Icelandair - Snowed in at Schiphol / Jol / Christmas (2021)

Icelandair is an airline that has had to survive the hostile North Atlantic and pioneered travel in the region, with roots dating back to 1937. As such, the airline's pilots are experienced in doing their jobs in all kinds of conditions, when many others would stay at home. The company has a range of stories about employees going above and beyond, because that's what this island nation does. The ad is based on one of these stories. On December 17th, 2010, Icelandair's pilots were the only one who took off from Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, which had cancelled all flights due to snowfall. All airport equipment was busy clearing the runway, and none available to clear paths to dispatch aircraft. The pilots on the Icelandair flight, having been told that the flight would be cancelled, decided to take matters into their own hands. They asked for shovels, and cleared a path for the plane to take off. This attitude to problem solving is woven into Iceland's DNA. The film explores this heritage and national attitude – how people growing up in Iceland learn from early on that when there's a will, there's a way. The story begins in 1987, when a young boy – our future pilot – has to find a way to make use of his new Christmas present. We see how he solves the matter at hand, and how that is the foundation on which he builds once he's become an Icelandair pilot. That's how we bring the spirit of Iceland to the world.

Client: Icelandair
The Spirit of Iceland