial cargo.
| Aircraft type | Cargo mode | Main use |
|---|---|---|
| Airbus A320 / A320neo | Belly capacity on passenger aircraft | Flown on Vágar to Copenhagen, Billund, Oslo, Reykjavik, Edinburgh and seasonal European points, carrying mail, perishables and trade goods in the belly. |
| Leonardo AW139 helicopter | No commercial cargo | Used for search and rescue and public service tasks, unrelated to the commercial cargo network; noted here only for completeness of the fleet description. |
The fleet is small and numbers on register and points change with the season; confirm with the carrier at booking.
Single-aisle belly capacity is limited and suits small to medium urgent trade cargo and perishables rather than bulk full-pallet freight. The A320neo is more efficient in seating and fuel than the original A320 and flies some high-frequency sectors. Runway and terminal constraints at Vágar mean oversize cargo is assessed shipment by shipment. For shippers trading between the Faroes and China, standard cartons, express shipments and temperature-controlled seafood fit this belly capacity best.
Atlantic Airways does not operate flights in China; Chinese cargo reaches Vágar via Copenhagen. The main connections are listed below; times are local, frequencies change with the season and carrier confirmation on the day of booking prevails.
| Chinese origin cities | Connection path | Arrival hub | Indicative schedule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | PVG direct or via Copenhagen CPH, then RC to FAE | Vagar FAE | Several Copenhagen to Vágar flights a day, with the connection set by the daily schedule |
| Beijing Capital PEK | PEK via a European hub to CPH, then RC to FAE | Vagar FAE | Daily connection, adjusted slightly with the season |
| Guangzhou CAN | CAN via a European hub to CPH, then RC to FAE | Vagar FAE | Daily connection, more frequent in peak season |
| Hong Kong HKG | HKG via a European hub to CPH, then RC to FAE | Vagar FAE | Daily connection, subject to booking confirmation |
The Copenhagen to Vágar sector is operated by Atlantic Airways and the China to Copenhagen leg by other carriers, so connection times must be confirmed shipment by shipment.
Copenhagen to Vágar takes a little over two hours and is relatively frequent among Nordic points, but Vágar has few night flights, so shippers must watch the same-day connection cut-off. At booking we choose the earliest Vágar flight that the cargo can make, keeping transit waiting to a minimum. Time-critical cargo such as seafood benefits most from a short connection, and we prioritize fast transfers.
The Atlantic Airways network radiates from Vágar and, with the global connections of Copenhagen as a Nordic hub, forms the channel for Chinese cargo to and from the Faroes and nearby Nordic markets. The four directions below set out the value of that network for Chinese shippers. Note that the carrier does not itself fly to China, the China leg is operated by other carriers, and the coverage described refers to what is reachable after connecting at Copenhagen.
Vágar is the only international airport in the Faroes and Atlantic Airways provides most of the air capacity to and from mainland Europe. Faroese seafood and marine products imported by China and Chinese goods exported to the islands both pass through this channel. For Chinese companies in North Atlantic seafood trade, it is the key link between the source and the domestic market.
Besides Copenhagen, Atlantic Airways connects Billund, Aalborg, Oslo, Bergen and Reykjavik and opens seasonal points such as Edinburgh, Paris, Barcelona, Milan and Tenerife in summer. Chinese cargo can use this network to reach secondary Nordic cities.
Copenhagen is the natural transit gateway for Chinese cargo into the Faroes and one of the largest air hubs in the Nordic region, with mature routes from major Chinese cities and convenient connections. Chinese shippers get established international cargo terminals and clearance facilities at Copenhagen, reducing transit risk and improving transfer efficiency.
Fishing is the backbone of the Faroese economy and seafood has strict transit time and temperature requirements. Atlantic Airways belly cold-chain capability is an important link between Faroese seafood and Chinese consumers, while Chinese exports in the other direction are mostly urgent small lots.
Choosing Atlantic Airways to connect China and the Faroes gives the shipper a direct air channel to a small North Atlantic market. Six points set out what that channel offers Chinese shippers.
First, exclusive access. The Faroes are remote from mainland Europe and local air options are limited; as the national airline, Atlantic Airways operates almost all commercial air links at Vágar, so Chinese cargo generally depends on its capacity. Second, a mature gateway connection. Copenhagen to Vágar operates daily with a stable connection window, so Chinese cargo reaches the islands with one transit.
Third, suitable cold-chain capability. Faroese seafood exports have strict temperature and transit requirements, and Atlantic Airways has built experience over years of perishable handling. Fourth, a young fleet. The A320neo reduces fuel burn and operational variability, and on-time performance is relatively stable. We can arrange carriage in either direction, whether cargo is exported to the Faroes or seafood is imported.
