Coming This Spring: Nonstop Flights to Iceland!
Iceland is, not to be punny about it, a super-hot destination right now. The place has it all: the Northern Lights, geothermic spas, glacial treks, and, if you buy into the mythology, trolls. Which is why it’s uber-exciting that Philadelphia International Airport will, coming this spring, have nonstop flights to Iceland on Icelandair.
Icelandair will carry passengers nonstop between Philadelphia and Reykjavik.
To start off, flights will take place four times a week in spring, summer, and fall. The Icelandair flight will take off from Philadelphia International on Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays at 8:35 p.m. It will touch down in Reykjavik, the national capital, the next morning at 6:10 a.m. Returning flights will leave from Keflavik International Airport at 5 p.m. and get back to Philadelphia at 7:15 pm that same evening. The flight is, on average, 5.5 hours, although with the right wind conditions it can be completed in as little as 4.5 hours.
The flights from Philly are just part of Icelandair’s master plan to help build up Iceland as one of Europe’s premier tourism destinations. Icelandair said it has “helped boost tourism to its home country in record numbers.” “Philadelphians will now have a refreshing alternative when traveling to Iceland and beyond,” said Birkir Holm Gudnason, CEO of Icelandair.
Members of Icelandair’s corporate staff were on hand in Philadelphia for the announcement of the flights, along with Mayor Jim Kenney and airport CEO Chellie Cameron.
Icelandair has been steadily growing its network of connections across America, with hubs at New York, Newark, Washington, D.C., and recently Seattle. It has European connections in over 25 cities, meaning that Philadelphians can also utilize Icelandair as the first stop on their European itineraries. Fares on the airline are considered reasonable in comparison with their competitors, with flights from the East Coast costing an average of $700 – $1,000, although tickets can be as low as $600 based on “seasonality and availability.”
If you live in the City of Brotherly Love and have been thinking about visiting Iceland, this could be your chance!
