Delta unveils three Iceland routes as the country opens to vaccinated travellers

Delta has announced resumption of two routes to Iceland and is also starting a third-brand new too.

On 18th March, Iceland reopened to vaccinated travellers from the United Kingdom, United States and the European Union.

If you are thinking of travelling to this island nation, then Delta might have a flight for you.

• Related: Delta extends blocking of middle seats until May

Delta’s Iceland return

Delta Airlines is returning to Iceland this May. The airline will connect three of its hub to Reykjavik’s Keflavík International Airport.

Firstly, Delta will be resuming flights between New York-JFK and Keflavík on 1st May.

Flight schedule of New York-Keflavík-New York route:

• New York-Keflavík
• Departure time: 20:41
• Arrival time: 06:30 (the next day)
• Flight time: 5 hours and 49 minutes
• Flight number: DL246
• Frequency: Daily

• Keflavík-New York
• Departure time: 11:35
• Arrival time: 13:30
• Flight time: 5 hours and 55 minutes
• Flight number: DL247

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Secondly, the airline is a brand-new route between Boston and Keflavík starting 20th May. The 2,413-mile route will go head-to-head with Iceland’s flag carrier, Icelandair.

Flight schedule of Boston-Keflavík-Boston route:

• Boston-Keflavík
• Departure time: 22:25
• Arrival time: 07:45 (the next day)
• Flight time: 5 hours and 20 minutes
• Frequency: Daily

• Keflavík-Boston
• Departure time: 10:15
• Arrival time: 12:00
• Flight time: 5 hours and 45 minutes
• Frequency: Daily

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And finally, the Atlanta-based carrier is resuming flights between Minneapolis-St. Paul and Keflavík starting 27th May.

Flight schedule of Minneapolis-Keflavík-Minneapolis route:

• Minneapolis-Keflavík
• Departure time: 20:30
• Arrival time: 07:40 (the next day)
• Flight time: 6 hours and 10 minutes
• Flight number: DL260
• Frequency: Daily

• Keflavík-Minneapolis
• Departure time: 08:30
• Arrival time: 10:00
• Flight time: 6 hours and 30 minutes
• Flight number: DL261

• Related: Delta unveils 39 new and expanded routes to over 20 destinations

All routes operated by Boeing B757

All three routes will be flown by a Boeing 757-200. The JFK flights will feature lie-flat Delta One pods in a 2-2 configuration, in addition to Comfort+ and Main Cabin seating.

The Boston and MSP service will be operated by a higher-density 193-seat 757-200, outfitted with 20 Premium Select recliners, 41 Comfort+ extra-legroom coach seats and 132 standard Main Cabin seats. Though Delta’s labeling the forward cabin as Premium Select, the hard product and inflight service will mirror Delta’s domestic first class.

Joe Esposito, Senior Vice-President of Network Planning, Delta airlines, said:

We know our customers are eager to safely get back out into the world, including exploring one of the globe’s most beautiful outdoor destinations. As confidence in travel rises, we hope more countries continue reopening to vaccinated travelers, which means more opportunities to reconnect customers to the people and places that matter most.

• Related: Delta airlines announces big expansion in Alaska

Entry requirements in Iceland

Iceland officially reopened just over a week ago to eligible U.S. citizens. Entry permission will be granted to any eligible visitor who can present proof of full vaccination against COVID-19, including vaccinations manufactured by AstraZeneca, Janssen (Johnson & Johnson), Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech.

Note that all flyers returning to the U.S., including citizens, must receive a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of travel, regardless of vaccination status.

Visitors can present an official paper or electronic vaccine certificate, and Iceland’s requirements have been updated to match what’s listed on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) certificate.

Additionally, visitors who were previously infected with COVID-19 will be able to enter Iceland without a quarantine requirement. Acceptable documentation there includes a positive PCR test result that’s older than 14 days or a positive antibody test. Note that rapid tests are not accepted.

First US carrier to resume flights to Iceland

Delta will become the first U.S. airline to resume Iceland flights in May. Both American Airlines and United have previously offered service to the country, but neither airline has announced plans to resume flights. United is the only other US airline expecting to serve Iceland this summer.

At the moment, Icelandair is the only airline flying between the U.S. and Iceland. The carrier’s nonstop service from Boston is running nine times this month.

Featured image by Shutterstock

What do you think of Delta’s Iceland resumption? Let me know in the comments section below.