14. November 2025
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Scheduled Helicopter Rides with Atlantic Airways (Faroe Islands)

Florian Buechtingby Florian Buechting

Atlantic Airways Helicopter Service

Atlantic Airways Helicopter Service
4.5

Rating

 4.5/5

Flyctory.com Pros

  • Very scenic and iconic experience
  • Good connections to public transport
  • Lovely service

Overall, I had significantly more plans to explore places and sights on the Faroe Islands during my trip last week. However, my physical condition and the weather reduced these plans significantly. One experience I could do was a helicopter ride with Atlantic Airways. Apart from their flight experience (with A 320 planes), they connect some of the islands by these scheduled flights. I had the opportunity to check them out. Here is my experience.

 

Atlantic Airlines Helicopter – The Network & Tariff

Atlantic Airways currently serves ten destinations by helicopter. Services are on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, the schedule alters slightly in summer and in off season. The majority of the heliports cover remote locations, so that only three heliports, the one in Torshavn (EKTB), Klaksvik (EKKV) and the one at Faroe Islands Airport (FAE / EKVG) are “central” ones. I have listed them below. There are also some other heliports or landing places for helicopters, e.g. in Koltur or Skopun, which are currently not used for scheduled services. There is also a helipad at the National Hospital for emergency flights.

ICAO Location Public Transport
EFKA Frodba Ferry from Krambatangi to Torshavn. Walking distance: 6km!
EKHI Hattarvik Ferry 58 to Hvannasund, Bus 500 to Klaksvik (walking distance: 500m)
EKKU Kirkja Ferry 58 to Hvannasund, Bus 500 to Klaksvik (walking distance: 500m)
EKKV Klaksvik Bus 400 to Torshavn (walking distance: 1.5 km)
EKMS Mykines Ferry 36 to Sorvagur, Bus 300 from there to Torshavn (walking distance: 600m)
EKSY Skuvoy Ferry 66 to Sandur. Bus 650 to Torshavn via  (Waking distance 500m)
EKVG Vagar /
Faroe Islands Airport (FAE)		 Bus 300 to Torshavn (departure from terminal)
EKSR Stora Dimun No alternative transport
EKSO Svinoy Ferry 58 to Hvannasund, Bus 500 to Klaksvik
EKTB Torshavn City bus or 2km walk to Bus Terminal

The key mission of the flights is to allow people on the remote islands to connect to the major city services, majorly in Torshavn. They are also used to transport freight to the islands. Faroe Islands residents pay a reduce fare. I had a flight from Vagar (FAE) to Klaksvik (EKKV) for a price of 1080 DKK (roughly 145 EUR). The price for locals would be 360 DKK, i.e. a third of it. You can book tickets seven days in advance.

One Flight per Daz onlz

A strict rule is that you can only book one flight per day. This explicitly means that same-day returns are not possible. If you try to break that rule, you risk that your booking is cancelled. I thus gave you local transport options how to get back from the heliports to Klaksvik or Torshavn in the table above. Explicitly, I did not check if these trips work out in practice for a one-day trip or not. Ferry 58 may require explicit pre-booking. During summer, there are also sightseeing flights.

 

Atlantic Airlines Helicopter – At the Airport / Heliport

As said, I planned to fly from Vagar (FAE / EKVG) to Klaksvik (EKKV). Even on that ticket, returns are not allowed. Thus, you leave the helicopter in Torshavn (EKTB), wait until the helicopter returns from its trip to the Southern islands and then board it again. The helicopters are named to be very reliable. During my trip, though, the leg from Torshavn to Klaksvik has been cancelled and I have been refunded. You should be at the heliport 30 minutes before departure, where your luggage is labeled and your documents are checked. The luggage included is 20kg, there are no liquid checks, but all luggage will go into the hold (no cabin luggage). At Faroe Islands Airport (FAE), you are driven by a van to the helicopter landing pad. At all other heliports, you are guided by the staff to the helicopter once it is safe. The helicopter may only be approached from one side. Similarly, the staff helps assists you during the unboarding process.

 

Atlantic Airlines Helicopter – The Helicopters

For their domestic helicopter service, Atlantic Airways uses AgustaWestland AW 139 helicopters. They are used for scheduled as well as for charter flights. Atlantic Airways also drives SAR missions with them. The airline owns two of these vessels, Wikipedia gives a seating capacity of 15, but I feel Atlantic only uses 12 seats, three rows with four seats each, the first two rows facing each other. 15 seats was the configuration used by Helity in Spain, when I flew from Algeciras (AEI) to Ceuta (GECE) with them in May  2018.

The seat is narrow. It is an important transportation for the locals, not a touristic flight. Thus, you also cannot pre-book a certain seat or require similar wishes. Ear muffs are provided, it can be rather loud during the flight in the cabin. Nonetheless, I could hear the announcements by the two pilots very well.

 

Atlantic Airlines Helicopter – My Flight Experience

The flight from Vagar (FAE) to Torshavn (EKTB) I finally had was an absolute dream to me. There were no stops in between, so that the flight just took some ten minutes. The flight was a lovely experience, you follow the typical Southeast route from the runway along the Vagar island and have a great view of the cliffs. East of Koltur, the helicopter turns towards Torshavn, so that you have a beautiful view of the capital. Apart from natural sights I love, I absolutely enjoyed seeing Torsvollur Stadium from the top, where I one day later featured the European Qualifier match between the Faroe Islands and Montenegro. During the approach, you also pass my favorite hotel on the territory, the Hilton Garden Inn Faroe Islands.

 

Atlantic Airlines Helicopter – Service

The staff was lovely and very friendly. A special shout-out and love to the heliport manager in Torshavn. While I was waiting for my connection, we had a long chat and a coffee together.

 

Atlantic Airlines Helicopter – My View

Even though I would have loved to fly into “my Faroese soccer city” Klaksvik, this day with Atlantic Airways was an amazing experience. I really loved flying helicopter on a scheduled service again. You simply have a great view of the Faroe Islands. The service is great. Of course, I generally recommend to go for routes which are not that much used by locals, as for them these services are essential. The price for one person is a little less than the price of the equivalent taxi ride (but, of course, much more expansive than other public transport, where possible).

 

Travel (Faroe Islands)

Here are all my travel posts related to the Faroe Islands:

 

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