Fifth, operational stability from its public service role. As the national carrier responsible for the islands' external connections, Atlantic Airways keeps basic frequencies in the low season rather than suspending flights when traffic dips, which matters for local trade and project supplies that depend on regular replenishment. Sixth, a single transit point. Chinese cargo needs only one connection at Copenhagen, so damage and delay risk is lower than on multi-transfer routings. Overall the channel suits small, urgent Chinese import and export cargo with cold-chain requirements.
Chinese shippers do not book with Atlantic Airways directly but entrust the whole movement to Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited. We arrange mainline carriage from the Chinese gateway to Copenhagen, connect to Atlantic Airways belly capacity from Copenhagen to Vágar, and complete clearance and island delivery at Vágar. Because Vágar has few routes, this single-contract model reduces the risk of a self-arranged connection going wrong.
The process: the shipper submits the shipping instruction and cargo details; we calculate rates for both legs and confirm the connection window; capacity is locked and cargo dispatched; the China to Copenhagen leg flies to schedule; the transfer is completed at Copenhagen; the local agent clears customs at Vágar. Shippers can check waybill status with us. Temperature requirements for seafood must be declared at booking.
For the import direction, seafood moving from the Faroes via Copenhagen to China, we can also arrange the reverse booking. The shipper's Faroese supplier or partner delivers to the Vágar cargo terminal, our partner agent connects the cargo to Copenhagen and it flies back to a Chinese gateway. Handling both directions at one point simplifies operations for companies in North Atlantic seafood trade.
One caution: the Vágar cargo terminal has limited capacity, so oversize and out-of-gauge cargo may need special arrangements. If dimensions exceed standard belly limits, tell us before booking so we can confirm acceptance, switching to another mode if necessary. Standard-size trade cargo and express shipments follow normal procedures.
Once documents are complete we can quote quickly and secure the Copenhagen connection; booking a week or more ahead is advised in peak season.
Beyond routine belly carriage, and given the Faroese industry profile, the Atlantic Airways network has practical value for Chinese shippers in the following cargo scenarios; acceptance conditions are subject to carrier confirmation on the day and we can verify them for you.
Faroese salmon, cod and other seafood can move in belly cold-chain conditions with the temperature range confirmed at booking to protect quality. We can arrange a continuous cold chain from collection at Vágar to receipt in China, shortening transit and preserving freshness.
Time-sensitive express shipments and high-value goods can use the frequent Copenhagen to Vágar flights. These shipments are usually small and valuable, suited to fast belly transfers.
European holiday points opened in summer can carry seasonal trade cargo, subject to the carrier's schedule for that season. Book as soon as the season is confirmed so the window is not missed.
No. Atlantic Airways does not operate a China to Faroe Islands route; Chinese cargo flies first to Copenhagen and connects to a Vágar flight. Copenhagen is the main transit gateway, with mature routes from major Chinese cities and convenient connections. There is no gap in the chain, since we arrange both legs as one movement.
Atlantic Airways carries cargo in the belly of Airbus A320 family aircraft, including the newer A320neo. The company has no freighters and all cargo capacity comes from passenger bellies. Its helicopters support search and rescue and do not carry commercial cargo. Available belly payload is confirmed shipment by shipment at booking.
Faroese seafood flies in Atlantic Airways belly space to Copenhagen and connects to a Chinese gateway. Because seafood has strict temperature and transit requirements, the range and deadlines must be declared at booking so we can coordinate cold-chain handling and a fast connection. Shippers should agree collection times with their Faroese supplier in advance so the seafood can move from Vágar onto the Copenhagen to China mainline in the shortest time.
The journey covers the China to Copenhagen mainline and the Copenhagen to Vágar connection, with a typical cycle of about five to eight days including transit waiting and clearance at Vágar. Exact transit time is confirmed shipment by shipment and adjusts in peak season and for temperature-controlled cargo. Time-critical cargo such as seafood should minimize transit, and we prioritize fast connections.
Atlantic Airways has no public office of its own in China; contact its local agent in China or let us help. The shipper only submits the shipping instruction and cargo details to us, and we coordinate the Copenhagen transit and Vágar arrival throughout, so there is no need to deal with the carrier directly.
Yes. Besides exports from China to the Faroes, Faroese seafood and marine products can connect via Copenhagen back to Chinese gateways. We can book export and import in both directions, so companies in North Atlantic seafood trade can arrange both flows through one contact instead of dealing with separate parties.
Information here is compiled by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited. Flight times are local, frequencies change with the season and carrier confirmation on the day of booking prevails. The Atlantic Airways name and marks belong to the airline; the material is produced by Goodhope Logistics (China) Limited to describe cargo connections only.
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