Fly to Scandinavia from Fort Myers

During the hectic holidays, you might have missed the news that Southwest Florida International Airport will become the only Florida airport to offer nonstop air service to Denmark.

Danish tour operator Comefly will lease a 358-seat Airbus 330 from Monarch Airlines, a British low-cost airline, for the nonstop flights from Fort Myers to the Danish cities of Copenhagen and Aalborg.

While it will operate twice a week starting June 14, the new service is significant because it opens up a new market for the Gulf Coast. Initially, the Danish tour operator considered flights to Fort Lauderdale but settled on Fort Myers after airport officials touted the region, says Carol Obermeier, director of aviation market development for Southwest Florida International Airport.

Obermeier says she met the Danish tour operator through Monarch executives. Fort Myers airport officials have been talking to Monarch about starting nonstop flights to Great Britain.

Comefly's target demographic is traveling families from Denmark and nearby countries. For example, Aalborg is a two-hour drive from Hamburg, Germany, has free parking and no departure tax on travelers.

If it's successful, the frequency of the flights could increase. Under an incentive plan, the airport is waiving three years of landing fees.