Icelandair expands network with new Faro route 2026

Icelandair expands network with new Faro route 2026

Grab your flip-flops, because Icelandair just made the most logical move since someone invented heated car seats. The airline known for frosty charm and northern adventures is going full beach mode — announcing brand-new flights from Reykjavík to Faro, Portugal, starting March 26, 2026.

That’s right: Icelandair is officially swapping glaciers for golf greens and the Northern Lights for endless sunshine. We’re talking about their first-ever scheduled route to the Algarve region, a place so sunny it makes Iceland’s daylight savings look like a bad joke.

From Snow Boots to Sandals

The new route will take off twice a week (Mondays and Fridays) until May 11, and then once weekly on Saturdays from May 16. Translation: just enough time for you to remember what warmth feels like before heading back to sweater weather.

For those who haven’t been to Faro — it’s basically the poster child of Portugal’s southern coast. Think golden beaches, seafood that ruins you for all other seafood, and golf courses so scenic they make your local driving range look like a parking lot. It’s a dreamy escape where the hardest decision of the day is whether to order another sangria.

Need assistance with groups and incentives in Faro? Contact this fantastic DMC in Portugal!

Sunshine Meets Strategy

This isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment getaway idea — Icelandair actually knows what it’s doing. The airline is building on the success of its VITA vacation packages, which apparently proved Icelanders have a deep and meaningful relationship with sunshine. Now they’re turning that love into something more permanent: direct flights and dedicated golf trips to southern Portugal.

So, if you’ve ever wanted to perfect your swing somewhere that isn’t covered in snow half the year, Icelandair’s got you.

Icelandair’s Southern Expansion

But wait — Faro’s not the only one getting some love. Icelandair is also boosting flights to some of Europe’s favorite sunspots, including Tenerife, Las Palmas, Alicante, and Barcelona. Basically, if there’s sunshine, tapas, or cheap sunglasses, Icelandair’s on its way.

Even Copenhagen and Paris are getting more flights — perfect for when you want to mix your vitamin D fix with a little culture, pastry, or design-forward minimalism.

CEO Bogi Nils Bogason Knows What’s Up

According to Icelandair CEO Bogi Nils Bogason, “We’re seeing strong demand for destinations in Southern Europe.” Which is the polite, corporate way of saying, “Everyone’s sick of the cold and wants to defrost somewhere nice.”

He also said Faro is “an exciting addition that many Icelanders already know well.” Translation: the entire country has probably visited at least once, and they’re ready to go back — this time without a stopover.

From Ice to Nice

Let’s be real — this move makes perfect sense. Icelandair has always been the cool kid of the skies (literally), but now it’s showing its warmer side. Faro offers the perfect balance of beach bliss and golf glory — ideal for anyone who’s done one too many laps in Iceland’s thermal pools and wants to try swimming somewhere that doesn’t steam.

So come March 2026, if you spot a plane full of very pale people squinting at the sun in delight — that’s Icelandair’s inaugural Faro flight. They’ve swapped snow for sangria, and honestly? We can’t blame them.