The Icelandic Guide

Flights to Iceland: Best Routes and Airlines

· 2 min read Practical
Iceland aerial view showing coastline and landscape from the air

Contents

  1. Main Airlines
  2. Route Tips
  3. Finding Cheaper Flights
  4. Domestic Flights Within Iceland

Iceland is served by Keflavík International Airport (KEF), 50km from Reykjavík. The airport has grown substantially — it’s now a genuine transatlantic hub and one of the busiest airports in the North Atlantic.

Main Airlines

Icelandair (icelandair.com): Iceland’s flag carrier. The most comprehensive route network with connections from London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Frankfurt, Paris, New York JFK, Boston, Chicago O’Hare, Minneapolis, Seattle, and more. Icelandair runs the ‘Stopover’ programme — add 1–7 nights in Iceland at no extra airfare cost on a transatlantic routing. Fares from approximately £180–280 one way London–Reykjavík in peak season.

Play (flyplay.com): Low-cost carrier based in Iceland. Routes from London Stansted, Paris CDG, Berlin, Copenhagen, Gothenburg, and several US cities (Baltimore, Boston, New York, Orlando, Miami). Fares from approximately £80–150 one way London–Reykjavík in off-peak season. No-frills pricing — extras (bags, seat selection) add cost.

EasyJet: Seasonal routes from London Gatwick, Edinburgh, and some other UK regional airports. Check for seasonal availability.

Delta, United, American Airlines: Direct services from multiple US East Coast and Midwest hubs to Keflavík.

SAS: Routes from Scandinavian cities.

Transavia, Vueling: Seasonal services from some European cities.

Route Tips

From the UK: Direct services from London Heathrow (Icelandair), London Stansted (Play), Edinburgh, and occasionally Manchester. Journey time approximately 2.5–3 hours. Heathrow routes give the most flexibility; Stansted is cheapest on Play.

From Europe: Most major European hubs have direct services, particularly in summer. Off-season routes reduce — check winter availability specifically if travelling November–March.

From North America: Icelandair and Play both serve multiple US and Canadian cities. The New York–Reykjavík route is approximately 5.5 hours. Boston is slightly shorter at approximately 5 hours.

Finding Cheaper Flights

  1. Book early for summer: July and August seats sell out months ahead. Book January onwards for summer travel.
  2. Be flexible on dates: Midweek departures are often cheaper than Friday/Saturday.
  3. Consider shoulder season: May, September, and October have good Iceland conditions at lower prices.
  4. Use the Icelandair Stopover: If travelling from North America to Europe, routing via Iceland adds the destination at no extra airfare cost.
  5. Set up price alerts: Google Flights and Skyscanner allow price tracking — set alerts for your route.
  6. Check Play’s sales: Play runs regular flash sales from its newsletter and app.

Domestic Flights Within Iceland

Eagle Air (eagleair.is): Flies from Reykjavík Domestic Airport (RVK/Vatnsmýri) to Ísafjörður, Egilsstaðir, and Vestmannaeyjar. Journey times 45–60 minutes. Fares from approximately ISK 9,000–20,000 one way.

Air Iceland Connect (icelandair.com/services/domestic): Operates the Reykjavík–Akureyri route (45 minutes) with 10+ departures daily. The most used domestic air route in Iceland.

Frequently Asked Questions

What airlines fly to Iceland?
Icelandair is Iceland's flag carrier, flying from London Heathrow, Amsterdam, Copenhagen, New York, Boston, Chicago, and many other cities. Play (formerly WOW Air's successor) flies from London Stansted, Paris, and other European cities. Delta, United, American, and SAS also serve Keflavík from North America and Europe.
What is the cheapest time to fly to Iceland?
November through February is the cheapest period for flights and accommodation. January is typically the cheapest month overall. September–October and March–April are shoulder season — lower than July/August peak prices but with reasonable weather and Northern Lights. July is peak season and the most expensive.
Can you fly to Iceland from the US cheaply?
Iceland's position in the North Atlantic makes it one of the cheapest transatlantic routes. Play offers budget fares from US East Coast airports (Boston, New York, Washington D.C., Baltimore) from approximately $200–400 one way in off-peak season. Icelandair also runs competitive fares and the 'stopover' programme lets you add an Iceland stop to a Europe trip at no extra airfare cost.