Alaska Airlines launches the first nonstop service between Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) and Keflavík International Airport (KEF) on 28 May 2026 - tomorrow. The daily seasonal route operates through 8 September 2026 and fills a significant gap: until now, travellers from the US West Coast had no direct path to Iceland and required connections through East Coast hubs or European cities.
Flight Details
The route is operated on a Boeing 737-8 MAX with a newly refreshed cabin featuring leather seating, larger overhead bins, and complimentary Wi-Fi. The aircraft carries passengers in First Class and main cabin configurations.
Through a codeshare with Icelandair, Alaska passengers connecting onward to European cities from Reykjavik can book a single ticket. First Class and Alaska Mileage Plan elite members (Gold and above) also receive access to the Icelandair Saga Lounge at Keflavík.
A Strong Summer for New Iceland Routes
The Alaska Airlines launch comes alongside other significant North American additions to the Iceland market. United Airlines began Washington D.C.–Keflavík service from 21 May 2026, and WestJet adds Edmonton–Keflavík from 26 June and Winnipeg–Keflavík from 27 June. The combined effect is that more North American cities now have direct access to Iceland than at any previous point in history.
Why This Summer in Particular
Elevated solar activity - related to the current solar maximum phase - means auroras in autumn 2026 could be stronger and more frequent than usual, providing an incentive for visitors to extend trips into September and October - when Northern Lights tours from Reykjavík are in full swing - after the core summer season. The Boeing 737 MAX aircraft used on the SEA–KEF route can handle the roughly 8.5-hour journey nonstop.
The timing also coincides with peak Icelandic summer: the midnight sun is fully active through June and July, and puffin and whale-watching season runs through August. For first-time visitors making the most of the new West Coast gateway, see our first time in Iceland guide and our Iceland in June guide.
For a complete picture of airlines and connections currently serving Keflavík, see our Iceland flights guide.
What to Expect Arriving from Seattle
The flight covers approximately 7,800 km and takes around 8.5 hours westbound (Seattle to Reykjavik) and slightly longer eastbound due to headwinds. On the Boeing 737 MAX 8, there is no lie-flat business class - this is a single-aisle aircraft, so even First Class passengers are in recliner-style seats rather than a full flat-bed configuration. For travellers comparing options, Icelandair and Norse Atlantic both offer wide-body services to Keflavik from other North American gateways and provide lie-flat business class on those routes.
Alaska Airlines’ arrangement with Icelandair means passengers connecting onward to European destinations from Reykjavik can book through on a single Alaska ticket. Gold and Platinum Alaska Mileage Plan members receive Icelandair Saga Lounge access at Keflavik - a useful benefit on a long travel day.
Keflavik International Airport is a 45-minute drive from Reykjavik on the Reykjanes expressway. The Flybus departs from outside arrivals and costs approximately ISK 4,000-4,500 per adult one-way (2026 rate). Rental car desks are in the basement level of the terminal. The Reykjanes Peninsula itself - where Keflavik sits - has active geothermal vents (Gunnuhver, Seltun) and lava fields that are worth exploring before heading into the capital, particularly if you land in the morning and want to fill time before hotel check-in.
Connecting from the West Coast Beyond Seattle
The Seattle route is the first direct Iceland connection from any US West Coast city. Travellers from Portland, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and other western cities had previously needed to connect through East Coast hubs or European cities. Alaska Airlines has a strong presence at Seattle-Tacoma (SEA) with codeshares and interline connections from Portland (PDX), Los Angeles (LAX), San Francisco (SFO), and other West Coast airports - meaning a single ticket from these cities to Keflavik via SEA is now possible.
The route operates daily through 8 September 2026, covering the full peak summer season. Travellers interested in Iceland’s autumn aurora season (September-October) should note the service ends before that window opens; options at that point would revert to connections through East Coast US or European hubs.
Why This Summer Matters for Iceland
The Seattle launch and the concurrent WestJet Edmonton and United Washington routes collectively represent the most North American city-pairs Iceland has ever had. For Iceland’s tourism industry, North American visitors have historically been a smaller share of arrivals compared with UK and German travellers - but they tend to spend more per visit and are drawn disproportionately to high-value experiences like glacier hiking, private super-jeep tours, and Northern Lights charters.
For visitors planning trips, the practical effect is that Iceland is now a genuinely direct-fly destination from more of North America than ever before. See our first time in Iceland guide for what to prioritise on a first visit, and our Iceland flights guide for a full overview of current routes.