Which airlines fly directly to the Faroe Islands?
Short answer: There are only three airlines that land at Vágar Airport (FAE): Atlantic Airways (the national carrier with 90% of the routes), SAS (Scandinavian Airlines), and occasionally Icelandair or Widerøe during peak summer.
- The Copenhagen Hub: The most reliable and frequent route is entirely via Copenhagen (CPH). Atlantic Airways and SAS fly this route multiple times a day, year-round. If you are flying from the US (JFK/EWR) or India (DEL), you must route through CPH.
- Flights from the UK: Direct flights are highly seasonal. Atlantic Airways offers direct routes from Edinburgh (EDI) to the Faroe Islands almost year-round, and limited direct flights from London Gatwick (LGW) and London Stansted (STN) mostly in the summer.
- Flights from Iceland: You can fly from Reykjavik (Keflavik - KEF) directly to the Faroe Islands via Atlantic Airways or Icelandair. The flight takes roughly 90 minutes.
Taking the Ferry: The Smyril Line Cruise
If you hate flying or want to bring your own car/motorcycle, you can sail to the Faroe Islands via the Norröna, a massive passenger and car ferry operated by Smyril Line.
The ship sails primarily on a triangular route: Hirtshals (Denmark) ➔ Tórshavn (Faroe Islands) ➔ Seyðisfjörður (Iceland). The journey from Denmark to the Faroes takes roughly 36 hours. There are currently no direct ferries from Scotland, Aberdeen, or the Shetland Islands.
Global Routing Guide
| Departure Region | Best Route to Vágar (FAE) |
|---|---|
| US / Canada | Fly direct to CPH (SAS, Delta, American) or KEF (Icelandair), then catch a direct Atlantic Airways flight to FAE. |
| United Kingdom | Take the direct Atlantic Airways flight from Edinburgh (EDI) or London (LGW). Off-season, connect through CPH. |
| Germany / France / Spain | Atlantic Airways operates seasonal summer flights from Paris (CDG), Barcelona (BCN), and occasionally Berlin or Frankfurt. Otherwise, transit via CPH. |
Are there cheap flights / budget airlines?
No. Ryanair, EasyJet, and WizzAir do not operate in the Faroe Islands. You will not find 20€ Ryanair tickets here. The runway at Vágar is notoriously difficult to land on due to severe crosswinds and heavy fog, requiring specialized pilot training that budget carriers avoid.