Quantcast

Southwest Airlines announces first international partnership with Icelandair

Engine maker agrees to compensate WizzAir for grounded planes
Turkish Airlines’ flights are riddled with bedbugs, passengers say
British Airways frequent flyers react to Executive Club changes
Inside the short-lived, men-only flights where kids and women were banned but cigar and pipe smoking were rife
China steps up drive to break Boeing, Airbus grip on plane market
Heathrow’s New York service clings to spot in top aviation routes
Airline praises pilots in crash-landing where both died but nearly half the passengers survived
Mexico state airline to buy five Embraer planes next year
A record number of people are expected to fly over the holidays. That's good for travel stocks, but not for passengers.
American Airlines technical issue sparks travel chaos on Christmas Eve as flights heavily delayed after being grounded
Why United Airlines has had such a stellar year despite being Boeing's biggest customer
JetBlue nixing routes between multiple major cities, reducing several others
Airline Stocks Led The Travel Industry's Record 2024 Rally. Here's What's Next.
It’s beginning to look like another record for holiday travel
Qatar Airways cleans up at the World Travel Awards
All of the strikes at European airports this winter – find out if you are affected
Meet the CEO trying to turn around Air India, the 92-year-old airline with a pile of problems
Skiplagging: Unpacking the Risky Travel Trend That Involves Tricking Airlines
Qantas engineers walk off job on one of the busiest travel days of the year
South Korea to safeguard competition after Korean Air, Asiana merger
China Southern returns to Adelaide
Global Airline Industry Revenues Forecast To Top $1 Trillion For First Time In 2025
EasyJet to launch six new routes from the UK next year with £24 flights
Here's Why Analysts Say It's a Good Time to Buy Airline Stocks
A No-Frills Airline Is Getting Into the Premium Game
TAKING OFF: Major airline introduces new inflight service rules with less time to order your drinks
2 Delta flight attendants fail breathalyzer test before flight to JFK
EasyJet reveals plans for new flights from regional UK airport next summer
Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says
Alaska Airlines tech issue briefly grounds planes in Seattle, disrupts bookings on Cyber Monday
Southwest Airlines announces first international partnership with Icelandair
Research
Webp southwestairlines
Southwest Airlines | Provided Photo

Southwest Airlines is set to embark on its first international airline partnership next month, expanding its list of international gateways to include Denver and Nashville. This development follows the announcement of Baltimore as the initial gateway, paving the way for an interline agreement with Icelandair. The agreement was formalized at a ceremony in Washington.

The partnership will allow Southwest's Rapid Rewards members to redeem points on flights to Iceland and Europe. "Interline partnerships are very common in the airline industry. But it's our first one, so it's very exciting for us," said Andrew Watterson, Southwest's chief operating officer.

Initially, travelers can book itineraries with seamless connections between the two carriers via Icelandair's website starting February. The focus will be on Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport as the U.S. gateway.

Get the Newsletter
Sign-up to receive weekly round up of news from Sky Industry News
By submitting, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. By providing your phone number you are opting in and consenting to receive recurring SMS/MMS messages, including automated texts, to that number from our short code. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply HELP for help, STOP to end. SMS opt-in will not be sold, rented, or shared.

Ryan Green, overseeing Southwest's changes announced last year, stated that expansion plans include Denver International Airport and Nashville International Airport. Deeper integration is expected in 2026 when Southwest introduces assigned seating.

The ceremonial launch included gift exchanges and a toast with Brennivin, Iceland's national drink. "This will be a wonderful partnership," said Svanhildur Hólm Valsdóttir, Iceland's ambassador to the U.S.

Southwest aims to announce another international partner in 2025 as part of efforts to offer more destinations through Rapid Rewards. "We're having conversations with both additional transatlantic carriers as well as transpacific carriers," Green mentioned.

In recent years, Southwest has invested significantly in modernizing its technical infrastructure to facilitate such global partnerships and other enhancements like redeye flights.

"This is a new capability we have. And that's what transformation is all about," Watterson noted regarding future expansions.

Organizations Included in this History
More News

Flying Food Group, Inc. has announced its Employees of the Month at its LAV facility.

Oct 28, 2025

Flying Food Group's San Francisco facility recently celebrated Hispanic Heritage Month with its employees.

Oct 28, 2025

Etihad Airways has announced the launch of a new route connecting Abu Dhabi and Addis Ababa.

Oct 27, 2025

United Airlines has unveiled its Summer 2026 schedule, which includes new flights from Newark to Bari, Split, Santiago de Compostela, and Glasgow, as well as from Newark to Seoul and Washington, D.C., to Reykjavik.

Oct 27, 2025

Ethiopian Airlines has announced a limited-time 20% discount on fares between Addis Ababa and Porto.

Oct 27, 2025

Avianca has announced that passengers are encouraged to register for the Biomig biometric migration system to avoid lines and delays at participating airports in Colombia.

Oct 27, 2025