Icelandair’s new nonstop service between Pittsburgh and Reykjavik is re-connecting the region to one of the world’s most spectacular tourist destinations.

It is also adding to Pittsburgh’s growing links to the rest of Europe.

Keflavik International Airport (KEF), about 30 miles from Reykjavik, serves as Icelandair’s hub. It’s one of the most popular connecting airports for travelers flying from North America to Europe thanks to its ideal location between the two continents.

This year, Keflavik International expects nearly 30 percent of its forecasted 8.49 million passengers to be connecting traffic, up from 27 percent in 2023.

In recent decades, Icelandair has expanded and reinforced its network, which today consists of more than 50 gateways across North America, Greenland and Europe. Through Reykjavik, travelers can seamlessly connect to more than 25 destinations across continental Europe.

The carrier’s network is based on a 24-hour rotation, with connecting flights leaving Iceland in the mornings and afternoons. The Pittsburgh flight will fit nicely into that system, allowing one-stop choices to many European cities.

“Our hub in Iceland at Keflavík International Airport is a short flight from Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT) with easy connections to the UK, Scandinavia and Continental Europe,” said Bogi Nils Bogason, Icelandair CEO.

Additionally, Icelandair has interline and codeshare agreements with 50 airlines, adding even more travel possibilities to customers around the world. Among major carriers that partner with Icelandair are Air Baltic, Finnair and SAS.

Reykjavik is PIT’s second major European connecting hub linked with nonstop flights, alongside British Airways’ service to London Heathrow – which offers connections to over 100 cities worldwide throughout Europe, India, Asia and Africa. British Airways also provides further connections through its membership in the Oneworld Alliance.

Going to Europe? Explore Iceland

When flying Icelandair to Europe, travelers have a unique choice to make their stop in Reykjavik not just any ordinary connection.

Icelandair offers a novel “stopover” option for travelers: they can choose to add up to a week-long layover in Iceland with no additional airfare charge before continuing to their final destination.

When booking a stopover, travelers can select the “Stopover in Iceland” option when making flight reservations. Guests can then choose how many days they wish to spend in Iceland (up to seven) and choose available booking options.

Stopover travelers can experience everything from geothermal bathing to gazing at the northern lights.

Need help planning a stopover? Icelandair offers ready-made itineraries bookable through its website that include one-day, two-day, three-day and five-day options, with recommendations on Iceland’s most popular attractions and activities.

Icelandair also offers tours and activities that can be packaged into a single itinerary, such as exploring the popular Golden Circle route or visiting the world-famous Blue Lagoon, for travelers to enjoy during their Iceland stopover.

Travelers can visit Icelandair’s website to book a stopover or learn more information.