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Icelandair Launches St. Louis–Reykjavik Nonstop Service
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Icelandair Launches St. Louis–Reykjavik Nonstop Service
Icelandair will operate up to four weekly nonstop flights between St. Louis Lambert International Airport and Reykjavik beginning May 14, 2027 and continuing through October 24. The service will use Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft and marks the airline’s 16th U.S. destination. Icelandair’s Chief Commercial Officer, Tómas Ingason, said the route adds “another door” for travelers linking the Midwest with Iceland and onward to Europe. The airline also announced an expanded partnership with Southwest Airlines, enabling connections from destinations across North America through St. Louis to Iceland and European cities served by Icelandair.
Background and Regional Impact
St. Louis previously hosted nonstop service to Iceland via WOW Air from May 2018 until the carrier’s bankruptcy in 2019. The new route joins existing international options at Lambert, including daily flights to London (British Airways) and five weekly flights to Germany (Lufthansa). According to travel-data firm Amadeus, hotel bookings in St. Louis and St. Louis County rose 12 % in 2026, a gain that local officials attribute to added airport capacity.
Key Figures and Airline Partnerships
- Tómas Ingason – Chief Commercial Officer, Icelandair, who highlighted the strategic fit with Southwest Airlines.
- Brad Dean – CEO and president of Explore St. Louis, the regional tourism bureau, who emphasized the route’s potential to boost leisure and convention travel.
- Cara Spencer – Mayor of St. Louis, who framed the flight as a gateway for residents to discover new destinations.
- Sam Page – St. Louis County Executive, who attended the launch announcement.
Official Statements & Responses
Icelandair described the addition as “an exciting addition” that supports the continued development of its network and expands travel options for customers. Explore St. Louis said the new capacity will allow residents and businesses to take advantage of increased connectivity and that the bureau is planning promotional campaigns in the United States and abroad.
Verbatim Quotes
- “St. Louis has long been known as the gateway to the West,” — Tómas Ingason, Chief Commercial Officer, Icelandair
- “What we've seen in 2026 is when you add additional capacity to Lambert International Airport residents and businesses here take advantage of it, and visitors globally are truly ready to take advantage of it,” — Brad Dean, CEO and President, Explore St. Louis
- “This helps elevate the St. Louis region as not only a great leisure destination, but also a much more competitive meetings and convention destination,” — Brad Dean, CEO and President, Explore St. Louis
- “We're opening a door that allows more people to discover our city and gives St. Louisans, of course, another opportunity to discover the world,” — Cara Spencer, Mayor of St. Louis