Icelandair Adds St. Louis Flights, Deepens Southwest Partnership

Icelandair is introducing St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) as its 16th U.S. gateway, marking its first new destination in the United States for 2027. The airline will operate three to four weekly flights from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) near Reykjavík, Iceland, to STL. This new service is scheduled to run from May 14, 2027, through October 24, 2027, with flights planned for Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. Icelandair will utilize a Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft for these flights, configured with 16 business-class recliner seats and 144 economy seats. The addition of St. Louis is strategically significant due to Icelandair's expanding partnership with Southwest Airlines, which is the busiest carrier at STL. This collaboration aims to provide passengers with enhanced connectivity, offering a new transfer point for travel between North America, Iceland, and Europe. Tómas Ingason, Icelandair's chief commercial officer, stated that St. Louis is an exciting addition, further strengthened by the growing partnership with Southwest, which will facilitate convenient connections. The airline's schedule data from Cirium indicates that Icelandair is increasing its U.S. seat capacity by 15% in 2027 compared to 2019 levels. St. Louis Lambert International Airport already hosts two other European carriers: British Airways and Lufthansa, both of which commenced service to the city in the post-pandemic period. Notably, this is not the first time St. Louis has seen service to Keflavik; the now-defunct budget carrier WOW Air briefly operated this route between 2018 and 2019 before ceasing operations. Icelandair's new route also allows passengers to take advantage of the airline's complimentary stopover program, enabling travelers to extend their journey in Iceland at no additional airfare cost. This program is a key feature for travelers looking to explore Iceland as part of their transatlantic journey. The airline's expansion into St. Louis underscores its commitment to growing its North American network and leveraging strategic partnerships to offer more comprehensive travel options to its customers. The partnership with Southwest Airlines is particularly crucial, as it allows Icelandair to tap into Southwest's extensive domestic network within the United States, thereby increasing the appeal of Icelandair's transatlantic routes for American travelers. This move positions Icelandair to compete more effectively in the North American market, offering a unique proposition that combines European connectivity with the convenience of a strong domestic partner.