Icelandair will launch nonstop flights between St. Louis Lambert International Airport (STL) and Reykjavik, Iceland, starting May 14, 2027. The route will offer four weekly nonstop flights through October 24, 2027, marking the addition of St. Louis as Icelandair’s 16th U.S. destination, according to STLPR.
Return of Transatlantic Flights at STL and Expanded International Options
This new service reestablishes nonstop flights between St. Louis and Iceland, which ceased when WOW Air ended operations in 2019. Lambert International currently provides daily direct flights to London through British Airways and five weekly flights to Germany via Lufthansa, further expanding international connectivity for the region.
Officials Highlight Gateway Role and Traveler Benefits
Tómas Ingason, Icelandair’s Chief Commercial Officer, said, “St.
Louis has long been known as the gateway to the West. Starting next May, it also becomes the gateway to Iceland and onward to Europe.” Brad Dean, CEO and president of Explore St. Louis, emphasized that the new service builds on recent international flight growth at Lambert and observed a 12% increase in hotel bookings in St. Louis and St. Louis County over the past year, based on Amadeus data. Dean noted the added flights benefit residents, businesses, and global visitors alike.
Mayor Cara Spencer stated, “We’re opening a door that allows more people to discover our city and gives
St. Louisans, of course, another opportunity to discover the world.” She added that nonstop flights to Iceland provide St. Louisans with broader travel choices.
Regional Tourism Growth and Promotion Plans
According to Brad Dean, Explore St. Louis plans advertising campaigns both domestically and internationally to promote the Icelandair route. He also remarked that the additional international service enhances St. Louis’s appeal as both a leisure and a competitive meetings and convention destination. The 12% growth in local hotel bookings bucks national trends and reflects rising traveler demand linked to expanded air service at Lambert International Airport.
