Original postcard caption:

"Icelandic Airlines Loftleidir - The Great Circle Route between the Continent of Europe and North America via Iceland."

Remarks by Jack McKillop: "Loftleidir, the Icelandic airline, flew international routes and owned a total of six DC-6Bs between December 1959 and April 1973. These six aircraft are listed below sorted by registration:

TF-FIP: DC-6B, c/n 43549, named "Solfaxi". This was ex SAS LN-LML, Thai International HS-TGB and SAS SE-XBO purchased by Loftleidir from SAS on January 4, 1964." It was sold to Delta Air Transport of Belgium on April 18 1972 and reregistered OO-RVG.

TF-ISC: DC-6B, c/n 43744, named "Skyfaxi". This was ex SAS OY-KME and Thai International HS-TGA leased to Loftleidir by SAS and delivered it on February 25, 1961; SAS sold it to Loftleidir on June 23, 1961. It was sold to Concare Aircraft Leasing in the US in April 1973 and reregistered N19CA.

TF-LLA, DC-6B, c/n 44120, named "Leifur Eiriksson;" it was subsequently renamed "Bjarni Herjolfsson" and "Thorsteinn Eiriksson". This is ex Pan American "Clipper Mermaid", N5120V, sold to Loftleidir by Pan American and entered service on December 7, 1959. The aircraft was leased to Transavia of the Netherlands on May 1, 1968 registered PH-TRD and sold to Flughjalp of Iceland on May 1, 1969 registered TF-LLA.

TF-LLB, DC-6B, c/n 44118, named "Snorri Sturluson." This is ex Pan American "Clipper John Alden," N5118V, purchased from Pan American on March 9, 1960. The aircraft was leased to Transavia of the Netherlands and registered PH-TRE between April 26, 1961 and October 3, 1968. It was sold to Transavia on February 7, 1969 and registered PH-TRE.

TF-LLD, DC-6B, c/n 44117, named "Eirikur Raudi". This is ex Pan American "Clipper De Soto", later "Clipper Berlin", N6117C purchased from Pan American on August 12 1961. The aircraft was leased to Transavia of the Netherlands and registered PH-TRL on October 23, 1968; upon completion of the lease, it was sold to Flughjalp of Iceland on May 8, 1969 and reregistered TF-AAB.

TF-LLE, DC-6B, c/n 44425, named "Snorri Thorfinnson". This is ex Pan American "Clipper Windward", later "Clipper Köln-Bonn", N5025K purchased from Pan American on March 17, 1962. This aircraft was sold to Transavia of the Netherlands and registered PH-TRL on October 25, 1968."

Remarks by Olafur Sigurdsson: "The photo shows a DC-6B from "LOFTLEIDIR Icelandic Airlines". Loftleidir Icelandic Airlines was founded in 1944 by three pilots which had become pilots in Canada during the war. They started to fly mail and passengers domestically in Iceland, mostly with seaplanes. In 1947 Loftleidir bought their first intercontinental Airliners being a surplus Douglas C-54A received from the USAF. Loftleidir started to offer low fares over the Atlantic, undercutting IATA (International Air Transport Association) prices. It must be sad that Loftleidir is the first carrier to introduce low fares over the Atlantic, if not the first low fare carrier in the World. The business grew fast and Loftleidirs two C-54As were in no way able to meet the demand. In 1959 Loftleidir signed an agreement with Pan American to buy five of their Douglas DC-6B. these planes were relatively new but available at a low price since Pan American was moving into Jet age with their Boeing 707.

TF-LLA DC-6B "Leifur Eiriksson" 1959 - 1970
TF-LLB DC-6B "Snorri Sturlusson" 1960 - 1970
TF-LLC DC-6B "Thorfinnur Karlsefni" 1961 - 1968
TF-LLD DC-6B "Eirikur Raudi" 1961 - 1968
TF-LLE DC-6B "Snorri Thorfinnsson" 1962 - 1968

Two other planes, TF-FIP and TF-ISC, belong to Flugfelag Islands or Icelandair.Both airlines were merged in 1973 and became "Flugleidir" in Icelandic, the Icelandair name was kept.

In case you need reference please consult the Icelandic Aircraft Database. I have put together every aircraft ever registered in Iceland."