Icelandair to Launch New Route to Istanbul in 2025
Icelandair is expanding its network to include Istanbul, marking a further step in the airline’s eastern expansion. Starting on September 5, 2025, Icelandair will operate four weekly flights between Reykjavik Keflavik Airport (KEF) and Istanbul Airport (IST), using Boeing 737-8 aircraft. The flight will have a duration of approximately 5 hours and 30 minutes.
Istanbul will become Icelandair’s easternmost destination, following the ongoing suspension of its Tel Aviv service, which was halted in October 2023 due to the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The new route to Istanbul reflects the airline’s focus on strengthening its global network and responding to growing demand for travel between Asia and Iceland.
Icelandair President and CEO, Bogi Nils Bogason, commented, “In recent years, we have seen increased interest in travel between Asia and Iceland, and with these new connections, we are further strengthening our sales and distribution network.”
The new Istanbul route is also set to benefit from an expanded codeshare partnership with Turkish Airlines, first announced in summer 2023. The schedule for this route has been specially coordinated to align with Turkish Airlines’ flights to and from Asia and the Middle East, offering passengers enhanced connectivity.
Currently, there are no nonstop flights between Iceland and Turkey, according to OAG Schedules Analyser data. However, Icelandic low-cost carrier Play plans to introduce a weekly service between Reykjavik and Antalya in the summer of 2025, providing more options for travelers between the two regions.
In addition to the Istanbul expansion, Icelandair is preparing to debut its first Airbus A321LR aircraft on December 10, 2024. The airline will use this new aircraft to enhance its European network, with flights starting from KEF to Copenhagen and Stockholm. Further A321LR routes include service to London Heathrow Airport from December 23, 2024, and Oslo Airport on December 24. The airline will also launch its inaugural North American flights with the A321LR to Seattle and Toronto in May 2025.
This network expansion underscores Icelandair’s commitment to broadening its global reach and responding to evolving travel demands, with new routes and modern aircraft designed to meet the needs of both leisure and business travelers.
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