Icelandair adds to its transatlantic route portfolio

It seems Icelandair has been busy this week firming up its summer timetable, with the announcement of a lot of new (and re-introduced) services.

Icelandair Boeing 757-200 – Image, Icelandair

Let’s have a look a the routes.

First up is a new route between Reykjavik and Kansas City – a completely new route for the airline. The summer season operation will operate three times a week on between 25th May 2018 and 1st October 2018.

FI841 DEPART KEF 18:00 ARRIVE MCI 20:45   Tuesdays, Friday and Sundays
FI840 DEPART MCI 17:15 ARRIVE KEF 05:10+1 Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays

Operates between 25th May 2018 and 1st October 2018
Booked Equipment: Icelandair Boeing 757
Data Icelandair/RoutesOnline

Next up, the airline is planning at return to Baltimore/Washington International, with a four-times a week service between  Reykjavik and BWI – again for the summer season. This flight will operate between 28th May 2018 to the 15th October 2018.

The airline planes to operate the route as follows:

FI643 DEPART KEF 17:05 ARRIVE BWI 19:25   Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays
FI642 DEPART BWI 20:35 ARRIVE KEF 06:20+1 Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays

Operates between 28th May 2018 and 15th October 2018
Booked Equipment: Icelandair Boeing 757
Data Icelandair/RoutesOnline

San Francisco will be joining the network in for Summer 2018, with a four-times a week service between Reykjavik and San Francisco

The route will operate between the 1st June 2018 and 13th October. Planned operation looks like this:

FI863 DEPART KEF 17;00 ARRIVE SFO 18:55 Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays
FI862 DEPART SFO 15:15 ARRIVE KEF 06:40+1 Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays

Operates 1st June to 13th October 2018
Booked Equipment: Icelandair Boeing 767-300ER
Data: Icelandair/RoutesOnline

And finally (and not in the PR's), the airline will take its Reykjavik and Seattle route double daily from 1st May 2018. 

The daily timetable looks a bit like this (with the flights packed closely together):

Reykjavik to Seattle
FI681 DEPART KEF 17:00 ARRIVE SEA 17:45
FI683 DEPART KEF 17:50 ARRIVE SEA 18:35

Seattle to Reykjavik
FI682 DEPART SEA 15:05 ARRIVE KEF 05:20+1
FI680 DPEART SEA 16:00 ARRIVE KEF 06:15+1

Commences: 1st May 2018
Booked Equipment: Icelandair Boeing 757
Data: RoutesOnline

All planes offer a three-class service, Business Class, Economy Comfort and Economy Class. The planes also offer in-flight WiFi services (Provided by GEE) and gate-to-gate IFE.

On launch of the new routes, Icelandair CEO Bjorgolfur Johannsson states

“The time is right for Icelandair to return to Baltimore and San Francisco. Icelandair has been in operation for over 80 years, and these cities have played an important role in that history.

The third addition to our network marks the first time in its history that Icelandair will offer non-stop flights to and from the heart of America. Today our network is bigger and stronger than ever, and we offer our passengers more flights, more connections, and a refreshing alternative to Iceland and beyond. We look forward to once again welcoming San Francisco and Baltimore on board, and we warmly welcome Kansas City,”

It should be noted that all these routes are currently seasonal (bar the Seattle route) – and thus will vanish one by one at the end of the Icelandair season. Loads and yields will be key to if the airline continues to deploy aircraft for the next summer season, or if they choose to convert the operation to a year-round affair.

None the less – it provides options and connectivity. Considering that WOW Air biting at Icelandair’s heels – this can only mean more innovation in routes and networks.

And that’s something which is always welcome.

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