Icelandair announced the suspension of its flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, effective January 6, 2026. This decision follows a broader trend of decreasing transatlantic travel demand. Despite expanding its network elsewhere in the United States, the airline’s route to Detroit, which began as a seasonal service in 2023, will no longer operate after early January.
According to schedule filings submitted to aviation analytics firm Cirium, Icelandair will cease all services to Detroit. While the airline has yet to provide an official statement, industry source Simple Flying has sought comment. At this time, Icelandair has not responded to inquiries.
Route Performance and Passenger Loads
Initially, the Detroit route was extended into the winter season in 2024, running until December, but this extension has not been maintained for 2026. The airline operated flights up to five times weekly during peak summer months, reducing to three or four flights weekly in winter. Utilizing Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, the route is notable for being one of Icelandair’s longer operations, with a flight duration of approximately 6 hours and 25 minutes.
Passenger load factors reveal the challenges faced by the Detroit route. Data from the U.S. Department of Transportation indicates that the route was one of Icelandair’s weaker performers in 2024, with an average load factor of only 74%. This was significantly lower than other routes, such as Minneapolis-St. Paul, Orlando, and Seattle, which all achieved higher occupancy rates. Although summer months showed improved performance, with occupancy exceeding 80%, this was not enough to offset the underwhelming winter season results.
Expanding U.S. Operations
Despite discontinuing service to Detroit, Icelandair is increasing its overall capacity to the U.S. market. The airline will offer over 1,000,000 seats to the United States this year, marking an 8% year-on-year increase. This growth is largely attributed to the addition of new destinations, including Nashville, which has added approximately 22,000 seats each way, and increased frequencies on existing routes.
Icelandair’s strategic expansion also includes the deployment of larger aircraft on routes to Orlando, Denver, and Seattle, contributing additional capacity. The airline’s plans for the future include introducing services to Miami and considering new destinations in Texas and California, particularly with the arrival of its first Airbus A321LR and the upcoming Airbus A321XLRs.
While the decision to suspend flights from Detroit reflects current market challenges, Icelandair’s commitment to expanding its U.S. network highlights the airline’s intent to adapt and grow in a competitive environment.