Flights to Iceland — Booking Tips, Airlines & Best Deals

Iceland punches well above its weight for air connectivity. Despite a population of under 400,000, Keflavik International Airport handles millions of passengers annually thanks to Iceland’s position as a mid-Atlantic stopover point. Here is what we recommend knowing before booking.

Iceland’s International Airport

Keflavik International Airport (KEF) is Iceland’s sole international gateway and handles virtually all scheduled flights. It is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, about 50 km southwest of Reykjavik — roughly 45 minutes by road.

Despite the distance from the capital, the transfer is well-organised and straightforward (more on that below). Keflavik has a modern terminal with good facilities, though it can feel congested during peak summer months when multiple transatlantic and European flights arrive simultaneously.

Reykjavik Domestic Airport (RKV) sits within the city itself and handles domestic flights to Akureyri, Egilsstadir, Isafjordur, and the Westman Islands. It does not handle international traffic.

Akureyri Airport (AEY) in northern Iceland handles domestic flights and occasional seasonal international connections, though these are rare and not reliable for trip planning.

Airlines Serving Iceland

From the UK, Icelandair flies direct from London Heathrow and Manchester. easyJet operates from London Luton and other UK airports seasonally. Wizz Air flies from London Luton. PLAY (Iceland’s budget carrier) serves London Stansted. Flight time from London to Keflavik is approximately 3 hours.

From the US and Canada, Iceland is remarkably well-connected for a country its size. Icelandair operates direct flights from New York (JFK), Boston (BOS), Washington Dulles (IAD), Seattle (SEA), Minneapolis (MSP), Denver (DEN), Chicago (ORD), Portland (PDX), and several other cities. PLAY flies from Baltimore (BWI), New York Stewart (SWF), and Boston. Delta, United, and JetBlue also operate seasonal US routes. Flight time from New York is approximately 5 hours 30 minutes.

From mainland Europe, Icelandair connects from Copenhagen, Stockholm, Oslo, Helsinki, Amsterdam, Paris, Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin, and other cities. PLAY operates from multiple European airports. Wizz Air flies from several Central European bases. SAS operates from Scandinavian capitals.

Icelandair is the national carrier and dominates the market. It offers a unique “Stopover” programme — passengers on transatlantic flights can stop in Iceland for up to 7 days at no extra airfare cost, making Iceland a natural add-on to US-Europe trips.

PLAY is Iceland’s budget alternative, launched in 2019. It offers lower base fares than Icelandair but charges separately for checked luggage, seat selection, and meals. It also offers transatlantic connections via Keflavik.

Best Time to Book for Deals

Iceland’s peak season runs from mid-June through August, when the midnight sun draws the largest crowds. Flights during this window sell out early and command premium prices. The second peak is Northern Lights season — roughly September through March — though winter flight prices are generally lower than summer.

The cheapest fares appear for late October, November, February, and early March departures. May and September offer a good balance of reasonable fares and workable weather.

For the best prices, we recommend booking 8 to 12 weeks ahead for European flights and 3 to 5 months ahead for transatlantic routes. Icelandair runs periodic sales (watch for their “Iceland Stopover” promotions) that can bring transatlantic fares down significantly.

Return flights from London to Keflavik start from approximately £60-100 on budget carriers in the off-season, rising to £200-350 in peak summer as of 2026. From New York, returns range from approximately $300-500 in shoulder season (Icelandair and PLAY compete aggressively on this route) to $700+ in July and August as of 2026.

Domestic Flights

Domestic flights are useful for reaching northern and eastern Iceland without the long drives.

Reykjavik to Akureyri takes approximately 45 minutes by air, compared to approximately 5 hours by road (Route 1). Reykjavik to Egilsstadir takes approximately 1 hour by air vs. 8+ hours driving. Reykjavik to Isafjordur in the Westfjords takes approximately 40 minutes by air, saving a very long and winding drive of 5-6 hours.

Icelandair operates most domestic routes via Air Iceland Connect, with fares starting from approximately ISK 8,000-15,000 one-way (roughly £45-85) as of 2026. The Reykjavik–Akureyri route has 10+ departures daily, making it the most-used domestic air connection. Eagle Air operates smaller prop-plane services to more remote airstrips including Ísafjörður and Vestmannaeyjar.

