Skip to main content

Southwest signs partnership agreement with this European airline

Southwest and Icelandair to collaborate on Europrean connections

southwest icelandair partnership 2
Icelandair / Icelandair

Southwest Airlines and Icelandair have signed a strategic partnership agreement, letting passengers seamlessly connect between their networks. Sales and flights through Baltimore begin in February. Southwest is the largest domestic U.S. airline and Icelandair is its first partner. 

Southwest customers can now connect through Europe

Reykjavik Opera House
Reykjavik Opera House, Iceland Michael Held via Unsplash

Previously, Southwest flights were confined to North America, but with the new partnership, they now connect through Europe. Initial flights will embark from Baltimore/Washington Thurgood Marshall International Airport (BWI) and land at Reykjavik Airport (RVK) in Iceland. From there, travelers can branch out to Barcelona, Amsterdam, Berlin, Prague, Paris, Dublin, and more via Icelandair’s network. Even better, they can check their bags through to their destination. Following the launch of Baltimore flights, two additional connecting points will join in Denver and Nashville.

Recommended Videos

Ryan Green, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer commented: “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, Icelandair Chief Commercial Officer said: “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. We welcome Southwest to our strong partnership portfolio in the US and ever-growing group of partner airlines and look forward to working together in offering our customers smooth and enjoyable travel experiences.”

Mark Reif
Mark Reif is a writer from Stowe, Vermont. During the winter, he works as a snowboard coach and rides more than 100 days. The…
This Norwegian airline will begin flights from L.A. to Greece
Norse Atlantic will begin flying between L.A. and Greece
Athens, Greece

Norway-based Norse Atlantic Airways will soon make a trip to Greece more affordable. Beginning on June 3, 2025, the airline will fly direct between Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Athens International Airport (ATH). The trip will not only be thrifty, but also comfortable, as it’ll be aboard a state-of-the-art aircraft.
Norse Atlantic’s LA to Athens route flies four times weekly

The journey from California to Greece will happen four times weekly aboard a state-of-the-art Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. Fares begin at $269 with options from economy to premium seating. Both economy and premium cabins feature a 43-inch seat pitch. Economy fares also include a personal item and a 22-pound carry-on bag. The route complements Norse Atlantic’s existing L.A. trips to Paris, London, and Rome.

Read more
Qantas announces seasonal snow flights to this Asian country
Qantas announces winter flights to Japan
Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan

Next winter, Qantas will begin a seasonal route to Hokkaido, Japan’s powder fields. The flight goes from Sydney to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport from December 15, 2025 through March 28, 2026. Sapporo will be Qantas’ 100th destination.
Japan’s powder fields attract snow enthusiasts worldwide
Niseko, Hokkaido, Japan Marek Okon via Unsplash

Hokkaido is Japan’s northernmost island, famous for its low-angle powder runs, widely spaced trees, and dry snow. Qantas’ new route takes snow enthusiasts there, where resorts like Niseko and Rusutsu await. The trip will be aboard an Airbus A330-200 aircraft and will offer over 20,000 seats during the northern ski season.

Read more
SWISS begins training pilots for this new aircraft
SWISS trains its pilots for new Airbus A350s
swiss pilot training a350

Starting in February, SWISS will begin training its crewmembers to pilot the Airbus A350. The airline has 10 brand-new A350-900s on order. The first of the planes arrives this summer, and in 2025, the carrier will train over 50 pilots how to fly them. It’s all a part of Swiss International Air Lines’ (SWISS) continual renewal of its fleet.
Pilots will train on full-flight simulators
SWISS A350 Simulator SWISS

SWISS pilots will train on the new Airbus A350 full-flight simulator at Lufthansa Aviation Training Switzerland (LAT CH) in Opfikon near Zurich Airport. The simulator creates a highly realistic environment where pilots can get accustomed to the A350. 

Read more