112
Active Routes3315
Flight Observations60
Unique Destinations55
Origin Airports1971
Avg Route Distance (mi)3795
Longest Route (mi)4
Domestic Routes96
International RoutesIcelandair (ICAO: ICE) is the flag carrier of Iceland, renowned for its transatlantic operations and its unique stopover program.
Icelandair traces its origins back to Flugfélag Akureyrar, founded in 1937 in northern Iceland. The airline later relocated to Reykjavík and was renamed Flugfélag Íslands. In 1973, it merged with Loftleiðir Icelandic Airlines under a new holding company, Flugleiðir, which officially adopted Icelandair as its international trade name in 1979.
The airline's main operational base and hub is Keflavík International Airport (KEF), with a secondary domestic hub located at Reykjavík Airport (RKV). As of November 2025, Icelandair operates a diverse fleet including Airbus A321LR, Boeing 737 MAX 8, Boeing 737 MAX 9, Boeing 757-200, Boeing 767-300ER, De Havilland Dash 8-Q200, and De Havilland Dash 8-Q400 aircraft. There are ongoing plans to phase out its Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft by 2026 and introduce new Airbus A321XLR aircraft into its fleet starting in 2029.
Icelandair leverages Iceland's strategic geographical location to operate a transatlantic hub-and-spoke network, connecting over 60 destinations across North America and Europe via its Icelandic hub. Additionally, it provides domestic flights within Iceland and services to Greenland and the Faroe Islands. While Icelandair is not a member of any major global airline alliances like Star Alliance, SkyTeam, or Oneworld, it maintains extensive codeshare and interline agreements with over 70 partner airlines, including Alaska Airlines, JetBlue, Emirates, Finnair, SAS, British Airways, TAP Air Portugal, and Southwest Airlines, to broaden its network and offer more travel options. The airline offers various cabin classes: Economy Light, Economy Standard, Economy Flex, Saga Premium, and Saga Premium Flex. Saga Premium is its premium cabin, featuring spacious seating, complimentary gourmet meals, alcoholic beverages, Wi-Fi access, lounge access, and priority services. A highly regarded service is the Icelandair Stopover program, which allows passengers to include a complimentary stopover in Iceland for up to seven days during their transatlantic journey.
Recent traveler reviews for Icelandair offer a mixed but generally positive sentiment, often highlighting its unique offerings while pointing out areas for improvement.
What Travelers Love:
Common Complaints:
Overall Sentiment Summary:
Icelandair is generally viewed as a reliable choice for transatlantic travel, especially for those interested in its popular stopover option. While the in-flight staff and aircraft quality often receive praise, the airline faces consistent criticism regarding its baggage policies and the effectiveness of its customer service in handling problems.
Icelandair maintains a robust safety record and adheres to international safety standards. The airline has a 7/7 safety rating from AirlineRatings.com as of February 2024.
Regarding its safety record, Icelandair has had a few notable incidents in recent years, though none involving passenger fatalities. In October 2019, an Icelandair Boeing 757 landed on a closed and occupied runway at Keflavík International Airport due to a fuel emergency and communication issues. In November 2023, an Icelandair Boeing 757 experienced a tail strike during landing in Varanasi, India. A separate incident in March 2023 involved an Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX with a tail strike during a balked landing in Toronto. Additionally, in August 2020, an Icelandair Boeing 757 experienced an engine shutdown in flight. Historically, a significant fatal accident involving Loftleiðir (a predecessor airline to Icelandair) occurred in 1978 in Sri Lanka.
Icelandair holds an IOSA Certification (IATA Operational Safety Audit), an internationally recognized system that assesses an airline's operational management and control systems. This certification requires re-evaluation every two years to ensure continuous compliance with stringent safety standards. Icelandair is also a member of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) since 1950 and the Flight Safety Foundation (FSF) since 1966, organizations dedicated to promoting aviation safety.
The airline is actively engaged in fleet renewal. While it currently operates Boeing 757s and 767s, it is phasing them out by 2026 and integrating newer, more fuel-efficient Airbus A321LR and Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, which have an average age of 3-4 years for the MAX fleet as of March 2023. Icelandair emphasizes its well-maintained fleet and utilizes flight simulators at its training facility for pilots and cabin crew, indicating a strong commitment to operational safety and maintenance.
Overall, Icelandair's safety assessment is positive, supported by its high safety rating from independent organizations and its commitment to international safety audits and memberships. In 2015, Icelandair was recognized among the Top 10 safest low-cost airlines by AirlineRatings.com.
| Route | Destination | Flights | Distance | Aircraft | Last Seen |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| KEF → CPH |
Copenhagen
Copenhagen
|
196 | 1334 mi | B763 | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → LHR |
London Heathrow
London
|
167 | 1178 mi | A21N | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → CDG |
Charles de Gaulle/Roissy
Paris
|
166 | 1394 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → FRA |
Frankfurt Int'l
Frankfurt am Main
|
135 | 1493 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → MUC |
Munich Int'l
Munich
|
131 | 1674 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → AMS |
Amsterdam Schiphol
Amsterdam
|
117 | 1267 mi | B763 | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → ARN |
Stockholm-Arlanda
Stockholm
|
115 | 1333 mi | B39M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → JFK |
John F Kennedy Intl
New York
|
111 | 2590 mi | A21N | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → HEL |
Helsinki-Vantaa
Vantaa
|
107 | 1520 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → ZRH |
Zurich (Kloten)
Zurich
|
92 | 1636 mi | B38M | Feb 11, 2026 |
| KEF → BER |
Berlin-Brandenburg
Berlin
|
91 | 1512 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → BOS |
Boston Logan Intl
Boston
|
90 | 2411 mi | B763 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → SEA |
Seattle-Tacoma Intl
Seattle
|
85 | 3615 mi | A21N | Feb 12, 2026 |
| LGG → KEF |
Keflavik Int'l
Keflavik
|
79 | 1376 mi | B763 | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → DUB |
Dublin Int'l
Dublin
|
79 | 932 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → LGW |
London Gatwick
London
|
78 | 1204 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → ORD |
Chicago O'Hare Intl
Chicago
|
76 | 2939 mi | B38M | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → GLA |
Glasgow Int'l
Glasgow
|
76 | 838 mi | B752 | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → YYZ |
Toronto Pearson Int'l
Toronto
|
73 | 2594 mi | B38M | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → OSL |
Oslo, Gardermoen
Oslo
|
72 | 1108 mi | B39M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| KEF → IAD |
Washington Dulles Intl
Washington
|
70 | 2796 mi | B38M | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → BRU |
Brussels
Brussels
|
51 | 1336 mi | B38M | Feb 13, 2026 |
| IAD → KEF |
Keflavik Int'l
Keflavik
|
49 | 2796 mi | B38M | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → DEN |
Denver Intl
Denver
|
46 | 3562 mi | B38M | Feb 12, 2026 |
| KEF → RDU |
Raleigh-Durham Intl
Raleigh/Durham
|
45 | 3014 mi | B38M | Feb 6, 2026 |
Airline statistics are based on flight route observations collected from FlightAware AeroAPI and other sources. Flight counts represent observed operations, not scheduled frequencies. Route data is continuously updated as new flight information becomes available.