Icelandair and Southwest Airlines have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a bilateral partnership in 2025. With the new partnership, customers will be able to seamlessly connect between both airlines’ networks.
On Thursday (September 26, 2024), Icelandair announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Southwest Airlines to establish a bilateral partnership in 2025, with the Icelandic carrier becoming Southwest’s first airline partner. Under the new commercial partnership, customers will be able to easily connect between the two airlines’ networks. The initial North American gateway that will offer seamless connectivity for Icelandair customers across Southwest’s extensive network will be Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI). Likewise, Southwest customers will benefit from connections to Icelandair’s network, which covers five airports in Iceland, four in Greenland, and 34 European destinations.
In Thursday’s announcement, Icelandair’s President and CEO, Bogi Nils Bogason, said,
“We are very excited to add Southwest to our impressive partnership portfolio and are honored to be chosen as their initial airline partner. The partnership will unlock many exciting travel options for our customers, and our extensive network in Europe will open for Southwest customers. As part of our strategic focus on expanding our global partnership network, we seek out airlines known for exceptional service and connectivity. We welcome Southwest as a partner and look forward to working together to make the journeys of our mutual passengers smooth and enjoyable.”
Also commenting on the new commercial partnership, Southwest Airlines’ EVP – Commercial Transformation, Ryan Green, said,
“Icelandair will become our initial partner through a shared focus on warm hospitality and value in air travel that both carriers strive to offer, enabling Southwest to further our global reach beyond the nearly 120 destinations we serve in North America. We’re grateful for the mutual confidence and enthusiasm that’s built a bridge between our two great airlines and aims to serve our customers and those of Icelandair on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Icelandair’s European network includes popular capitals such as Paris, London and Amsterdam, as well as Nordic hotspots like Copenhagen, Stockholm and Oslo, and year-round favorites including Rome, Lisbon, Barcelona and Prague. Icelandair continues to strengthen their route network with an increased focus on airline partnerships. The carrier’s newest U.S. gateway is Nashville, Tennessee, and Icelandair now serves 18 North American destinations and 34 in Europe.
Source: Icelandair
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