Icelandair is set to launch flights to Keflavik International Airport from Gatwick.

The airline will operate twice-weekly Gatwick flights (Thursdays and Sundays) from18 October 2012 using a Boeing 757-200.

Birkir Holm Gudnason, Icelandair’s CEO said: “Operating from Gatwick will give our UK customers greater choice.

“Over the past few years we have seen a surge in demand for winter travel to Iceland due to the popularity of the Northern Lights, year-round whale watching and events like Iceland Airwaves. Gatwick will also give us the option of further growth in London and provide a link to our many partners with connecting flights to destinations throughout Europe and more remote destinations in Asia.”

Punctuality at Gatwick and other London airports increased in the last quarter of 2011 when compared to the same period in 2010.

In October to December 2011 London airports saw a 13% increase in on-time performances of scheduled flights compared to 2010 with average Gatwick scheduled flight delays reducing by six minutes.

A flight is regarded as on time if it is early or up to 15 minutes late.

Baggage handling at Gatwick was in chaos on Saturday after a power cut disrupted luggage carousels at the airport, the BBC reports.

A fault in an electricity substation around 3:30am caused a series of power cuts and meant that bags had to be moved manually causing delays to flights with some passengers arriving at their destinations without their luggage.

Power was restored by 10:30am, however, 2000 bags were left at the airport for forwarding on later flights.

For more information check out the BBC website here www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-17324844

There’s more good news for Gatwick Airport after Atlantic Airways announced its intention to move its flights from Stansted Airport to Gatwick.

Gatwick flights to Vágar in the Faroe Islands will commence on 31 May 2012 and operate through to 17 September – additional flights will also be added to cater for extra demand at Easter.

Delta is to axe its final destination from Gatwick Airport.

The airline is set to add an extra daily flight from Heathrow to Atlanta, but at the expense of its Gatwick service.