Icelandair to commence new route from Reykjavik (KEF) to St. Louis (STL).
Flights to operate 4 weekly from May 14 with 737 MAX.
Flights to operate 4 weekly from May 14 with 737 MAX.
Pretty minor in my opinion when the STL Partnership says this was “significant” for the region. Significant would be another flight to mainland Europe, not to Iceland.
Nice! Keep these wins coming!
I was considering a flight to Ireland on BA but this route might offer a better connection and will likely be considerably less $.
I was considering a flight to Ireland on BA but this route might offer a better connection and will likely be considerably less $.
Given that Iceland is still a big vacation destination, this will serve the purpose. I can't see anyone really using this flight for international connections (unless much cheaper). The flight/airline is another nice notch into STL's growing international flag carriers and it also shows that airlines are seeing the growth at STL.
Iceland could have gone back to KC, but given KC's miserable response (poor load factors), they (Icelandair) weren't trusting to go west again. WOW service was on a slightly longer plane with 261 seats and this will be service on a 767-MAX. Icelandair's Nasville service is on the lower side at 73.5% (performing slightly better than some of Icelandair's other lowest U.S. routes like Detroit at 67% or Pittsburgh at 69%). All on 737-MAX.
This tells me that Icelandair will keep service if the demand is there and makes profit on the smaller 737-MAX.
As for length of flight right at 7.5-8hours .. that is long on that aircarft.
I would also rather (and I think most do) fly nonstop to mainland EU on the wide-bodies of Lufthansa and British Airways from STL nonstop. They also have two huge international connections airports.
Also to note: KEF airport in Reykjavik is like a third world country IMO.
Iceland could have gone back to KC, but given KC's miserable response (poor load factors), they (Icelandair) weren't trusting to go west again. WOW service was on a slightly longer plane with 261 seats and this will be service on a 767-MAX. Icelandair's Nasville service is on the lower side at 73.5% (performing slightly better than some of Icelandair's other lowest U.S. routes like Detroit at 67% or Pittsburgh at 69%). All on 737-MAX.
This tells me that Icelandair will keep service if the demand is there and makes profit on the smaller 737-MAX.
As for length of flight right at 7.5-8hours .. that is long on that aircarft.
I would also rather (and I think most do) fly nonstop to mainland EU on the wide-bodies of Lufthansa and British Airways from STL nonstop. They also have two huge international connections airports.
Also to note: KEF airport in Reykjavik is like a third world country IMO.
While not the win Iberia (or other mainland Europe lines) might have been, we have to show some excitement to have a third European airline. I hope it does well.
I was a little surprised when I saw WTC was doing the announcement. It is international but not really business related. Rumors Southwest could be involved with it also. That part is not from a source I know though. Hopefully it’s that they are going to start selling Iceland air tickets.Chris Stritzel wrote: ↑12:49 PM - 20 days agoPretty minor in my opinion when the STL Partnership says this was “significant” for the region. Significant would be another flight to mainland Europe, not to Iceland.
^ https://www.southwest.com/airline-partners/
Future connection points, one being STL?Our first international partnership is with Icelandair®. Our interline partnership connects Customers on Icelandair into the Southwest network at Baltimore/Washington (BWI) Airport, Denver (DEN), Nashville (BNA), Orlando (MCO), Pittsburgh (PIT), and Raleigh/Durham (RDU). with future connection points planned at other airports where our networks overlap. Initially, we’re flowing Customers onto the Southwest network through Icelandair’s website and third-party booking channels. Eventually, Customers will be able to book on Southwest.com. And now, Rapid Rewards® Members who book an itinerary through Icelandair that includes a Southwest Airlines operated segment can earn Rapid Rewards points.1
I guess I'm the only one who is super happy this is KEF (with WN tie-in) rather than another major destination like DUB, AMS, CDG, or MAD.
Consider it my many years of accumulated St. Louis disappointments, regrets, and and insecurities but I'd rather we have another 5 years of steady growth of LHR and FRA before overextending ourselves and then ending up with just 1 TATL flight or none!
