Reykjavik based Icelandair has said it plans to stop flying between Keflavík International Airport (KEF) and Kansas City International Airport (MCI) starting in 2020. In a news release from the Icelandic flag carrier, they cite the continued grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX as the reason that they are pulling out of Kansas City, according to the AP.

Icelandair first came to Kansas City back in May of 2018 and it was a really big deal for locals as the Icelandair flight was the airport's only transatlantic flight.

Kansas City gave Icelandair incentives to fly to Missouri

With their cheap pricing and the wildly popular free Iceland stopover, the airline provided the perfect gateway to many European capitals. When Icelandair first arrived in Missouri, the Kansas City Aviation Department and the Kansas City Chamber of Commerce made the airline many promises.

Incentives to get the airline to serve Kansas City included the waiving of $1,750 worth of fees for each flight. It also gave the Nordic airline $250,000 to place advertisements around town and online, an incentive cities often use when trying to attract airlines.

The Development Council and Chamber even agreed to compensate Icelandair if the route turned out to be unprofitable.

When asked about this by channel 41 KSHB News, Kansas City Area Development Council President and CEO Tim Cowden said:

“The amount is still to be determined, but we will honor our commitment to Icelandair. The KC business community stepped up and helped create the operational climate for the attraction of the first-ever transatlantic flight."

So far there has been no comment on whether any money is owed or not.

Icelandair couldn’t make enough profit flying 757s to KC

Of course, the news that Icelandair is pulling out is disappointing for the city. Missouri Aviation Department aviation director Pat Klein said,

“I am disappointed but proud of the Aviation staff who worked so diligently to bring Icelandair to Kansas City and am thankful for the way this community supported the new service. Going forward, aviation staff will continue to meet with airlines with the intent to grow Kansas City’s international access.”

Director of Marketing for the KCMO Aviation Department Justin Meyer weighed in with his thoughts, saying that it wasn’t as though there was no interest in the Kansas City to Reykjavik flights. There just wasn’t enough profit in it to make Icelandair want to stay.

Meyer blames the grounding of the Boeing 737 MAX for the airline's decision to leave, as putting an older, heavier Boeing 757 on the route was much more expensive than if they had been able to fly the MAX.

Kansas City International Airport is in talks with other airlines

Meyer said that the airport is in talks with other airlines, both domestic and international, and is confident that there will be more chances for international travel from MCI.

Now with Icelandair pulling out the only international flights that will be left are to Toronto, Cancun, and Punta Cana.