Iceland has been seeing increased demand in recent years, supported by a strong tourism recovery and growing international connectivity. In fact, Keflavik International Airport expects to handle more than 2.32 million international passengers by the end of this year. Notably, the country has been seeing a steady growth in transatlantic traffic. According to data from an aviation analytics provider, Cirium, airlines have scheduled nearly 8,000 flights between Iceland and North America this year across more than 20 routes.
About six carriers currently operate these services, including Icelandair, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Air Canada, and WestJet. Until September, Icelandic low-cost carrier PLAY also flew to several US and Canadian cities before suspending its operations. The airport’s North American network continues to grow, and WestJet is the latest carrier to announce additional expansion for summer 2026.
Iceland Gains New Canadian Links As WestJet And Air Transat Expand
It announced two new weekly routes from Winnipeg and Edmonton to Reykjavik. The Edmonton service will begin on June 26, followed by Winnipeg on June 27 next year; both routes will be operated by the Boeing 737 MAX. With these additions, WestJet will connect Iceland to three Canadian cities next summer. Until now, the carrier’s only Iceland service has been its Calgary–Reykjavik route, which it launched last year. Furthermore, Air Transat will also enter the market next year.
The airline is introducing a twice-weekly Montreal–Reykjavik service from June 16 to September 27, using its Airbus A321ceo fleet. This will complement Air Canada’s seasonal operation, which offers up to four weekly flights. Historically, the Montreal route has seen multiple operators; Icelandair ended its service in 2022, and WOW Air ceased operations in 2019. Indeed, over the years, travel demand between Iceland and Canada has strengthened.
Canadian visitor numbers to Iceland increased 35% last year compared to the year before, and arrivals are now nearing pre-pandemic levels. Much of the current capacity is provided by Icelandair, which offers direct connections to three Canadian cities: a seasonal service to Halifax and year-round routes to Vancouver and Toronto. The airline operates up to four weekly flights to Vancouver and plans to increase this to six next summer, while its Toronto service sees between one and two daily departures. 
Air Canada also operates –Reykjavik route seasonally, with up to four weekly flights.
Iceland’s US Network Strengthens With New Routes
Similarly, Iceland’s connectivity to the United States has also continued to grow. The country’s first scheduled US service dates back to the 1940s, when Loftleiðir Icelandic Airlines (today’s Icelandair) launched flights to New York. Since then, several carriers have operated transatlantic routes to and from Iceland, and this year alone, airlines have scheduled around 6,800 flights between Iceland and the US, according to Cirium.
Currently, 
Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, and Icelandair are the primary operators. Delta serves Reykjavik seasonally (in summer) from Detroit, 
New York JFK, and Minneapolis. The carrier first entered the market in 2011 with its New York route, followed by Minneapolis in 2016 and Detroit in 2023. Notably, Delta briefly added Boston–Reykjavik in 2021 after travel restrictions eased and Iceland reopened to fully vaccinated Americans.
Meanwhile, United Airlines serves Reykjavik from Newark and Chicago. The carrier first launched Newark–Reykjavik services in 2018 and has been serving Chicago since 2021. It also plans to introduce a Washington Dulles–Reykjavik service in May 2026. Besides that, Alaska Airlines will join the market next year with daily seasonal flights from Seattle.
Alaska Airlines Expands Global Reach With Reykjavik Flights & Icelandair Partnership
The carrier will compete, but also work together, with the Icelandic flag carrier on the route to Reykjavik.
Icelandair Now Serves 19 US Cities In Its Largest Network Ever
Icelandair remains the dominant carrier in the Iceland–US market. The airline now serves 16 US destinations from Reykjavik, including Boston, Baltimore, Denver, Detroit, Newark, Washington Dulles, New York JFK, Orlando, Chicago, Minneapolis, Portland, Pittsburgh, Raleigh/Durham, and Seattle. In October, it added Miami as its newest US destination, operating three weekly flights on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays until May 3, 2026.
The route is flown with the Airbus A321XLR. The airline also launched Nashville–Reykjavik service in May this year. It operates four times weekly, on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday, and is scheduled through early June next year. With this broad US footprint, Icelandair competes directly with every US carrier currently flying to Iceland.
