COVID-19 travel information
Through travel we connect people and places, and connections are more important now than ever. We know you have questions, so we’ve prepared a list of answers to help you plan.
Safe travels - shared responsibility
We, together with Keflavík airport, are working hard to ensure your safety when traveling to and from Iceland.
You can contribute too. In short, this is what we ask of our passengers: stay at home if you show any symptoms of illness, wash your hands regularly, and use hand sanitizer. We may ask you routine health-related questions at any point during your travels to make sure you are fit to fly.
Safe travel is a shared responsibility. Below you can see what we are doing during each stage of your journey and what you can do as a responsible traveler.
- The HEPA – High Efficiency Particulate Air filters on board mean the air on board is better than in an office environment.
- The air supply is fresh – we do not circulate the same air on board for longer than 2-3 minutes as it passes through a series of filters 20-30 times per hour, providing a regular supply fresh of cabin air.
- When we all observe hygiene guidelines, we all contribute to cleaner air on board.
- According to WHO, the World Health Organization, the risk of getting infected on board an aircraft is lower than on the ground due to the HEPA filters and air quality. Research has shown that there is little risk of any communicable disease being transmitted on board an aircraft.
- In October 2020, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) released figures showing the very low incidence of in-flight COVID-19 transmission. In a period where 1.2 billion passengers traveled, fewer than 50 cases were reported where transmission is thought to have been associated with flying. Read more on IATA's website: Research Points to Low Risk for COVID-19 Transmission Inflight.
Wearing a face mask is mandatory on all Icelandair flights, and we require all our passengers to wear face masks from the time they board our aircraft until they disembark. Please note that face shields may be worn in addition to, but not instead of face masks.
For more information and answers to the questions you might have, please read about masks on board.
What we are doing
- The airport is cleaned regularly.
- Kiosks, check-in counters, doorknobs, handrails and other touch points are sanitized multiple times a day.
- For your and our safety, hand sanitizers are available at the kiosks and check-in counters.
- Your checked baggage will be handled following our strict safety protocols.
What we ask of you
- Regularly wash and/or sanitize your hands.
- Use our Icelandair app or check in online to get your boarding pass. In this way you can minimize touchpoints on your journey through the terminal building and into the aircraft.
- Limit contact with people not in your travel group.
- Consider checking in all your luggage and skip taking carry-on with you to minimize contact with others on board.
What we are doing
- The following surfaces are specifically disinfected before you board: screens, seat belts and buckles, tray tables, arm rests and window shades, light switches and air circulation controls, head rests, overhead lockers.
- Restrooms are disinfected before you board.
- All passengers receive a personal protection package. The package includes an antibacterial wipe for general use, disinfectant gel for hands, an extra face mask, and a sealable bag for used wipes and masks.
- Service on board is limited to minimize contact between passengers and crew members.
- On long-haul flights, we serve food that we have packed under the strictest safety conditions.
What we ask of you
- Do not travel if you feel ill or are showing any symptoms – even minor ones.
- Consider not travelling with hand luggage to minimize contact and limit unnecessary movement around the cabin. If you have hand luggage with you, place it under the seat in front of you rather than in the overhead compartment.
- Remember to wear your mask for the entire duration of the flight. The masks can be removed when eating and drinking.
- Stay in your allocated seat as much as possible during the flight. This is to minimize contact between passengers, and also facilitates contact tracing, in the unlikely event that a passenger tests positive for COVID-19.
- Maintain personal space as best you can and show kindness and understanding towards your fellow passengers.