Icelandair Announces New Summer Route to Nashville

Icelandair is set to expand its U.S. network by introducing a new flight route to Nashville, Tennessee, starting May 16, 2025. This seasonal service, operating four times per week, will connect Reykjavik Keflavik Airport with Nashville International Airport, utilizing the Boeing 737-8 aircraft. Scheduled to run through October, this addition marks Nashville as the 18th North American city in Icelandair’s network, which includes 15 destinations in the U.S. and three in Canada.

This new route will establish the only nonstop service between Nashville and Iceland, enhancing international travel options for both business and leisure travelers in the region. “This new route not only enhances our international connectivity but also provides a new gateway to Europe, further meeting the needs of our business and leisure travelers,” stated Doug Kreulen, President and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority.

Currently, Nashville has limited direct connections to Europe, with only one existing nonstop route to London Heathrow operated by British Airways. This route, which began in May 2018, utilizes a Boeing 777 aircraft and is a part of the Oneworld alliance.

The introduction of the Reykjavik-Nashville route is expected to offer Tennesseans not only direct access to Iceland but also convenient connections to 34 other European destinations during the summer 2025 season. According to Sabre Market Intelligence, London was the largest Origin & Destination (O&D) market in Europe from Nashville in 2023, followed by Rome, Dublin, Paris, and Frankfurt. In total, O&D traffic between Nashville and Europe accounted for 416,000 two-way passengers in 2023.

Icelandair’s CEO, Bogi Nils Bogason, expressed enthusiasm about the new route, stating it will enable passengers from Tennessee to explore Iceland and continue onwards to other European locales. This move is part of Icelandair’s broader strategy to enhance its network connectivity and provide more travel options to its passengers.

Additionally, Icelandair recently announced a planned partnership with Southwest Airlines, set to commence in 2025. This bilateral agreement will allow passengers to seamlessly connect between the two airlines’ extensive networks, with Baltimore-Washington serving as the initial North American gateway. This partnership represents Icelandair’s first with another airline and marks a significant development in its efforts to expand its global reach and service offerings.

This route expansion and new airline partnership underscore Icelandair’s commitment to enhancing its service and accessibility, providing greater travel flexibility and opportunities for passengers traveling between the United States, Iceland, and beyond.