Icelandair to Launch Nonstop Flights Between Nashville and Reykjavík

Icelandair is set to expand its North American network by introducing nonstop flights to Nashville next year.

Starting May 16, 2025, the Icelandic flag carrier will launch a direct service from its hub in Reykjavík (KEF) to Nashville International Airport (BNA). The service will be available four times per week – on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays – and is scheduled to operate throughout the summer until October.

To Nashville on a 737 MAX 8

Icelandair will operate the new route with its Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, which has a total capacity of 160 passengers, including 16 seats in Saga Premium, the airline’s premier cabin class, and the remaining 144 seats in Economy.

Photo: Icelandair, Boeing 737 MAX 8. Courtesy of Business Wire

With the addition of Nashville, Icelandair will serve as many as 18 North American destinations, complementing its existing services to cities such as New York (JFK), Chicago (ORD), Orlando (MCO), and Denver (DEN).

Moreover, the Icelandic carrier boasts an extensive European network and plays a significant role in the transatlantic market, providing connections for North American travelers to cities like London (LGW), Paris (CDG), Amsterdam (AMS), Rome (FCO), and Berlin (BER) through its hub in the Icelandic capital.

Flying Transatlantic with a Stopover

For those on connecting flights, Icelandair also offers a highly-regarded stopover program, where travelers can stay in Iceland for up to a week at no additional airfare.

Reykjavik Iceland / Photo: Boyloso/iStock/Getty Images

“We are very pleased to add Nashville to our extensive network in North America, linking Music City to our 34 destinations in Europe,” said Bogi Nils Bogason, president and CEO of Icelandair. “We know travelers from the Southeast will greatly benefit from this new service and offer Tennesseans the best options to Iceland and beyond.

“Our new service will also provide travelers from Iceland and Europe, connecting through Nashville, more choices throughout the US. In addition, we encourage passengers traveling to Europe to take an Icelandair Stopover and explore our home. We look forward to welcoming Nashville aboard.”

Nashville’s Gateway to Europe

Doug Kreulen, president and CEO of the Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Icelandair to BNA and bridge the gap between Music City and the Land of Fire and Ice. This new route not only enhances our international connectivity but also provides a new gateway to Europe, further meeting the needs of our business and leisure travelers.”

Photo: Courtesy of Hilton BNA

“Whether you’re dreaming of exploring the ancient glaciers of Iceland, immersing yourself in the vibrant culture of Reykjavík, or embarking on a European adventure, this new flight provides the perfect starting point, and we are overjoyed to connect our two cities.”

Icelandair meets Southwest

The announcement of Icelandair’s new Nashville service came on the day the airline confirmed it was entering a bilateral partnership with U.S. low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines.

Set to begin in 2025, the partnership will provide passengers with seamless connections between the two airline’s networks, with Baltimore (BWI) serving as the partnership’s first North American gateway.

Photo: Courtesy of Denver International Airport.

The international partnership, the first of its kind for Southwest, is part of the low-cost carrier’s plans to evolve its business model, including adopting assigned seating, premium seating, and red-eye flights.

“Icelandair will become our initial partner through a shared focus on warm Hospitality and value in air travel that both carriers strive to offer, enabling Southwest to further our global reach beyond the nearly 120 destinations we serve in North America,” said Ryan Green, Executive Vice President of Commercial Transformation at Southwest.