BWI loses another overseas carrier, Icelandair

Ironically, Icelandair would be an excellent code-share partner with Southwest and Airtran, since it is essentially a low-cost trans-atlantic carrier that attracts a lot of budget-conscious customers who don't mind making a layover in Reykjavik.

In fact, as I recall, Southwest did briefly attempt this with Icelandair a decade ago or so.

This really is aggravating. Icelandair was the one international constant at BWI all these years. I'll bet anything, just like Aer Lingus, in another year they'll return to DC--at Dulles.

It should be noted that British Airways service to London is subsidized by the State of Maryland. It is doubtful whether the service would exist without the subsidy.

Now wouldn't be nice if our 'do nothing' Senators (Milkuski/Sarbanes/now Cardin) would actually do something! For years these Senators have not raised one finger to demand that the DC area relinquish their control over International flights and give BWI some access to Europe or even Asia
It doesn't take a genius to say to United, Continental, Delta or American " Switch several flights per day to Paris, Rome, Prague, London, Berlin and back."
But,,,,,as usual, these Senators have done NOTHING to support Baltimore or Maryland. They only worry about how often they can get to dine or vacation with the Kennedys or Clintons. Or, how they can meet with Oprah Winfrey.
Milkuski has been in power too long-she does nothing for real Marylanders - only if they were gay or were anti-American.

The subsidy from the state of Maryland for British Airways was, I believe, a revenue guarantee; and if the airport hadn't been owned by the state, the amount--or even the fact it exists--would have been a secret. Many, many airports offer these guarantees or other incentives (waive landing fees, assist in local advertising, etc) to keep service going.

In any case, those subsidies were only needed during the lean years after 9/11. I believe the service is self-sustaining now.

As for our senators--let's not forget our congressmen. I attempted to contact Steny Hoyer four times with a n email expressing my concern over the lack of transcontinental service from BWI. It went ignored each time. When I finally got a hold of a staffer, they essentially said, "he's not involved in transportation issues." But when his good friend Nancy Pelosi's hometown airport United wanted that non-stop to China from Dulles, Hoyer had no problem sending a letter to the relevant agency urging they approve that route.

Yes, we sure are well represented here in Maryland, and our grand William Donald Schaefer International Terminal is the centerpiece of our politicians hard work.

You all make good points, but are missing the main point. Major international airlines simply don't want servie to BWI because the dominant domestic carrier (Soutwest), doesn't want to code-share with any of them.

Why should the state government have to subsidize an airline? Trust me, the international airlines will operate where they can make money.

Well, I didn't miss that point, when I suggested in my second post that Icelandair would make a good code-share partner with Southwest. They did, in fact, try that once, but some time ago, when Southwest wasn't as large, nor as interested in international service.

Southwest has repeatedly said they will consider such a codeshare arrangement some day, but not likely in the near future.

As for subsidizing: I agree that airlines go where they want to go, and they like Dulles because they can codeshare with United. But airports also play a roll in marketing their facilities and their communities to airlines to ensure they make them attractive. Since the state of Maryland insist on owning and running BWI (one of the few--maybe only--airport in the country owned by a state and not run by an independent authority) it's unfortunately up to our state leaders to do that marketing. Afterall, they're the ones who insist on keeping control of the airport, even after studies suggested it would be better spun off.

Perhaps the Icelanders are weary of having their wives and daughters groped, strip searched and shackled by the American TSA goons. Canada seems more civil in its treatment of airline passengers, so this move seems logical.

The market is just not here for Baltimore to Europe with subsidies. NOVA and Dulles airport are just more viable cities for international travel. Baltimore is much more of a downmarket 3rd world like city.

The main reason why BWI loses out on international service is because the state's business climate is so unfriendly there is no reason to fly there. Northern Virginia has 30x the international businesses as Maryland.