The Icelandic Guide

Alaska Airlines Launches Daily Seattle–Reykjavik Nonstop from 28 May

· 2 min read Travel News
Passenger aircraft approaching Keflavík International Airport with Icelandic landscape below

Contents

  1. Flight Details
  2. A Strong Summer for New Iceland Routes
  3. Why This Summer in Particular

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 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.