Icelandair mechanics voted 88.3 per cent in favour of an indefinite industrial strike, now confirmed to begin on 23 September 2026. As of 16 September, no talks between the union and the airline were scheduled, and the action appears certain to proceed.
What Is Being Disrupted
The strike covers all Icelandair flights operating from Iceland. The airline runs approximately 110 daily departures from Keflavik International Airport (KEF), carrying around 15,000 passengers each day. If the strike proceeds as announced, all departures, arrivals, and connections halt — including transatlantic routes between North America and Europe that route through Reykjavik.
No end date has been set. An indefinite action means the disruption could last days or weeks, depending on how quickly negotiations resume.
Who Is Affected
Anyone flying with Icelandair on or after 23 September should assume their flight will not operate. This includes:
- Passengers on direct routes to or from Iceland
- Travellers using Iceland as a transatlantic connection hub
- Anyone holding open-jaw tickets routed through Keflavik
What to Do Now
Icelandair is expected to open rebooking through its website. Passengers can typically rebook to the next available date at no charge, or request a full refund on unused tickets. Check the Icelandair website directly for your options.
If you have not yet booked flights and are planning a trip around this period, we recommend waiting until the situation is resolved. For a full breakdown of airlines serving Iceland, seasonal schedules, and what to check before booking, see our flights to Iceland guide.
If your arrival date shifts, you may also need to adjust ground plans — our car hire guide covers the main rental policies and cancellation terms.
Alternatives
A small number of other carriers operate some routes into Keflavik. Check current availability by comparing flights to Iceland across carriers and compare against Icelandair’s rebooking offer.
We will update this article as the situation develops. If you are already in Reykjavik and your return flight is cancelled, contact Icelandair’s customer service line and notify your travel insurer immediately — most comprehensive travel insurance covers strike-related disruption. For general pre-trip planning, our first-time Iceland guide includes advice on trip protection.