Icelandair Expands Season on Pittsburgh-Reykjavik Route

Announcement comes a week after Pittsburgh delegation visits Iceland

By Daniel Lagiovane

Published September 23, 2024

Read Time: 3 mins

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Following a successful first year operating in Pittsburgh and in response to strong international travel demand, Icelandair is expanding its seasonal nonstop service to Reykjavik, Iceland, when the route returns in 2025.

Icelandair will resume its seasonal service between Pittsburgh International Airport and Reykjavik effective April 17, 2025 – nearly a month sooner than the route’s initial launch that took place in May of this year. The airline will continue to operate the route four times a week, on Sundays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays.

Flights between Pittsburgh and Reykjavik for 2025 are now on sale and can be booked at Icelandair.com.

The announcement comes a week after a delegation of regional leaders visited Iceland and met with business, tourism and governmental organizations – including a team of Icelandair officials and CEO Bogi Nils Bogason.

The PIT delegation, led by PIT CEO Christina Cassotis and Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato, spent four days in Iceland beginning Sept. 13. It included regional leaders from organizations including K&L Gates, VisitPITTSBURGH, the Pittsburgh Technology Council and the Pittsburgh Chapter of the German American Chamber of Commerce. The goal was to boost Pittsburgh’s status as a destination for global business and leisure and foster growing ties to Iceland – in addition to demonstrating community support for the route and growing its service.

“One of the goals of the delegation was expanded service for the flight and I’m so pleased that our partners at Icelandair recognized the strength of the market in the Pittsburgh region and beyond,” Innamorato said. “I am proud to have helped lead a successful visit along with the airport and other key stakeholders. It’s important that we continue to tell the story of our region’s success with key decision-makers on a world stage as we grow economic development in Allegheny County.”

Icelandair’s inaugural flight from Reykjavik taxis into the gate at PIT on May 16, 2024. (Photo by Beth Hollerich)

The announcement comes one week after British Airways announced it will upgrade its nonstop year-round service between Pittsburgh International Airport and London Heathrow Airport from six days a week to seven days starting March 31, 2025, with daily flights operating through October.

“This demonstrates the strength of the Pittsburgh business market in Europe and shows airlines, including Icelandair, that this region is serious about growing business and leisure connections to Iceland, Europe, and beyond,” Cassotis said.

Icelandair began flying from PIT on May 16, offering nonstop service to its hub at Keflavik International Airport near Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. It marked the first time in five years that Pittsburgh was last connected to Iceland with nonstop service; WOW Air served the route between June 2017 and January 2019.

Icelandair currently flies four days a week on Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft. The Pittsburgh to Reykjavik route is estimated to have an annual economic impact of $9 million to the region.

Icelandair’s service provides a convenient flight option from Pittsburgh to one of Europe’s most popular tourist attractions. Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport also provides connections to over 25 destinations throughout Europe. Icelandair offers a unique stopover option where travelers can book up to a seven-day stay in Iceland before continuing to their final destination.