Quincy, MA, January 26, 2016 – Icelandair has increased capacity from Chicago O’Hare International, nearly two months prior to the launch of their inaugural flight from The Windy City. Icelandair will now operate one of their recently acquired Boeing 767s in lieu of the regularly scheduled 757. This change will augment capacity during the busy summer season, offering an increase of up to 9,000 additional seats per year.

Year-round service from Chicago O’Hare (ORD) begins on March 16, 2016 and will be Icelandair’s 16th gateway from North America with non-stop flights to Iceland and connections to more than 20 destinations in Europe.

“On behalf of Mayor Rahm Emanuel, we are looking forward to welcoming Icelandair’s service to Chicago’s global gateway, O’Hare International Airport,” Ginger S. Evans, Commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation. “Icelandair’s decision to increase its capacity load on this route is great news for Chicago and is another example of our city’s growth in business and tourism.”

Icelandair flight FI852 will depart Chicago O’Hare at 7:30 p.m. four days a week, on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The flight arrives in Iceland at 6:35am the following morning, a perfect time to start your day in Iceland or meet connecting flights to the UK, Scandinavia and Continental Europe. Return flight FI853 departs from Iceland at 4:45 p.m., with arrival back in Chicago the same day at 6:15 p.m.

“Icelandair looks forward to launching service from Chicago and offering the savvy travelers of the Midwest a refreshing alternative to Iceland and beyond. This increased capacity will provide passengers traveling through O’Hare even more options to Europe and we look forward to welcoming them aboard,” said Birkir Holm Gudnason, CEO of Icelandair.

To celebrate the new service, Icelandair, in cooperation with Iceland Naturally, is holding a four day launch celebration during the weekend of March 17 – 20, 2016. Festivities will include A Taste of Iceland showcasing Icelandic chefs, musicians and culture throughout the city. For more information on Taste of Iceland, visit www.icelandnaturally.com.

Icelandair offers service to Iceland from Boston, Chicago-ORD, Denver, Edmonton, New York-JFK, Newark, Seattle, Toronto, and Washington, D.C.; and seasonal service from Anchorage, Halifax, Minneapolis-St. Paul, Montreal, Orlando, Portland, OR, and Vancouver, BC. Connections through Icelandair’s hub at Keflavik International Airport are available to more than 20 destinations in Scandinavia, the U.K. and Continental Europe. Only Icelandair allows passengers to take an Icelandair Stopover for up to seven nights at no additional airfare.

For additional information about Icelandair’s fares to Iceland & beyond, please visit us at www.icelandair.com or by calling (877) I-FLY-ICE.