While many airlines are still preparing for the upcoming summer holiday season, Icelandair is gearing up for its busiest winter yet. On Wednesday, the Icelandic flag carrier unveiled its extensive winter 23/24 schedule, with popular destinations, including Rome (FCO), Baltimore (BWI), and Vancouver (YVR), set to be upgraded from seasonal to year-round services.

Permanent network additions

Continuing its showdown with the low-cost carrier market, Icelandair has announced its most extensive winter schedule yet, with 36 destinations to be offered to destinations across Europe and North America, plus a capacity increase of almost 25%.

Following sustained demand, the airline has confirmed that five routes, Rome, Baltimore, Vancouver, Barcelona (BCN), and Raleigh-Durham (RDU), will be upgraded from seasonal services to year-round, with up to daily flights offered.

Popular European city breaks Barcelona and Rome will see three weekly flights from Icelandair’s hub at Reykjavík’s Keflavík Airport (KEF), while Raleigh-Durham and Vancouver will benefit from four flights each week. Baltimore is offered on a daily basis through the remainder of the year and into winter.

Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX tails
Photo: Icelandair

Icelandair will face off against low-cost competitors PLAY and Wizzair on its new year-round routes to Europe and Baltimore; however, the airline remains the sole carrier offering flights Keflavík with Vancouver and Raleigh-Durham, providing a pivotal role in connecting North America with Iceland’s stunning natural scenery and exciting tourism industry.

Even more frequencies!

Along with its latest permanent routes, several other services are set to see noticeable capacity increases through winter. Almost all services will benefit from at least daily flights, including Boston (BOS), Munich (MUC), and New York (JFK). Icelandair will connect with Boston seven to 11 times per week through the season, while daily flights will connect Keflavík with Munich. New York is set to see the biggest increase, with up to three daily services on offer at certain points through the season.

Minneapolis (MSP) and Chicago (ORD) will see up to daily frequencies, with a minimum of four and five flights a week scheduled during the quieter parts of the season, while flights to Canary Island hotspot Tenerife (TFS) will see between four and six weekly flights.

Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX
Photo: Icelandair

Tomas Ingason, Icelandair’s Chief Revenue Officer, explained,

“Due to strong customer demand, we are now introducing our most extensive winter schedule to date. We have been able to extend previously seasonal routes to year-round services and increase frequencies on other routes throughout the network for the winter 23/24 season. As a result, I’m delighted that we have been able to increase Icelandair’s capacity by 20-25%, compared to winter 2022/2023.

“We are always looking for further opportunities to optimise our network and connectivity for customers, so we can make even more travel options available to our passengers.”

Keflavík showdown

With transatlantic travel and Icelandic tourism demand increasing, several new airlines have recently popped up – challenging Icelandair’s position for dominance. Despite the growing competition from low-cost rivals, including startup PLAY, the carrier remains confident of its position in the market.

Icelandair Boeing 737 MAX
Photo: Bradley Caslin | Shutterstock.

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Speaking to journalists in January, Icelandair chief executive Bogi Nils Bogason dismissed questions that the carrier would seek to lower costs, noting the lack of economic sense and inability to fit within its current business model.

We are operating an airline in Iceland where it’s expensive to operate a company,” he told Simple Flying.

In recent years, Icelandair has looked to expand its presence on the transatlantic market by developing Keflavík as a stop-over point between North America and Europe. The unique program has sought to develop the airport further than a midway hub, offering tourists the opportunity to stay for several days before connecting onward with Icelandair or one of its partners for no extra airfare.

Will you be flying with Icelandair this year? What destinations would you like to see the carrier add? Let us know in the comments.