Icelandair’s New Adventure: Say Hello to Miami
Hold the phone! Icelandair is finally touching down at my home airport, and you bet I’m stoked! Though the news mustered up whispers a few weeks ago, it’s now carved in stone.
Reykjavik to Miami: Icelandair Takes the Plunge
Mark your calendars for October 25, 2025, when Icelandair kicks off 3-times-a-week jaunts between Keflavik (KEF) and Miami (MIA). Initially pegged as a winter-only gig through late March 2026, don’t be surprised if the plan gets stretched a bit further. Here’s how the flights shake out:
- FI691 Keflavik to Miami departing at 5:15 PM and landing at 9:55 PM
- FI690 Miami to Keflavik taking off at 6:15 PM and arriving at 5:55 AM (+1 day)
This 3,664-mile hop is set for an 8-hour 40-minute run westbound and a breezy 7 hours 40 minutes eastbound. Our westbound jaunt sets sail on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, with the eastbound return cruise following on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.
Icelandair is rolling out the big guns, deploying their snazzy Airbus A321LR for the legwork. Expect 187 seats in total — 22 swanky-business-class thrones and 165 snuggly coach seats. With its sleek look and feel, this beauty is their latest pride and joy.
What’s the Buzz About Miami Flights?
Miami struts into the lineup as Icelandair’s 19th stopover on this side of the Atlantic. It’s the first time the airline’s sprinkling regular fairy dust over Miami, though sunshine-filled Orlando stays a year-round bedrock, they’ve dabbled with Tampa but pulled the plug before the world froze over with the pandemic.
Sure, Icelandair hasn’t routinely dropped in on Miami, but the island airline has occasionally muscled in with chartered duties, particularly for those much-needed rambles over to Cuba. Very shrewd for making the winter months count.
Here’s the kicker: Icelandair’s whole vibe is connecting North America with Europe via their convenient hub in Keflavik. So, what’s kept them from cozying up to Miami before now?
The Strategic Game Plan
Let’s get to the nitty-gritty. First, Icelandair’s growth has been playing it safe, expanding their fleet at a cautious pace. Meanwhile, they’ve been adding flights to secondary cities where transatlantic scrutiny hasn’t really taken root, banking on this underdog edge.
Enter the A321LR, the new toy in Icelandair’s arsenal, unveiling fresh territory. Up until now, they’ve entrusted the Orlando run to the trusty old 737 MAX, but Miami might have been pushing the boundaries a bit for that craft’s comfy range — scratch that off your bingo card of travel tidbits.
Some folks may gasp at Icelandair’s leisurely use of their aircraft, with planes hitching a long breather in Miami — around 20 hours for every jaunt. Their focus is laser-pointed to optimize those cross-Atlantic connections. If it means parking the plane over leisurely drinks in Miami to perfect those alignments back in Iceland, then so be it.
Popping in as one of their beefier routes to North America, taking the less rushed option was the only way to jigsaw this schedule into their master connectivity scheme.
More blog reading might have you scratching your noggin — Icelandair’s debut route to North America, earmarked purely for winter. Their flights usually hit summer highs or run all year. The narrative suggests it leans towards tapping into European customers during Miami’s frost-free climax.
This could very well be because Icelandair isn’t flush with enough aircraft to keep this going year-round, especially if they must cater to stricter summer demands. Winter tends to make more sense with fewer lucrative flight paths available.
The Bottom Line: Where Do We Stand?
Come October 2025, brace yourself for non-stop seasonal flights to Miami fluttering 3-times-a-week on Icelandair’s shiny Airbus A321LR. The idea of new wheels rolling into my home turf is exciting under-the-breath celebration sparking excitement in this aviation lover’s heart.
What’s your take on Icelandair’s sunny Miami cameo?