For the south coast, Golden Circle, and Snaefellsnes Peninsula, driving from Reykjavik is practical and most travellers rent a car rather than fly.

The Icelandair Stopover

This programme deserves its own mention because it fundamentally changes how to think about flights to Iceland. Any passenger flying between North America and Europe on Icelandair can add a stop in Keflavik for 1 to 7 days at no extra flight cost — you only pay for your accommodation and activities in Iceland. See our Icelandair Stopover guide for the full programme details and how to make the most of 1–3 days.

This means you can turn a routine transatlantic crossing into a multi-destination trip. Fly from New York, spend 3 days exploring Iceland, then continue to London or Copenhagen on the same ticket. The value proposition is strong, especially if you were already planning a US-Europe trip.

Budget Tips

Compare Icelandair and PLAY carefully. PLAY’s base fares are lower, but once you add checked luggage, seat selection, and a meal, the total can match or exceed Icelandair’s bundled fare — and Icelandair includes a checked bag and personal entertainment screen.

Fly midweek. Tuesday and Wednesday departures to Iceland are consistently cheaper than Friday and Sunday flights, often by 30-40%.

Consider the shoulder months. May and September offer near-summer conditions at substantially lower flight costs than June-August. The weather is less predictable, but daylight hours are still long.

Use the Stopover programme if flying transatlantic anyway. Adding Iceland to a US-Europe trip is essentially free (on the flight side) via Icelandair.

Book early for summer. Unlike many European destinations where last-minute deals appear, Iceland’s limited airport capacity means summer flights fill up and prices only increase as departure approaches.

Related Guides

• Icelandair stopover guide — How to add Iceland to a transatlantic journey at no extra flight cost
• Iceland airport transfers — Getting from Keflavík to Reykjavík by Flybus, taxi, or rental car
• Iceland flight compensation — Your rights if your flight is delayed or cancelled
• Best time to visit Iceland — How flight prices align with the best seasons for weather and activities
• Iceland budget guide — How to factor flight costs into your total Iceland budget

Fly from London Luton if based in the UK. Wizz Air and PLAY both operate from Luton with the lowest base fares.

Set up price alerts. Google Flights and Skyscanner allow price tracking on specific routes — alerts often catch fare drops that disappear within hours.

Watch PLAY’s sales. PLAY runs regular flash sales via its newsletter and app, sometimes dropping fares significantly below their standard prices.

Compare flights to Iceland — prices shift significantly by season; spring and autumn typically offer the best fares.

If your flight was delayed or cancelled, check your eligibility for flight compensation — EU261 covers most flights through Iceland.

Get travel insurance for Iceland — policies covering glacier hikes, F-road driving, and volcanic disruption.

Getting from Keflavik to Reykjavik

The 50 km transfer is a well-worn path with several options:

Flybus (BSI): The most popular option. Coaches run in sync with flight arrivals and take approximately 45 minutes to BSI Bus Terminal in Reykjavik. From there, smaller shuttles deliver to hotels and guesthouses. The fare is approximately ISK 3,499 one-way (roughly £20) or ISK 4,999 with the hotel drop-off add-on as of 2026.

Airport Direct: A similar coach service with comparable pricing and timing.

Rental car: Many travellers pick up a rental car at Keflavik and drive directly to their first destination, bypassing Reykjavik entirely if heading to the Golden Circle or south coast. This is efficient if you plan to drive the Ring Road.

Taxi: Available but expensive — approximately ISK 18,000-22,000 (roughly £100-120) for the 45-minute drive as of 2026.

Public bus (Straetobus 55): The cheapest option at approximately ISK 2,060 (roughly £12) as of 2026, but runs less frequently and takes longer than the Flybus.

Keflavík airport sits on the Reykjanes Peninsula — if you have a few hours before your flight or between legs, the peninsula has the Blue Lagoon, Gunnuhver mud pools, and the Bridge Between Continents within easy reach. See our Iceland airport transfers guide for full transfer options. For flight disruption rights, see our Iceland flight compensation guide.