A family business is not a new concept, with children often following in the footsteps of their moms and dads to take over companies or stores.
One industry not known for passing the mantle from parent to children is aviation – until now.
Passengers aboard an IcelandAir flight were treated to a distinctly “family affair,” as the pilot flew the plane with his wife and three daughters working as cabin crew.
Ingvar Mar Jónsson flew from Keflavik Airport to Washington D.C., with wife Sigga Nanna, and daughters Ingibjorg, Sigga Marta and Nina on board.
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Ingvar Mar Jónsson and his family.Keflavik Airport is the largest in Iceland, and welcomed 2,604,900 passengers in 2019, according to website Statice.is, while 2,612,143 departed through the transport hub.
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IATA stated there are 11,000 direct jobs supported by the Icelandic air transport sector, including “airlines, airport operators, airport on-site enterprises (restaurants and retail), aircraft manufacturers, and air navigation.” And of that figure, some seven workers hail from the same family.
Jónsson explained to Newsweek that initially, just three of them were scheduled to be on the flight, but his two youngest children managed to rearrange their work schedules to join them.
Ingvar Mar Jónsson and his family.
He said: “Since our 2 younger daughters (Ingibjorg and Sigga Marta) started working for the summer as flight attendants, my wife Sigga Nanna and our oldest daughter Nina thought it might be a good idea to bid for a flight together from Keflavik Iceland to Washington D.C.
“Ingvar, Sigga Nanna and Nina got the flight but Ingibjorg and Sigga Marta managed to swap flights so we could all be a part of one crew on August 20th.”
The five weren’t the only family members among passengers, as Jónsson confirmed his mother-in-law also joined them for the flight.
“Along with us we took my mother in law Ingibjorg. Also Petur (our daughter Ingibjorg’s boyfriend) and Thorir (Sigga Marta’s boyfriend).”
Other relatives pitched in to make the family flight work, as Jónsson added: “Atli who is Nina’s husband stayed in Iceland to look after their 2 small children. Our son Nonni who is 17 also stayed in Iceland to look after our 2 dogs.”
Ingvar Mar Jónsson and his family.
He explained that for his wife, aviation really is in her blood, as he revealed: “My wife Sigga Nanna comes from a big aviation family. Her Grandfather Snorri and her father Jon Karl are retired captains for Icelandair.
“Her brother Snorri is currently a captain and his wife Erla is a flight attendant. Sigga’s sister Thorhildur is also a flight attendant. All of them worked for or are working for this old airline Icelandair which was founded in the year 1937.”
The incredible flight was shared to Twitter by IcelandAir, who captioned the photo: “Iceland is a small country so flying can easily become a family affair.
“It was a once-in-a lifetime flight for pilot Ingvar, his wife Sigríður & 3 daughters: They welcomed passengers on their ‘family trip’ between DC & @kefairport. A family that flies together stays together!”
The familial connection was praised by Twitter users, with GoodbyeClutter commenting: “Would have loved to be on this flight!”
Andrew Donnelly thought: “That’s got to be some sort of record.”
Greg scroggin added: “That is really cool. Congrats to all.”
While Julian Solo noted: “Congratulations ! Beautiful family, united by a common passion.”
Ingvar Mar Jónsson and his extended family.
As the tweet references, Iceland is a small country with a small population of just 373,047, according to website World Population Review.
The figure is roughly equivalent to the population of Bakersfield, California, just outside Los Angeles, which has 373,640 residents, according to the website.
The small figure is seen as an asset, as the Iceland’s official work website stated: “If there is one unifying characteristic of Icelanders, they prioritize a healthy work-life balance that is family centric.
“Perhaps not a huge surprise given the island’s population of 360,000 and the almost algorithmic way Icelanders can connect!”