Iceland Air

Even more ways to get to Iceland – and beyond

How can you not go to Iceland?

The number of cities that have flights going to Iceland just keeps getting longer.

This weeks Icelandair announced new seasonal nonstop flights between Kansas City and Iceland, and between Baltimore and Iceland.

The thrice-weekly flight from Kansas City International Airport (MCI) to Keflavík International Airport (KEF)  begins May 26 and is MCI’s first nonstop transatlantic service.

The flight to Iceland from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport will operate four days a week, with flights starting on May 28. This isn’t, technically, new service: Icelandair last offered service from BWI over a decade ago and a company representative said year-round service could be possible.

Flights to both cities wilil be serviced by Icelandair’s Boeing 757-200 aircraft. Seasonal service is scheduled to end October 15.

This also means Icelandair’s glacier and aurora borealis-themed planes will be making stops in these cities. So even if you’re not flying to Iceland, keep an eye out for some cool-looking planes at these airports.

Icelandair’s cool new glacier themed airplane

Photo by Harriet Baskas

Icelandair which names all its planes after Icelandic volcanoes, has launched a glacier themed Boeing 757-200 named Vatnajökull, in honor of the Vatnajökull glacier, which is home to three active volcanoes.

To celebrate, Icelandair filled the plane with employees, guests and journalists – including me – and on May 13 set off for a quick, one-hour flight between Kefklavik Airport near Reykjavik and Egilsstaoir Airport, with a route that went right over the glacier the plane is named after.

 

Before we left, guests were invited to Icelandair’s new Saga club lounge at the Keflavik Airport, where a chunk of ice from the glacier was on display.

Photo: Harriet Baskas

Weather kept passengers from actually seeing the glacier during our flight – not unusual, according to the captain – but that didn’t really matter because there are plenty of glacier features on this plane – starting with the paint job, which was spray painted by hand.

Photo: Harriet Baskas

courtesy Icelandair

Inside, there are plenty of glacier themed items as well; everything from ambient LED blue lighting, to headrests, drink cups, napkins, chocolates, amenity kits and airsickness bags.

Headrests – photo Harriet Baskas

Glacier note in airplane restroom – photo Harriet Baskas

Tin Icelandair menity kit cover – photo Harriet Baskas

Airsickness bag – photo Harriet Baskas

You can learn more about Icelandair’s new glacier themed plane, see which routes it is flying and which airports it will stop and, better yet, put in a request for the plane to come to your town, here.

While the glacier themed plane is cool, it’s not Icelandair’s only special livery. In 2015, the airline rolled out the Hekla Aurora, which was inspired by the northern lights.