Cool/Ouch: Alaska Airlines Plans Iceland Flights With Boeing 737 MAX

Alaska Air Group is undergoing a major transformation, turning Seattle-Tacoma into a global hub, with plans to launch a dozen long haul routes by 2030. So far, the airline has added Tokyo Narita (NRT) flights, with Seoul Incheon (ICN) flights launching shortly, and London Heathrow (LHR) flights and Rome (FCO) flights launching in May 2026.

Several weeks back, Alaska announced its latest long haul route, also the first that won’t be operated by a wide body. I want to provide an update, as this route is now on sale, so we also now know what the schedule for this service will look like. It’s a cool route, but also likely the least comfortable flight operated by any US airline.

More from OMAAT COOL: Alaska Adds Anchorage To Tokyo Narita Flights, With Boeing 737 MAX! Read more

Alaska adding Seattle to Keflavik flights as of May 2026

As of May 28, 2026, Alaska Airlines will launch daily seasonal flights between Seattle (SEA) and Keflavik (KEF), located near Iceland’s capital, Reykjavik. The flight will operate with the following schedule:

AS354 Seattle to Keflavik departing 6:45PM arriving 9:10AM (+1 day)
AS355 Keflavik to Seattle departing 12:15PM arriving 1:10PM

The 3,622-mile journey will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX 8, and is blocked at 7hr25min eastbound and 7hr55min westbound.

Alaska’s Boeing 737 MAX 8s are equipped with 159 seats, including 12 domestic first class seats and 147 economy class seats. Interestingly, Alaska is marketing the forward cabin as first class, as it does on most of its other routes, rather than as premium economy (as some other US airlines do in this situation — in fairness, Alaska doesn’t have a premium economy product on other aircraft).

For those looking to redeem Atmos Rewards points, currently the cheapest one-way rates I see on this flight are 27,500 points in economy, or 85,000 points in first class.

For cash fares, I currently see roundtrip fares starting at $741 in economy, or $2,606 in first class.

Alaska partner Icelandair already operates this route, with up to three daily frequencies, so there will be a lot of capacity between the two markets. Ultimately there’s merit to this route — not only is Iceland a popular vacation destination in summer, but this will open up all kinds of one-stop service between Seattle and Europe for Alaska customers, in partnership with Icelandair.

This must be the most unpleasant flight by a US airline

It makes perfect sense that Alaska Airlines will operate this route with a Boeing 737 MAX. The route is within range for the aircraft, and it’s not exactly a high yielding business market. For that matter, competitors largely also fly domestic configured aircraft to Iceland.

That being said, this doesn’t sound like a great passenger experience, and I have to assume that this must be the least pleasant flight operated by a US airline:

• It’s the longest nonstop Boeing 737 route operated by a US airline (Alaska has operated marginally shorter routes to and from Anchorage in the past)
• While I enjoy the Alaska experience, the airline doesn’t have seat back televisions on its 737 MAXs, which definitely come in handy on a flight of this length
• While some other US airlines also fly domestically configured aircraft to Iceland, this is the longest route operated by a US airline to Iceland

Of course let me acknowledge that Icelandair also flies narrow body planes in most markets to the United States, so this actually basically matches the competition. However, at least the airline has seat back entertainment, which helps with keeping passengers occupied.

Bottom line

As of May 2026, Alaska Airlines will launch a new daily seasonal flight between Seattle and Keflavik with a Boeing 737 MAX. This is the first new long haul route from Seattle that won’t be operated by a wide body jet.

It’s cool to see that Alaska plans to fly to Iceland, though the passenger experience here definitely won’t be much to get excited about. Then again, that’s par for the course for Iceland.

What do you make of Alaska’s new Seattle to Iceland route?