Icelandair to Resume Nonstop St. Louis-Iceland Service in 2027

Key points

• Icelandair will operate four weekly nonstop flights from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to Reykjavik, Iceland, starting May 14, 2027, and ending October 24, 2027.
• The flights will utilize Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, with the initial departure from St. Louis scheduled at 8:45 p.m. for a 6.5-hour journey.
• This new route makes St. Louis Icelandair’s 16th U.S. destination and restores direct connectivity to Iceland, which was previously served by WOW Air until its bankruptcy in 2019.
• Icelandair announced an expanded partnership with Southwest Airlines, the largest carrier at Lambert, to facilitate connections between North American destinations, Iceland, and European hubs.
• St. Louis tourism officials cite a 12% increase in hotel bookings over the past year, attributing the growth to the addition of recent international routes, including daily flights to London and weekly service to Germany.

Background

St. Louis Lambert International Airport has recently expanded its international network, adding daily service to London via British Airways and weekly flights to Germany via Lufthansa. This follows a period of reduced international connectivity after WOW Air suspended its St. Louis-Iceland route in 2018 and subsequently filed for bankruptcy in 2019. The current expansion aligns with a broader trend of U.S. airports increasing international capacity to boost tourism and business travel.

How outlets are covering it

St. Louis Public Radio and KMOV both confirmed the core details of the flight schedule and aircraft type, with KMOV providing specific departure times and flight duration. KMOV emphasized the strategic partnership with Southwest Airlines, highlighting how the collaboration will create convenient connections across North America and Europe. In contrast, St. Louis Public Radio focused on the local economic impact, quoting tourism bureau officials who noted a 12% rise in hotel bookings and positioning the new route as a catalyst for the region’s growth as a meetings and convention destination. While all sources agreed on the 2027 launch date, KMOV noted that British Airways had recently announced expanded London service, framing the Iceland route as part of a broader international expansion at Lambert.

Why it matters

The return of nonstop service to Iceland enhances St. Louis’s status as a global gateway, offering residents and visitors direct access to Europe without connecting through major hubs like Chicago or New York. The expanded partnership with Southwest Airlines is expected to increase passenger volume by leveraging Southwest’s extensive domestic network, potentially boosting tourism and business travel in the region. Additionally, the route supports Icelandair’s broader strategy of expanding its U.S. footprint, which could lead to increased competition and lower fares for international travel from the Midwest.

What to watch

Travelers can book the new Icelandair flights through the airline’s website, with service commencing on May 14, 2027. St. Louis tourism officials are planning marketing campaigns in the U.S. and abroad to promote the new route and the city’s growing international connectivity. Icelandair will continue to expand its partnership with Southwest Airlines, potentially adding more connections between North American cities and European destinations via St. Louis and Reykjavik.