While twice the duration (WOW was 6.5 hour) , KEF on FI is basically a colder Montego Bay type flight. A lot easier to envision us adding that while sustainably building our main two. Huzzah for another European carrier at Lambert
Consider it my many years of accumulated St. Louis disappointments, regrets, and and insecurities but I'd rather we have another 5 years of steady growth of LHR and FRA before overextending ourselves and then ending up with just 1 TATL flight or none!
While twice the duration (WOW was 6.5 hour) , KEF on FI is basically a colder Montego Bay type flight. A lot easier to envision us adding that while sustainably building our main two. Huzzah for another European carrier at Lambert
Will there be enough demand for an STL to REY flight 4 times/week? I assume this will attract passengers from the entire region/State, surrounding areas. What are the anticipated loads to keep this flight successful?
We are still kind of a southwest hub, theoretically the system will funnel riders in
STL is definitely a Southwest "hub" station. Their flight connections through STL are huge.
We are their 10th or 11th busiest airport hub.
We are their 10th or 11th busiest airport hub.
Solid win for STL all around. I agree with @RuskiSTL for his points on getting a good win without overextending our catchment area's pull for European travelers prematurely. Long term, it'll be better to really solidify LHR and FRA before going to another major hub on the continent - and saying that while I really want to get both KLM and Air France routes going forward. Also, there's the fact that Keflavik International is the hub airport for Icelandair, making it a full gateway to the rest of Europe. And with Southwest announcing a codeshare partnership, well, that's just huge. Good times y'all.
There seems to be another shoe to drop with this announcement. Southwest related.
Remember in 2025 WN said it is "redesigning" service to make St. Louis an area focused on "north/south connectivity"
Remember in 2025 WN said it is "redesigning" service to make St. Louis an area focused on "north/south connectivity"
What were the typical loads for the WOW flights back in the day? My vague recollection is they did well - though clearly they didn't have to compete with other European flights at the time.
While it's not an earth-shattering announcement, another TATL flight is a big deal. I'm happy to hear there's more competiton, clearly there's more demand to be met out of STL. If they position themselves as a cheaper option to Lufthanza/BA I'm sure all three could do well here.
-RBB
While it's not an earth-shattering announcement, another TATL flight is a big deal. I'm happy to hear there's more competiton, clearly there's more demand to be met out of STL. If they position themselves as a cheaper option to Lufthanza/BA I'm sure all three could do well here.
-RBB
^ Oof! I saw that over on airliners.net.
There is some hand wringing on that side of the state over these TATL flights but they just don't have the corporate presence that we do.
There is some hand wringing on that side of the state over these TATL flights but they just don't have the corporate presence that we do.
First month is May and only one flight. Last 2 months Nov/dec were after they announced they were leaving.rbb wrote: ↑3:43 PM - 20 days agoWhat were the typical loads for the WOW flights back in the day? My vague recollection is they did well - though clearly they didn't have to compete with other European flights at the time.
While it's not an earth-shattering announcement, another TATL flight is a big deal. I'm happy to hear there's more competiton, clearly there's more demand to be met out of STL. If they position themselves as a cheaper option to Lufthanza/BA I'm sure all three could do well here.
-RBB
So overall okay. Not great. But this plane is quite a bit smaller. 160 seats vs 200-210 for WOW
jshank just posted this over on airliners.net, looks like KSDK will be covering this live.
https://www.ksdk.com/watch
https://www.ksdk.com/watch
Yes, but Icelandair 737Max Is betting on leisure travelers mainly and service to Detroit, Pittsburgh and Nasville (on the same aircraft) runs about 65 to 73%. The 737Max is more efficient than the widebodies. Fine for a 6.5 hour flight to KEF.
Yep. I agreem. Southwest has partnership now Icelandair and will be "selling" this flight with connections I am sure. Easy connect in STL with international gates in T2.addxb2 wrote: ↑3:39 PM - 20 days agoThere seems to be another shoe to drop with this announcement. Southwest related.
