Goodbye, Seattle: Icelandair's Long-Haul Airbus A321LR Routes Have Changed

Big changes are coming to Icelandair’s long-haul Airbus A321LR network. According to the carrier’s recent schedule update for the peak summer of 2026, the single-aisle equipment’s US offer will see flights to Newark, New York JFK, Orlando, and Portland. In contrast, it was used on up to three daily flights to Seattle in the peak summer of 2025.

Ch-aviation shows that Icelandair now has four LRs. However, the carrier recently announced that two additional frames will be leased. Each aircraft has 187 seats, comprising 22 in business class and 165 in economy class. It is the airline’s highest-capacity narrowbody. The most recent delivery occurred in May 2025, when TF-IAC arrived factory-fresh from Hamburg Finkenwerder.

Icelandair’s Long-Haul A321LR Plans: June To August 2026

Credit: GCMap

Between June and August 2026, four US airports—and none in Canada—are scheduled to see the 187-seater. Seattle will not be among them. Unsurprisingly, the type will primarily replace the 757 and the 767, which will be flown elsewhere or, as is increasingly done, retired.

The variant will be flown to New York JFK, which is not among the world’s ten busiest airports for movements, from January 6, 2026. In 2026, Portland will have regular flights aboard the LR from March 6, followed by Orlando on March 26. Newark will follow on May 21. The carrier’s schedule submission to Cirium Diio indicates that it has not previously used the LR to JFK or Orlando.

It’s A Big Change From Peak Summer 2025

Credit: Airbus

In the same three months in 2025, only one US airport ( Seattle) saw Icelandair’s A321LRs. It was the only equipment that was deployed there between June and August. The 757-200, 767-300ER, and MAX 8 were flown earlier in the year.

The A321LR continues to be flown to the Washington State airport, with one to two daily departures on it. However, when writing, its final departure is scheduled for May 20, 2026. Thereafter, all of its flights will be on the 160-seat 737 MAX 8. The schedule will be as follows. Notice that 20 weekly services will be available, down from 21 weekly (three daily each day) in 2025.

The reason for the equipment swap—from Icelandair’s highest-capacity single-aisle to its lowest—is clear. On May 28, Alaska Airlines will take off from Seattle to Keflavik, which will become its new longest MAX 8-operated route. The pair codeshare and more. Its entry means Keflavik-Seattle will have four daily MAX 8 flights. When both carriers are included, the market’s seats for sale will rise by a tenth year-on-year. If it maintained its triple daily A321LR operation, it’d have far more available seats, which would likely negatively impact yields and loads.

Greater NYC Will Now Have 16% Fewer Seats

Credit: Icelandair

As JFK and Newark will become all-A321LR in the peak summer of 2026, the airline’s Greater NYC seats for sale will be 16% lower year-on-year. Excluding the worst of the pandemic years, it will be the lowest capacity since the peak summer of 2014.

It will be of benefit to Icelandair. Passengers will have the airline’s latest hard product, while it’ll benefit from stronger pricing and loads, which will be good for its performance in the highly competitive market. Just ask the now-defunct Icelandic carrier PLAY. Before it announced its cessation, its last North American service was scheduled for October 24.