Southwest’s New Partnership with Icelandair Expands European Travel Options

Southwest Airlines has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Icelandair, marking its first collaboration with an international airline. This partnership enables passengers to connect seamlessly between both carriers’ networks, expanding travel options beyond North America. Initial sales and flights through Baltimore will begin in February 2025.

For the first time, Southwest customers can access Europe through this collaboration. Flights will operate from Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) to Reykjavik Airport (RVK) in Iceland. From Reykjavik, travelers can connect to various European destinations, including Paris, Amsterdam, Berlin, Barcelona, Dublin, and Prague, via Icelandair’s extensive network. Passengers will also benefit from the convenience of checking their bags through to their final destination. After Baltimore, additional connecting points will include Denver and Nashville.

Ryan Green, Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer at Southwest Airlines, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. He said, “It’s fitting for us to launch this chapter of industry-standard airline partnerships with our longtime friends, Icelandair. Beyond an ability to offer each other’s Customers access to new destinations and like-minded travel experiences centered around hospitality and value, we’re grateful to have been guided by their expertise and best practices in building our program.”

Tómas Ingason, Chief Commercial Officer at Icelandair, also welcomed the partnership. He stated, “We are very excited to have formalized our partnership with Southwest and honored to be chosen as Southwest’s first airline partner. The partnership will open new and exciting connections for our customers onwards with Southwest to numerous destinations in North America, and at the same time, their customers will benefit from our extensive connections to Iceland and Europe.”

This marks a major milestone for Southwest Airlines as it begins international partnerships. It offers customers expanded travel opportunities to Europe and beyond.

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