Remember in 2025 WN said it is "redesigning" service to make St. Louis an area focused on "north/south connectivity"
https://stlpartnership.com/icelandair-stl-flights-announced/
With the addition of St. Louis to Icelandair’s network, Icelandair and Southwest Airlines, are further expanding their partnership. Southwest is the largest carrier at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, where it operates one of its key gateways.
The expanded partnership will offer customers of both airlines’ convenient connections from destinations across North America via St. Louis to Iceland and onward to Icelandair’s destinations in Europe. It will also provide travelers from Iceland and Europe with connections through St. Louis to a wide range of destinations across the United States.
I think Brad Dean said today that hotels are reporting international visitors are up 20% in STL while nationally they are down. He said one international visitors spends as much as 8 from Chicago. Someone would have to confirm.
That sounds right. It was something to that effectaddxb2 wrote: ↑12:25 AM - 20 days agoI think Brad Dean said today that hotels are reporting international visitors are up 20% in STL while nationally they are down. He said one international visitors spends as much as 8 from Chicago. Someone would have to confirm.
Exciting news. STL has been racking up wins lately in the aero dept!
Can't wait to see the cont success.... and maybe finally see some renders of our new terminal
Can't wait to see the cont success.... and maybe finally see some renders of our new terminal
"With the addition of St. Louis to Icelandair’s network, Icelandair and Southwest Airlines, are further expanding their partnership. Southwest is the largest carrier at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, where it operates one of its key gateways. The expanded partnership will offer customers of both airlines’ convenient connections from destinations across North America via St. Louis to Iceland and onward to Icelandair’s destinations in Europe. It will also provide travelers from Iceland and Europe with connections through St. Louis to a wide range of destinations across the United States.
"St. Louis is an exciting addition, further strengthened by our growing partnership with Southwest Airlines, which will create convenient connections between destinations across North America, Iceland, and Europe," Tómas Ingason, the chief commercial officer of Icelandair, said in a statement.
St. Louis will become a new gateway for Icelandair’s interline partnership with Southwest. The agreement allows travelers to book connecting Icelandair and Southwest flights with a single itinerary. The other six current Icelandair-Southwest gateways are Denver, Baltimore, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh-Durham.
Over the past year, Southwest has shifted toward a hub-and-spoke model rather than pure point-to-point flying, maintaining roughly 112 to 115 daily departures out of STL while tying into broader partnerships—such as this partnership with Icelandair for European flights out of STL. Ashley Bain, a Southwest spokeswoman said "Southwest is fully committed to the Gateway City and looks forward to serving the St. Louis market for years to come. As we continue to expand our network, especially international, we currently serve 117 airports. We will continue to focus on our north/south connectivity through St. Louis and utilizing both Chicago and Nashville on east-and west-bound flights."
On October 15, 2026, Southwest will announce their extensions which will open booking and all new and added routes through August 2, 2027.
"St. Louis is an exciting addition, further strengthened by our growing partnership with Southwest Airlines, which will create convenient connections between destinations across North America, Iceland, and Europe," Tómas Ingason, the chief commercial officer of Icelandair, said in a statement.
St. Louis will become a new gateway for Icelandair’s interline partnership with Southwest. The agreement allows travelers to book connecting Icelandair and Southwest flights with a single itinerary. The other six current Icelandair-Southwest gateways are Denver, Baltimore, Nashville, Orlando, Pittsburgh, and Raleigh-Durham.
Over the past year, Southwest has shifted toward a hub-and-spoke model rather than pure point-to-point flying, maintaining roughly 112 to 115 daily departures out of STL while tying into broader partnerships—such as this partnership with Icelandair for European flights out of STL. Ashley Bain, a Southwest spokeswoman said "Southwest is fully committed to the Gateway City and looks forward to serving the St. Louis market for years to come. As we continue to expand our network, especially international, we currently serve 117 airports. We will continue to focus on our north/south connectivity through St. Louis and utilizing both Chicago and Nashville on east-and west-bound flights."
On October 15, 2026, Southwest will announce their extensions which will open booking and all new and added routes through August 2, 2027.