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Icelandair, Southwest Expand Interline Partnership

DALLAS  — Icelandair (FI) and Southwest Airlines (WN) have today signed a strategic partnership agreement that expands on its existing bilateral agreement. 

The partnership will allow customers to connect the two airlines’ networks seamlessly. Sales and travel through Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI) will launch in February.

In September 2024,  the airlines signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to start a bilateral partnership in 2025. 

At the time, WN's first airline partner stated that more attention on alliances would help it expand its market and strengthen its network, which consisted of 34 destinations in Europe and 17 in North America, including BWI, the first North American gateway between FI and WN.

Today, two connecting points, Nashville (BNA) and Denver (DEN), will join BWI, further opening new and exciting possibilities for both airlines’ customers this summer.

From left: Southwest crew, Ryan Green, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Office, Andrew Watterson, Southwest Chief Operating Officer, Tomas Ingason, Icelandair Chief Commercial Officer, Helgi Már Björgvinsson, Icelandair Director Partnerships & Corporate Affairs, Icelandair crew. Photo: Icelandair

Comments from Icelandair, Southwest Officials

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.”

“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.”

Ryan Green, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Transformation Officer, said, “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.”

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